by J. D. Tyler
The last idea intrigued her in spite of herself—what kind of man would hit on his boss? One who was either very stupid or very confident.
Anna had always found confident men to be extremely sexy.
“Mr. James? What can I do for you?” She made it a point to know the name of every single employee, so his came effortlessly—and the question emerged more flirty than she’d intended.
Grayson James, the new prep chef, was one rung on the ladder above the janitor of this building. At age thirty-three, he was a bit long in the tooth if he hoped to make head chef one day, but he’d come highly recommended from Le Cordon Bleu, one of the most prestigious cooking schools around. That, and his letters of recommendation from the senior partners at his former law firm, had been enough for Anna. She’d hired him on the spot, despite a few reservations Ethan had voiced.
Who was she to hold back someone determined to follow his dream?
“Chef sent me to see if you wanted anything special for your dinner,” he said in a smooth, deep voice.
A “radio voice,” her mother would say if she were here. Anna toyed with her martini glass, trying to ignore the warmth that pooled in her middle at the sound and traveled south. The man was an employee and she had no business drooling over him, much less playing this flirtatious cat-and-mouse game with him for the past few weeks. But she supposed what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt anyone.
She cocked her head, lips curving upward. “I highly doubt Ethan did any such thing.”
He made a face. “Busted. But how else was I supposed to get away to talk to the most beautiful woman in the whole place?”
Pleasure curled through her insides. “You’ve got a big, steely pair, Mr. James. I like that.”
Something hungry, predatory, flared in his eyes and he leaned over slightly. His voice was husky as he parried her thrust. “Do you? That’s good, because I happen to like a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to grab it.”
“I’m afraid of very little,” she said, eyeing him in appreciation and not bothering to hide it.
“And yet I sense you holding back with me.”
“I’m careful in every aspect of my life. A little common sense is a good thing.”
“Not when it interferes with the fun of living, I think. I guess I’ll have to make it my mission to loosen you up, boss lady.” Her brows shot up, but he didn’t wait for a response. “Would you like to order something?”
You. Naked on a platter with an apple in your mouth. “What’s Ethan’s special tonight?”
“The duck over a bed of sautéed greens, with a mushroom wine sauce drizzled on top.”
“Sounds fantastic. I’ll have that.”
“Wise choice.” The man actually winked at her and grinned. “Ethan does get testy when the patrons don’t follow his recommendations.”
Damn the man for having the most alluring dimple on the left side of his mouth.
“Everything he creates is beyond compare. Our diners can’t go wrong, no matter what they order.”
“True. I’ll let him know your choice.” He waved a hand at her glass. “Another?”
She debated, then nodded. “I think I will.”
He laughed. “So long as you’re able to walk at the end of the evening, that’s fine.”
She barely managed to keep her mouth from falling open at his forwardness. If any other employee had made that remark, she would’ve reprimanded him. When it came to Gray, however, she couldn’t be upset when his playfulness was edged with genuine concern. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. I won’t be behind the wheel and I only live five blocks away.”
“But you could stagger in front of a tour bus,” he said innocently. “Then who would sign my paychecks?”
As she opened her mouth to retort that he wouldn’t have to worry about that if he was no longer working here, she was shocked when he turned his back and simply walked away. The arrogant bastard just left her sitting there, his carriage and attitude screaming that he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by her position as owner. Any of the others, save Ethan, would bow, scrape, and stammer in her presence. But not this man.
That damned confidence she couldn’t resist. Somehow, in the space of a couple of weeks, the prep chef had honed in on her weakness and filleted it like a sea bass in Ethan’s kitchen.
The second drink and her duck were delivered with a flourish, but with no further sign of Mr. James. It surprised her to realize she was disappointed. That small exchange had left her feeling more charged than she had in a while. Almost like she’d been awakened from a deep sleep.
Her meal had never tasted better, and she wondered whether a certain sexy prep chef had anything to do with that. Thoughts of him replayed in her head as she ate, and by the time she was ready to leave, she found her eyes straying toward the doors to the kitchen. Was she really so eager to get another glimpse of the man? You’re the boss. Just go in there and check on things. You don’t need an excuse.
When she was finished, she did just that. But only because she needed to close her office and retrieve her purse, she told herself. Mr. James was hard at work chopping vegetables when she walked through, and he barely acknowledged her with a nod. There was no cocky grin this time, no heat in his gaze. No familiarity. But then she caught Ethan observing him and not bothering to hide it, so that made sense. The chef was his boss as well and was much more stern and scary than Anna. No way would anyone in his right mind invite a tongue-lashing from Ethan.
Grayson James, on the other hand, could give me a tongue-lashing of a different sort. A very welcome one.
Good God! Annoyed with herself, she went through some paperwork and studied some orders for fresh meat and vegetables. Then she left twenty minutes later, locking her office and passing through the kitchen without letting her attention stray to the object of her fantasies, and took the elevator down to the lobby.
