Sizzling Read Online Free PDF Page B

Her sister linked arms with her and led her
into the kitchen. "While we're eating, we can strategize about
Reid. What you can do to get his attention."

"I
don't want his attention. He's not anyone I would ever want to be
with."

It was an old pattern, but one that had always
served Lori well. She found it really helpful to put down that which
she couldn't ever have. It made the doing without so much easier.
    * * *
    "I'VE MISSED EVERYTHING about this kitchen," Penny
Buchanan said as she ran her hands across The Waterfronts
countertops, then lightly touched the control knobs on the stove.
"It's bigger than I remember. Is that possible?"

Dani
Buchanan grinned at her sister-in-law. "No. You're remembering
the kitchen filled with people and now it's empty."

"But
it will be full soon," Penny said dreamily. "We'll be
cooking delicious food and it will be like I was never gone."

She
leaned against the counter, then stared at Dani. "Oh, God. Am I
a horrible mother for being thrilled to be back at work? I am, aren't
I?"

Dani laughed. "Not at all."

Penny
shook her head. "No. It's not natural. I shouldn't have any
interests other than the baby. What if Allison knew I loved my work
more than her? She would be devastated."

Dani grabbed
Penny by the arm. "Hey, slow down. Take a breath. You're fine.
Loving your work is allowed, even encouraged. You need to be back in
the kitchen because being a chef is part of who you are. As for the
baby, Allison is incredibly spoiled and totally loved. Just be
grateful you love your job."

"You mean be rational,"
Penny said with a slight smile. "Hard to do these days, when I'm
living in a sea of hormones. But I'll try. You're right. I love Ally,
but cooking will always be my passion."

"See, I
think you have a much bigger problem with Cal than with the baby.
He's not going to appreciate knowing he comes second to a bunch of
pots and pans."

Penny's smile softened. "He knows I
love him."

Dani had liked Penny the first time Penny had
married Cal. The second time was even better.

"So you're
back, you're excited about being back," Dani said. "This is
a good thing."

Penny eyed her. "I think I can guess
why. You want to leave."

Dani glanced around at the
restaurant kitchen. Penny had given her a job when she'd desperately
needed to do something with her life, but this wasn't where she
wanted to be in five years, or even five weeks.

"Let's
just say the thrill of sticking it to Gloria has faded," Dani
admitted. "You were great to give me a chance here, but I have
to move on."

"I understand," Penny told her. "I
don't like it, but I understand. Do you have any idea what you're
going to do?"

"Try to make up for all the time I
wasted trying to please Gloria."

Penny touched her
shoulder. "Maybe if you think about it as a growth
experience…"

"So far, that's not working. As
mean as Gloria is, I still can't believe she let me work for her all
those years, let me believe I had a chance of moving up in the
company, when she was never going to let it happen."

Dani
closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. If she continued to let
Gloria upset her, then she continued to let the old bat win.

But
it was hard to let it all go— and impossible to forget Gloria's
bombshell. That the reason Dani would never make it in the Buchanan
empire was that she, Dani, wasn't a real Buchanan.

"Look
at the bright side," Penny said, affection obvious in her voice.
"You have a great résumé and fabulous letters of
recommendation from me and Edouard."

At the mention of
the cook who had been left in charge of the kitchen while Penny had
been out on maternity leave, Dani grinned. "Edouard said he
wasn't going to write me a letter of recommendation. He said I hadn't
been deferential enough while he was in charge. That I hadn't
supported his pain."

"Oh, really? Then perhaps I'll
tell Edouard I'm not feeling ready to come back. I can leave him in
charge a little longer."

As Edouard had spent the last
eight weeks whining about