Hot and Bothered (Hot in the Kitchen) Read Online Free PDF Page A

everyone on task. “Shane and I got the Daniels wedding in May next year.”
    Everyone made noises of congratulations and raised their glasses. DeLuca Doyle Special Events had become the hottest party planning company in Chicago since its inception just over eight months ago. Getting the wedding of the mayor’s son was huge, but then Cara never did anything by half.
    “By that time, the babies should be a few months old,” Jules said, unable to keep the awe out of her voice at the idea of Cara as Supermom. She’d always had a bit of a girl crush on the slender blonde who exuded sophistication and frightening competence. “How are you going to manage?”
    Cara gave one of her knowing smiles. “This event will be big enough that we won’t need to take on as many clients for the next year, but we’ll probably hire someone to help with the business.”
    “Yeah, we will.” Shane’s expression was filled with loving concern. Cara was a whirling dervish when it came to work and pregnancy hadn’t slowed her down, much to Shane’s chagrin.
    Jules adored how they complimented each other. Having a partner like that at her side, who loved her despite her many faults and adored her son as his own, was a dream Jules could barely fathom in her current situation.
    Her son had no shortage of strong male role models, but she had to admit a small part of her longed for the dream of co-parenting. Discussing how your child was doing in school, whether he had an aptitude for footie or baseball, does he have a crush on that girl in eighth-grade English. The idea of having to do this alone had been the one thing that terrified her from the beginning. It was why she had sought out Jack after her ratfink ex, Simon, left her low and dry.
    Her gaze slid to Tad and Evan, deep in serious conversation about the color differences between gouda and cheddar. They had a special bond, those two. Pity the man never once looked at her with a fraction of that adoration.
    All this talent and go-getting and love… Tears pricked at the backs of her eyelids. The good-natured poking ebbed and flowed around her, threatening to pull her under if she stayed here one more second. Quietly, she slipped away to the restroom.
    No one noticed.
    The evidence in the mirror was as plain as the pimply skin on her face. She had stopped breastfeeding a couple of months ago, so her skin was starting to clear up, but there was no doubt why she would be kryptonite to any healthy man’s libido. No wonder Tad had recoiled in horror when she made a move on him. Hells bells, she looked like a teenage nightmare.
    “Hey, are you okay?”
    Muscling in on her reflection was her gorgeous, curvy sister-in-law Lili, who with her unblemished olive skin and mane of dark hair looked like a young Sophia Loren. Fortunately, she was as beautiful inside as she was out, so Jules couldn’t find a single reason to hate her.
    “Yeah, just taking a break.”
    “We can be a bit much,” Lili acknowledged with a sympathetic smile. “Must be great to have some peace and quiet at your own place. Though I’m not sure I’ve forgiven you for leaving me alone to absorb all your brother’s attention.”
    “You love it,” Jules said, knowing that her sister-in-law was being nice but that she craved privacy with Jack while they tried for a baby. Ten months married, her brother was antsy about Lili not being pregnant yet and especially competitive because his brother and sister-in-law were expecting twins. If Jules could facilitate more spontaneous sexy times by not being around, then she was happy to help.
    If she could find her place in the meantime, all the better.
    The door flew open and in stomped Cara in a whirlwind of barely boxed energy. She stood with hands fanning her hips, drawing all eyes to her huge baby bump.
    “So, what’s eating at you?” she asked Jules. Not known for her subtlety, Cara was fond of striking to the heart of the issue, and for once, Jules appreciated it.
    It was