in.
27
Shayla Black
Winding down the hall, she was conscious of Luc‟s eyes on her. His
gaze brushed her shoulders, hugged the curve of her waist, lingered on her
ass. She could feel the burn.
“The kitchen isn‟t visible from the dining room. Good layout.”
When they reached the large, mostly stainless steel room, she flipped
on the lights. “I‟ve heard people don‟t like seeing the kitchen when they
eat.”
Again, Luc crossed his arms over his chest, looking from one end of
the room to the other, nodding slowly. “Very nice. Butcher-block prep area
is well placed and large. Twelve-burner stove. Gas?”
“Of course.”
His approval showed on his face, warming her. “A fair number of
industrial ovens. Four sinks. Good placement of utensils along the walls.
Warmers?”
Alyssa pointed to shelved space under the counters and another at the
pass, where plates would be assembled.
“Good. You‟ve got plenty of refrigeration space.” He glanced around
another corner and opened the door. “Great freezer. Ample storage.”
“You can never have too much.” She smiled.
“Hmm.” He looked as if he was fighting the urge to smile back. “What
sort of flooring is this?” He stomped a boot on the surface.
“Cork. Never slippery, easy to sweep or replace, and provides natural
cushion for everyone‟s feet.”
He finally turned to stare at her, the fact that he was impressed
warming his features. “You planned all this by yourself ?”
“Mostly. A bit of help from my contractor. Sexy Sirens has a few
customers in the restaurant business, and I asked their advice. The rest . . .
I did my homework. I wanted everything to be right.”
Something on his face changed, closed. His body tensed as his dark
gaze skittered away. “You succeeded.”
Damn! What had caused the warmth on his face to chill? The mention
of Sexy Sirens? Deke had told her once that she wasn‟t Luc‟s type because
he was looking for a lady . Did his avoidance mean he saw her as one small
step up from a whore?
28
Shayla Black
She raised her chin. Alyssa knew men. Even if Luc was loath to admit
that she was his type, she knew she made his dick twitch. It was a start.
Now he was all business again. “What time can you have the staff
here tomorrow?”
“Noon work for you?”
“Perfect.” He turned away.
“You‟ve already approved the menus. Anything else you need to see
tonight?” She gripped the keys in her hand, wondering how to recover the
mood they‟d shared just minutes ago.
Patience, she warned herself. Stick to the plan . The night was still young.
LUC followed Alyssa to the restaurant‟s empty parking lot. The ample
lighting would make patrons feel secure. However, the illumination pissed
him off because he could see every sway of her enticing hips as she
sashayed to her car. It made him hard. Again.
He‟d driven his SUV from the strip club, mostly so he didn‟t have to
shut himself in a confined space with her, even for three blocks. He didn‟t
think he could be responsible for his actions for even that long. In
Bonheur‟s kitchen, the thought of laying her across one of those gleaming
stainless steel counters and fucking her senseless gripped him by the
throat. He should thank her for bringing up Sexy Sirens and the favors
she‟d likely had to give her loyal customers to obtain their advice. The
thought made him grit his teeth and his dinner churn. His temper soar.
Alyssa was a stripper, for fuck‟s sake. Not the sort of woman who went
without sex for two years. He‟d been an idiot to believe that when she‟d
whispered the trembling lie as he‟d tumbled her into bed three months ago.
She was in the business of leading men around by their dicks. And she was
good at it. He couldn‟t be angry with her for being herself; she‟d never
pretended to be anything different. But he could—and should—be furious
with himself for caring.
29
Shayla Black
Despite the lot
27
Shayla Black
Winding down the hall, she was conscious of Luc‟s eyes on her. His
gaze brushed her shoulders, hugged the curve of her waist, lingered on her
ass. She could feel the burn.
“The kitchen isn‟t visible from the dining room. Good layout.”
When they reached the large, mostly stainless steel room, she flipped
on the lights. “I‟ve heard people don‟t like seeing the kitchen when they
eat.”
Again, Luc crossed his arms over his chest, looking from one end of
the room to the other, nodding slowly. “Very nice. Butcher-block prep area
is well placed and large. Twelve-burner stove. Gas?”
“Of course.”
His approval showed on his face, warming her. “A fair number of
industrial ovens. Four sinks. Good placement of utensils along the walls.
Warmers?”
Alyssa pointed to shelved space under the counters and another at the
pass, where plates would be assembled.
“Good. You‟ve got plenty of refrigeration space.” He glanced around
another corner and opened the door. “Great freezer. Ample storage.”
“You can never have too much.” She smiled.
“Hmm.” He looked as if he was fighting the urge to smile back. “What
sort of flooring is this?” He stomped a boot on the surface.
“Cork. Never slippery, easy to sweep or replace, and provides natural
cushion for everyone‟s feet.”
He finally turned to stare at her, the fact that he was impressed
warming his features. “You planned all this by yourself ?”
“Mostly. A bit of help from my contractor. Sexy Sirens has a few
customers in the restaurant business, and I asked their advice. The rest . . .
I did my homework. I wanted everything to be right.”
Something on his face changed, closed. His body tensed as his dark
gaze skittered away. “You succeeded.”
Damn! What had caused the warmth on his face to chill? The mention
of Sexy Sirens? Deke had told her once that she wasn‟t Luc‟s type because
he was looking for a lady . Did his avoidance mean he saw her as one small
step up from a whore?
28
Shayla Black
She raised her chin. Alyssa knew men. Even if Luc was loath to admit
that she was his type, she knew she made his dick twitch. It was a start.
Now he was all business again. “What time can you have the staff
here tomorrow?”
“Noon work for you?”
“Perfect.” He turned away.
“You‟ve already approved the menus. Anything else you need to see
tonight?” She gripped the keys in her hand, wondering how to recover the
mood they‟d shared just minutes ago.
Patience, she warned herself. Stick to the plan . The night was still young.
LUC followed Alyssa to the restaurant‟s empty parking lot. The ample
lighting would make patrons feel secure. However, the illumination pissed
him off because he could see every sway of her enticing hips as she
sashayed to her car. It made him hard. Again.
He‟d driven his SUV from the strip club, mostly so he didn‟t have to
shut himself in a confined space with her, even for three blocks. He didn‟t
think he could be responsible for his actions for even that long. In
Bonheur‟s kitchen, the thought of laying her across one of those gleaming
stainless steel counters and fucking her senseless gripped him by the
throat. He should thank her for bringing up Sexy Sirens and the favors
she‟d likely had to give her loyal customers to obtain their advice. The
thought made him grit his teeth and his dinner churn. His temper soar.
Alyssa was a stripper, for fuck‟s sake. Not the sort of woman who went
without sex for two years. He‟d been an idiot to believe that when she‟d
whispered the trembling lie as he‟d tumbled her into bed three months ago.
She was in the business of leading men around by their dicks. And she was
good at it. He couldn‟t be angry with her for being herself; she‟d never
pretended to be anything different. But he could—and should—be furious
with himself for caring.
29
Shayla Black
Despite the lot
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