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we’re on my tab right now. And since I’m paying by the hour, get lost, Tyson.”

“Don’t worry about paying,” Jenna returned. “This is really just the consultation phase. I don’t charge for

that, not until I get the job.”

Bryce glowered at her. “Okay, then. Why don’t you sit down and we’ll get back to work and . . .

consult?”

“I don’t think so, Bryce. You need to think things through. I might not be what you need.”

“So, you’re just walking away?” A look of panic seemed to flicker in his eyes, but it cleared immediately.

“I’m not sure I’d be the right one. Think of what you want to do and let me know. You have my

number.”

And with that, she walked to the front of the restaurant, allowed the handsome maître d’ to help her with

her jacket before she made one hell of a magnificent, self-assured exit through the front door.

“What the hell was that about?” Bryce threw his napkin onto the table and followed Tyson into the

kitchen.

“What was what about?”

“Don’tscrew around. I want to know what the fuck you think you’re doing asking Jenna out to dinner.”

“What do you think I’m doing?”

“You want the truth? I think you’re trying to get yourself a job by getting into her pants.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe you’re wrong.”

Bryce snorted. “Please. I know you. You’re an operator.”

Tyson wheeled on him. “Is it so damn hard for you to believe that maybe I want to get into Jenna’s pants

for no other reason than I find her incredibly sexy? Not all of us manipulate a woman with food.”

“And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, c’mon. You did this tonight just because you’re desperate to get Jenna to help you with your

reputation. Not because you enjoy her company or the sight of her sitting across the table from you.”

“Of course I enjoy Jenna’s company. I always have. Besides, this conversation isn’t about me,” Bryce

thundered, feeling a vein in his neck bulge and pulsate. “Back it up to the part where you said you wanted

Jenna. That’s what we’re discussing.”

Tyson gave Bryce his back and started stacking up plates, ready ing them to be washed. “I called her up,

hoping for a date. She got the wrong impression that I was looking for a job. I was embarrassed, so I

went along. But the truth is, I like her. I’d like to date her. And tomorrow is the perfect night.”

Bryce narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

Tyson stared at him with a look of absolute astonishment. “Man, that’s sad. But kind of expected.

You’re so self-absorbed these days with your head up your ass, it’s a wonder you even come up for

air.”

“Tyson—” he growled.

“It’s her birthday, Bryce. She’s twenty-eight on May the eighth. That’s tomorrow, if you don’t know.”

Bryce felt the blow to his chest. He’d forgotten. Completely.Shit.

“I mean to show her a good time,” his brother went on as he loaded up the dishwasher. “She deserves

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it.”

Bryce snapped to attention, his body balking, ready to fight. “Just what kind of a good time?”

“Whatever I can think up, and whatever she’s willing to try,” Tyson said with a lusty grin.

Red swam before Bryce’s eyes, and before he knew it, he’d slammed Tyson up against the counter and

got in his face. “She’s not a play-thing, Tyson. You got that?”

“Why are you so upset? You don’t want her.”

Yeah, but he didn’t want Tyson having her, either. Or any other man, for that matter.Oh, hell, no. The

thought of some other guy’s paws all over her made him feel violent, and that was just stupid. He’d

known her for ten years, and he’d never cared before. Hell, he’d even double-dated with her a time or

two. He’d seen her with other guys. He’d even seen her kiss one beneath the mistletoe last Christmas, at

the party he’d held at the restaurant.

Yeah, he’d seen it, and he hadn’t liked his reaction. So he’d buried it and pretended he’d never seen the

guy’s hands go around her waist or her head dip back, allowing his kiss. He was so damn good at

pretending that he’d forgotten the feeling of watching her with another. Until now, until Tyson made those

feelings erupt like a volcano.

“I’m telling you right now, Tyson, break the date.”

“Why?”

“Don’t question me. Just do it.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not six anymore. I don’t take orders from you. Especially about

women I might be interested in dating.”

“Jenna is off-limits.”