Fatigue dragged at her as she pushed through the revolving door, and she suddenly wished she’d called a cab. But that was ridiculous for a mere five-block walk, even this late at night. At least the city never really slept, and there were cops on almost every corner this close to Times Square.
That’s what she told herself, anyway, as the bright lights of her restaurant’s block gave way to the lengthening shadows of a residential area with fewer people about. Though she was tired, her senses were on alert for any movement. Any person who didn’t belong.
So she was jolted with terror when a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her into an alley between two apartment buildings. “Hey!” she yelled. “Stop!”
Another shriek was abruptly cut off by a palm clapped over her mouth as she was pulled backward, farther into the darkness. The hand was covered by a ragged glove with the fingers cut out, because they were digging into her cheek.
Every horror story she’d ever heard about women being abducted and assaulted flashed through her mind, and she exploded in movement, fighting him like a wildcat. Twisting and bucking, she managed to make him lose his grip for a moment—just long enough to sink her teeth into the side of his hand as hard as she could through the glove’s material.
“Ahhh! Fuck!” Jerking his hand away, he shoved her back into the side of the nearest building, then spun her around and pushed her face-first into the bricks before she could glimpse his features or clothing. “Scream or bite me again and I’ll snap your pretty neck! Got it?”
She nodded, heart slamming against her rib cage. “Wh-what do you want? Money? It’s in my purse.”
“And where’s your purse?”
She jerked her head as much as she could in the direction they’d come. “Over there. I dropped it.”
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll go back for that,” he said in a low voice. “But I’m thinking the real prize is right here in my hands. Begging for a piece of this.” As emphasis, he ground his groin into her ass.
“Y-you don’t want to do this,” she said, breathless with fear. “Someone will come and you’ll be caught. Jus
t take the money and go.”
“Nobody’s coming. Why can’t I have both?”
“People live here. You don’t want to risk jail.”
“As if guys like me care about getting sent to Club Fed. Three squares a day, exercise, reading, and TV. Hell, I could even study for a trade, which is more than I get on the street.”
“Please,” she begged as his hand began to creep under the hem of her blouse. “Don’t—”
Just then, the man’s weight vanished from her back. Before she could register why, she heard a vicious curse and the sounds of flesh hitting flesh. Spinning around, she spotted two men bounce off the wall and into some garbage cans, sending the receptacles flying and causing a loud clatter. In the dim light, she could barely make out a large man punching a slightly smaller man. The more slightly built one was dressed in a hoodie, the bigger one in jeans and a T-shirt.
She had to do something. Get help before her rescuer got hurt.
Just as she was about to turn and run, the attacker shoved the bigger man away from him and fled. He was fast, booking it down the alley and skidding around the corner. Gone, just like that. The bigger man stood under a sliver of moonlight, chest heaving, his tense stance suggesting that he was tempted to give chase. Instead, he faced her and took a couple of tentative steps.
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
His voice was so familiar, but she was badly shaken. She could hardly think straight as she replied, “I feel sick.”
“Here, let me help you.” Taking her gently by the hand, he led her out of the alley, stooping to grab her purse on the way and hand it to her.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
Tears pricked her eyes, a testament to how frightened she’d been. She hadn’t cried in years, since she’d finally learned to swallow being a disappointment to her mother.
Her rescuer urged her back onto the sidewalk, under a streetlamp. Then he turned to speak but stopped, mouth hanging open. “Anna! I mean, Miss Claire,” he corrected himself. “My God, I can’t believe it’s you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I— Mr. James,” she stammered in surprise. “Yes, I think so.”
As if to reassure himself, he stepped close and took her hands in his, rubbing them as though to ward off a chill. Then he turned her a bit and inspected her from every angle.
She gave a watery laugh. “Really, I’m fine.” Except for the nausea, which threatened to upset her dinner.
“You don’t look fine,” he replied, eyeing her with a concerned frown. “Just to be sure, I’m going to walk you the rest of the way home.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.”
He shook his head. “I insist. Which way?”
“No, I mean it’s really not necessary because I live there.” She pointed to the building on the corner.
“You’re kidding! That’s where I live, too.” He smiled. “Then it’s definitely no trouble at all to see you safely to your door.”
“I don’t—”
“Please? For my peace of mind?”
He looked so handsome, so worried, that she had to smile back. “Fine. That would be nice. Thanks.”
“First, though, we should file a report. I should’ve thought right away of calling the police.”
She considered that, then blew out a breath. “I think that’ll be a waste of time. I’m not hurt and he didn’t take anything. I didn’t even get a look at him, so my input isn’t going to help much.”
“Are you sure? They can at least have it on record.”
“No. Really, I just want to get home.”
He hesitated, then relented. “I can understand that. Come on.”
