A Bite to Remember Read Online Free PDF Page B

property, to injury,” Vincent realized, following her thinking.
    “Yes.” Jackie agreed, then stood and walked out of the kitchen. She sensed rather than heard Vincent follow her. The man moved as quietly as a shadow.
    She found Allen Richmond in the living room, overseeing the work being done on the windows and doors there.
    “How long until you’ll be done?” Jackie asked abruptly as she paused at the security man’s side.
    “Most of it will be finished tonight. The ground floor anyway. We’ll have to come back tomorrow to finish the upper floor,” he answered promptly.
    Jackie nodded. “And the gate?”
    “Already done,” he assured her.
    “Is it closed and locked?”
    Allen Richmond paused, his eyes narrowing on her face,obviously picking up on the fact that these weren’t just idle questions. “I had it left open so the men could come and go. I’ll have it closed at once.”
    Satisfied, Jackie turned and led Vincent out of the room just as Tiny opened the kitchen door and peered at them.
    “Supper’s ready,” the giant announced.
    Nodding, Jackie managed not to run up the hall. She was absolutely famished and was terribly glad Tiny could cook. He’d started working for her father the same summer she had and her dad had put the two of them together from the start. Most people thought Tiny’s size had been the deciding factor and Ted Morrisey had hoped the giant would keep his daughter safe. But Jackie knew that wasn’t true. Tiny’s personality had made the decision. Tiny, for all his size, or perhaps because of it, was the most laid back, calm individual on the planet. A stark contrast to Jackie’s almost hyper, impatient, let’s-get-things-done-now, need-to-prove-herself attitude. He was her rock, calming her when she lost patience, and gentling her when she was moved to be hard. They were friends, and while she was now his boss rather than just his co-worker, he still let her know when she was being a little Napoleon. It was something Jackie knew she needed.
    “Oh Tiny, this looks wonderful,” Vincent praised as he followed Jackie into the kitchen to see the food on the table.
    “It’s just a black bean stir-fry,” Tiny said modestly. “It was fast and easy.”
    “Hmm.” Vincent pulled out a chair for Jackie. “Well, it smells delicious.”
    Jackie eyed him suspiciously as she sank into the seatVincent was so gallantly holding out. She still didn’t believe the vamp normally ate food. The man hadn’t even had a teaspoon in his kitchen, but it looked to her as if he was going to eat now.
    Vincent seated himself across from her as she dished up a good portion of stir-fried vegetables and beef onto her plate. She then offered him the serving bowl as Tiny set glasses of water by each of their three settings.
    Vincent took the food and served himself before passing it on to Tiny as the giant joined them at the table. Both Tiny and Jackie watched as Vincent scooped up the first forkful of food and lifted it to his mouth. Her expression was cynical, Tiny’s was expectant.
    Surprise was Vincent’s first reaction as he closed his lips around the mouthful of food. The emotion flickered across his face and then gave way to pleasure. “This is good.”
    Tiny relaxed in his seat, Jackie just shook her head. The man didn’t normally eat at all. She’d stake her life on it, but didn’t comment and merely concentrated on eating. It really was good.
    Jackie finished eating first, rushing through her food as she rushed through life, always hurrying to get to the next task. Tiny, of course, ate like he lived, savoring each moment and calmly enjoying it. Vincent was somewhere in the middle, gobbling it up at first, then slowing as he no doubt grew full. If he hadn’t eaten for decades as she suspected, his stomach surely would have shrunk, Jackie thought, but again didn’t say anything. He was the one insisting he ate, he could live with the consequences.
    Jackie thanked Tiny for the meal as