“We’ll see about that,” Tyson muttered, turning once again to the dishes.

Bryce was about to wheel his brother around for another bout of fighting when his cell phone went off.

“Hello?” he snapped.

“Morning, Mary Sunshine. Man, I hope this isn’t how you address your adoring customers.” Trey. The

eldest Ryder brother, and thankfully, the rational one.

“It’s nearly ten p.m. here, and the morning is a hell of a way off.”

“Well, it’s morning here in London. Three a.m. to be precise.”

“You just getting in?” Bryce asked, sending Tyson’s back another glare.

“Yeah, couldn’t resist a stroll through Regent’s Park. The fog was beautiful, just hanging low over the

grass and trees, and the moon’s full—very atmospheric.”

“Did you bring your camera?”

“Am I ever without it?”

Trey was a photographer—a famous photographer with an impressive portfolio. His specialty was

people—stunning models to be precise—but his passion was moody landscapes.

“So, how did it go with Jenna?” Trey asked.

Bryce frowned, not wanting to relive that hour with Jenna. He wasn’t in the right place to go down the

strange path he’d started down earlier that evening. “Let’s just say it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped.”

“And what were you hoping for?”

The question stopped him cold. Trey didn’t need to know Bryce couldn’t stop thinking of Jenna in a

myriad of sexual positions.

“Bryce? What happened?”

“Nothing,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I . . . ah . . . nothing. She came up with some lame plan. I

can’t believe she’s actually gotten this far in business if this is the sort of idea she comes up with.”

“What did she want you to do?”

Bryce pressed his eyes shut. “Oh, something about giving free lessons at local libraries and starting up a

class for inner-city kids. And get this: She wants me to do women’s clubs, like church clubs and

parent-teacher councils at schools.”

“Sounds like she wants to bring you some buzz, but a different type than what you’ve been getting.”

“Yeah, well, cooking with blue-haired old ladies is not what I had in mind.”

“Well, cooking with supermodels isn’t going to get you back into the good graces of your fans.”

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“You’ve got it so damn good, Trey. You don’t know what it’s like.”

“What, taking pictures of models?”

“Gorgeous, half-naked models,” Bryce corrected him. “And dating those same models.”

“Yeah, it’s wonderful. I love putting up with their diva tantrums.”

“I’m not feeling sorry for you,” Bryce snapped.

“But you’re feeling sorry for yourself ?”

“No, I’m pissed off that I’ve spent a grand so far on a plan that I think will have me laughed at across the

globe.”

“I think she’s hit on something.”

“Yeah,” Bryce drawled. “My total humiliation.”

“Nah, Jenna wouldn’t want you humiliated, little brother. She’s not that kind of woman. What I think

Jenna wants to do is rebuild your credibility.”

“I’ve got plans to open two more restaurants, and my financial backers are waffling after this scandal. I

just can’t afford the time, Trey. I need a quick fix.”

“I think I may have one—a quick fix, that is.”

“And that is?”

“In my extensive experience with women, I’ve learned a few things.”

“You don’t have to brag.”

“I’m not,” Trey said with a long sigh. “It’s just that I’m surrounded by women all day long. I know how

their brains work. And what they hate the most is the thing that threatens them the most.”

“And that is?”

“A perfect specimen. What you need, Bryce, is to be seen with your average, everyday girl. They don’t

want to see you with the types you usually go for, not after that slam at housewives. They don’t want to

see you with some tall, svelte runway model who doesn’t eat. Being seen with someone nonthreatening is

the first way to take the sting out of your comment. You know, get your fans to believe that you practice

what you preach.”

“I’m not going there, Trey. I don’t do commitment. I especially don’t do relationships that could threaten

my restaurant.”

“Not every woman is out for what you have, Bryce.”

Bryce snorted. “Name me a woman who doesn’t want to get her French-manicured nails into a pile of

green. Look, I’m not parting with half my assets just to get my rep back.”

