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I’m wondering about the wine cellar when a tall, handsome man with a disarming smile approaches.
“Ms. Accardi? I’m Phillip Turner.” He extends his hand.
“Call me Gina. Nice to meet you.” God, he is handsome. We shake hands and I turn to Mila who is, of course, beaming as if she’s just hit the jackpot.
“Mila Ward.” She bats her lashes and I frown at her.
“Mila works with me, Mr. Turner,” I explain.
“Of course.” He seems immune to her charms. Ha! “And call me Phillip, Gina.”
He ushers us farther into the dining room. “Can I offer you anything?”
“A tour, perhaps.” I smile at him, pressing my tongue to my palate to stifle a yawn.
He clears his throat and licks his lips. “We should meet with the chef first. It’s really his call on how this whole arrangement will work.”
I might be wrong, but it feels like he’s avoiding my gaze. What the hell?
“I wasn’t aware this was an audition for the job,” I snap and Mila winces. Not like me to lose my cool, but for fuck’s sake don’t mess with me when I’m tired. Or vulnerable. Or at the end of my rope due to current life circumstances.
The double door leading to the kitchen swings open and the three of us turn.
When Phillip Turner called me about this job and I realized who the chef was, I knew that taking on the project would be the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. As he called just when I realized how deep my parents’ debts were, I pushed aside any animosity I harbored against the man I haven’t seen in almost two decades and accepted.
Getting this job might expand my client base to the East Coast. And my mom needs me here right now. All logical reasons to work with the infamous Massimo Cassinetti, chef extraordinaire.
But nothing could have prepared me for this. His eyes are so dark I irrationally feel the lights fade around us. His hair hangs in messy curls around the face that could have been sculpted by a Renaissance artist. Simply perfect. And set by a vigor of grinding teeth.
If he is trying to scare us off, he’s doing a pretty good job, considering my heart rate and the audible gasp Mila utters.
She turns to me. “He looks—”
“Shut up,” I whisper, without looking at her because my attention is completely absorbed by the chef.
He strides toward us like a predator ready to pounce and the hair at the back of my neck bristles. The taut muscles under his white T-shirt expand wide. The tattoos on his arms draw me like sirens and I fight the urge to study the art.
He towers above us, not solely because of his height, but his personality, his overall presence that fills the generous space. And sucks all the air out.
As he gets close, I realize that accepting this job was the biggest mistake of my life. And I’ve made too many of those already.
Regardless of how removed or reasonable I can be in my mind, my body immediately reacts to his scent with intense yearning. The scent that evokes all the rotten memories of the teenage girl who pined after this man years ago.
* * *
Massi
There is no fucking way I’m working with Gina fucking Accardi. She’s caused me too much suffering. I don’t fucking trust her.
“I think we should hear your proposal, Gina, to see what you’re bringing to the table, and then we can see how this collaboration could work.” Fucking Phillip is almost physically trying to prevent a disaster, maneuvering around us as if we were rare artifacts. It’s embarrassing. Well, he invited her without consulting me, so he can sweat over the consequences.
I was pissed about this before I knew the famous consultant was Gina, so I certainly won’t welcome the help now when I know it’s her.
“I’m Mila Ward, Chef Cassinetti. I can’t wait to try your renowned grilled branzino with artichokes,” an excited blond chirps and extends her hand.
I whip my eyes to her, all the while trying to count my breaths. “Massimo Cassinetti,” I growl and shake her hand. She beams at me, untouched by my temper.
Gina stands to our left with her fists clenched. She is not wearing glasses like at the wake, which brings out her blue eyes. One could drown in them. It’s good that I know better. There should be a warning tattooed on her forehead.