Tucking her hand in his arm, he escorted her the rest of the way to their building and inside. As they crossed the spacious lobby, she briefly wondered how a lowly prep chef could afford to live in a neighborhood like this, where the apartments were so expensive. Then she remembered that he’d been a hotshot attorney of some kind, so that made sense. He’d probably socked away plenty before changing careers.
As they stepped into the elevator, his finger hovered over the number panel. “Which floor?”
“Six.”
He smiled again, a blinding slash of white that made her knees a little weak. “What do you know?”
“You, too?” She blinked at him.
“Yep. I’m curious, though. How is it that the boss lady missed the fact that I live in her building, on the same floor?”
She shrugged. “I make it a point to memorize names and faces because I like my employees to feel as if they matter to me—and they do. But my manager, Jeff Wilson, does all of the hiring paperwork and tax forms, and he collects the employee information sheets we keep on file. If I need to know specific information about one of you, I can look it up.”
“I met Mr. Wilson, but I don’t see him around much,” he mused. “He doesn’t take a very active role on the floor.”
“Because that’s not what I hired him to do. He does most of the paperwork, ads, and marketing.”
“So you can be among the people, which is what you enjoy most.”
“Yes.”
“And yet . . .” The elevator arrived at their floor, and they got off.
She stopped and faced him. “What?”
“I don’t know if I should say.” His gaze settled on hers, assessing.
“You can speak freely. You did just save my life.” She grinned in encouragement.
He relaxed some. “It’s just that you seem very reserved most of the time. Aloof. It’s interesting to hear you say that you enjoy being around your staff and guests when you don’t really show it.”
She stared at him in surprise. “I don’t? But . . . I speak to people all day. I ask them how they’re doing, if their meals are excellent, what they’re celebrating. Things like that.”
“What about the staff?”
“What about them?” She started to feel defensive. “I ask them if they need anything, what I can do to help them. I inquire about any incidents that may have occurred, how the kitchen has been running, check on the special reservations to make sure the staff is prepared.”
“Yes, you do. You’re a good boss,” he allowed.
“Why, thank you,” she said dryly, giving him a droll look. “I’m so glad you approve.”
He ignored her sarcasm. “But when was the last time you actually talked to any of them?”
“What the hell do you mean? I just told you I talk all day!”
“When’s the last time you asked one of them anything personal?”
“Personal?” She was at a complete loss. “Like what?”
“Jesus.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, then dropped his hand and regarded her in part amusement, part exasperation. “You know Brandon the waiter?”
“Brandon Gates. Of course I do.”
“Right. But did you know his pet iguana died yesterday?”
Obviously one of them had been dropped on their head. And it wasn’t her.
“So? As long as Ethan didn’t serve it in the soup, what does that have to do with me?”
The bastard actually laughed. An honest-to-God laugh that made his eyes crinkle and her toes curl. Made her insides warm in the most pleasant way.
“Christ, you’re so uptight, you squeak when you walk.”
“What?” She gaped at him. “Listen, Mr. James—”
“I saved your life, as you pointed out,” he murmured, moving closer. Reaching out, he gently touched her face with the rough pads of his fingers. “I believe we’ve moved on to first names, Anna.”
Her breath caught in her chest, her nerves dancing at his touch. The hunger in his eyes, his nearness torched all of her arguments to dust. At five-eight she wasn’t a short woman, but the top of her head barely reached his chin. That was a secret thrill of hers—a big, tall man surrounding her. Pressing her down, covering her lips with his.
He was so close, their mouths almost met.
Then he stepped back, and it took her a moment to adjust. To realize he wasn’t going to kiss her after all. Flushing, she attempted to cover her embarrassment by fishing in her purse for the keys to her apartment. Finding them, she gave him a smile she didn’t feel.
“Well, Gray, I should get home.”
She turned and started down the hallway and he kept pace beside her, apparently not ready to relinquish his role as her protector. Suddenly her ordered world had been unbalanced, not just by the attack but by Gray’s nearness, and she wondered if that’s what he intended.
At her door, she unlocked it and faced him. “Thank you for saving me. I can’t imagine what might’ve happened if you hadn’t been walking home right behind me.”
The idea made her feel sick again.
“I’m glad I was there.” A shadow passed over his face and was gone. “Let me come in? You’ve had a shock and I want to see you settled before I leave.”
Settled. That would be the very last thing she would feel if she allowed him inside; of that, there was no doubt. Some force that obliterated reason and good sense had her opening the door anyway, stepping aside to welcome him to her home.
“Nice place,” he commented.
“I imagine it’s the same as yours.”
“Just the floor plan.” Looking around, he appeared impressed. “I definitely don’t have your sense of style.”
“I can’t claim much credit, except for the colors. I picked those and then hired a decorator.”
“I like the browns with the deep red accents. It fits you.”
Curious, she studied him as she set her purse on the bar. “How so?”
“The browns are subtle, understated, and strong. Alone, they might be boring to the eye, and then bam! The red is exciting. Just like those flashes of your true personality when you let them out, as you did in the hallway a few minutes ago.”