“Man, Chrissy really did a number on you, didn’t she?”

“I don’t need your psychoanalysis. And why should I take your advice? When have you ever been in a

relationship?”

“Well . . . I’ll cut your tongue out if you ever repeat this, but it’s not like I’ve never thought about it. I . . .

there was a time—once—when I thought about it.”

“Who was she?”

“Not important,” Trey answered in his typically cool way. “Just know that I, too, have felt the lack of

someone special in my life. For once I’d like to come home to someone instead of this empty flat. And

what’s more, I think you want it, too. You’re just scared that you might find yourself another Chrissy.”

Bryce was indignant. He was not scared, for God’s sake. He was careful. Big difference. But he had to

ask, “So where do you recommend I find this paragon of female virtue?”

There was a long pause, followed by a sigh. “I don’t know, little brother. Maybe look around you.

Maybe there’s someone right in front of you.”

What did Trey know? Bryce didn’t need a nice, conventional relationship. What he needed was to go

prowling for chicks. Then, he could pick out a suitable woman—one who didn’t want anything more out

of him than his bedroom talents—and screw his way to oblivion.

“Look, it’s been great talking to you,” Bryce muttered, checking the time on his watch, “but I gotta run.

I’ve got a present to whip up.”

“Oh yeah, for who?”

“Jenna. It’s her birthday tomorrow.”

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“You baking a cake?”

“No, I’m thinking something else. Something with chocolate and caramel.”

“Sounds good, if a bit decadent. I don’t know one woman who would risk even looking at it, let alone

tasting it.”

“I hate that!” Bryce snapped. “I can’t stand being around women who only pick at their meals, especially

after I’ve gone to the trouble of cooking for them.”

“I know. I usually eat while they watch me.”

Bryce thought of the last time he had sat down and enjoyed a meal with a woman. An image of sharing

fries with Jenna at the Lucan fall fair years ago came to mind. Jenna. Why was everything coming back to

her tonight?

“Just realized you’ve been dating the same diet-crazy women that I have?” Trey asked.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“That’s pretty bad for a chef,” Trey chuckled.

“Yeah, pretty bad. Look, I gotta bail.”

“Hey, Bryce. Make sure you use your eyes, buddy. I know someone is right there, just waiting to be

noticed. Just look around you, and you’ll see her.”

Three

“o,what’dhemake?”

Jennaflicked through the TV channels while she cradled the phone against her shoulder and ear.

“Mushroom caps, my favorite. Of course they were to die for. Everything Bryce makes is to die for.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to the main course, much less Bryce for dessert.”

“Ooh, you sound horny,” her sister said.

“Obviously. But I’m not going to ruin my brilliant plan by letting my needs get the better of me.”

“Why don’t you just jump him already? Maybe it’ll be so damn good for him, he’ll become obsessed

with you.”

“There’s no way in hell Bryce is going to become obsessed with me, at least not yet, and not after the

string of girlfriends I’ve seen him with. They all look like they’ve come from the Playboy Mansion, where

I’m certain they honed many of their skills, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, you readCosmo , don’t you?”

“Cosmoand actual hands-on experience are two different things. So, no, I’m not going to have sex with

him, even if he did offer, until I know I’ve got him ensnared—and what will get him that way is my brain.

Right now Bryce is way too wary of women and relationships, so sleeping with him at this point would be

a huge mistake. He’d never commit after a night of sex. There has to be more. I have to gain his trust and

make him believe that I’m not out to hurt and destroy him.”

“You sound . . . I don’t know. Restless or something tonight, Jen.”

Aiming the remote at the screen, Jenna tumbled through the channels for the third time. Usually her

sister’s phone calls made her feel so much better. Tonight it was the opposite. Sarah had just wound her

up further.

“So, what did he think of the plan?”

“Hated it, as I suspected. You know, Sarah, I think I’ve finally come to understand something. The

Bryce I fell in love with is long gone, replaced by this rich, social-climbing womanizer I don’t know.”