“Effectively, welcome again, man. It’s nice to see you.”

“Thanks, James. I wished to see how the renovations are going. By the way in which, I respect all the images you despatched.” Shortly earlier than I’d left for California, we’d began development on an growth to the restaurant. Including two extra workplaces within the again, a non-public eating room, and extra sq. footage within the kitchen. I used to be a hands-on type of man and never being round for the venture drove me nuts. However, James and I had been buddies since I opened the place and understanding me properly, he’d stored me up to date with emails and pictures.

James laughed and slapped me on the again earlier than turning and heading in direction of the again workplaces. “Not an issue”—he glanced again with a regretful smile—“I want I had time to indicate you round proper now, however I’ve an interview with a possible waitress. The contractor is right here although, or you may wait till after my appointment and we will look over the area collectively.”

My eyes swept over the principally empty restaurant. It was late morning and the workers was simply starting to arrange for the lunch crowd. The ambiance was plush, sultry, with darkish woods and wealthy blues, burgundies, and golds. I used to be pleased with what I’d constructed. And I used to be pleased as fuck to be house for good.

“Owen?”

I regarded as much as discover James a number of steps forward, me curiously. Chuckling, I closed the hole. “Sorry, misplaced in my very own little world. I’ve received a number of issues to atone for in my workplace, so I’ll wait till you’re carried out.” We’d resumed strolling however at my phrases, he hesitated.

“Rattling. I’m sorry, Owen, however my workplace is being painted. I’ve received Sienna ready in yours”—he grinned instantly—“Andy is right here if you wish to go harass her.”

I laughed, shaking my head. Andy was my head chef and likewise occurred to be James’s spouse. He thought it was completely hysterical when Andy and I butted heads. We might each be slightly territorial and she or he hated it after I reminded her that her kitchen was, the truth is, my kitchen and she or he couldn’t kick me out. I trusted her fully, or I wouldn’t have employed her for the job. That didn’t imply I didn’t have recommendations and opinions. I’ll have owned the place, however I used to be a chef at first. Typically although, I simply favored to get her riled up.

“Positive,” I agreed. “Simply let me drop my bag in my workplace.” I adopted behind him, my thoughts and coronary heart settling, discovering consolation in a spot I thought-about house. It had been a tough yr, and I used to be prepared for the everlasting change.

I’d been contemplating retiring from my TV present for the final couple of seasons, nevertheless it wasn’t like I had a spouse and youngsters to return house to, so I stored vacillating in my determination. Being house was bittersweet generally. I had a fame for being a woman’s man however the fact was, I wasn’t a participant. I most popular to be in a relationship. And recently, I’d watched virtually all my buddies meet their soulmates, fall in love, get married, and begin a household.

I used to be over the moon for them, nevertheless it introduced my solo state of affairs into evident perspective. Nonetheless, assembly the proper of woman in Hollywood was a bit like discovering the one clam with the pearl.

Then I’d met Hilary. She was a buddy of a buddy who had lastly worn me down till I agreed to be arrange. She was stunning, tall and willowy. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a curvy determine. The issue was, there was no chemistry. Nonetheless, we received alongside and she or he appeared to need the identical issues I did. Residence, household, stability. So, I stored seeing her in hopes that one thing would develop and produce the chemistry together with it.

I’d nearly satisfied myself that I might reside with out that half (though, I’d by no means been capable of convey myself to sleep together with her) and I advised her about my plans to cancel my present and return to Atlanta completely. I used to be going to ask her to return with me however to my shock, she flew off the fucking deal with. She appeared to suppose a life with me assured fame and fortune, and she or he was pissed as hell that I used to be keen to stroll away from it.

The unhappy half was that I felt virtually nothing after we cut up. I wasn’t offended or damage, I used to be…relieved. I’d virtually made a silly selection that might have ruined the whole lot. I wished to be with somebody who made my blood boil and my coronary heart burst. I wished…

Her.

I got here to an abrupt halt the second I stepped into my workplace, shocked by the lady sitting in entrance of my desk.

“Sienna, that is Owen, the proprietor of Saphyre,” James launched me as he rounded my giant, oak desk to sit down. She wasn’t precisely small, extra like dainty, with a fragile bone construction. Her chocolate hair regarded like a waterfall of silk, hanging halfway down her again. Her profile confirmed lengthy eyelashes, a cute upturned nostril, and full, plump lips. Then she turned her head and I used to be once more struck, frozen in place as her darkish brown eyes met mine. A shock zinged by my physique, waking up sure elements of me that had been hibernating as of late. My coronary heart felt prefer it was on the verge of exploding proper out of my chest. And one phrase pinged round in my head like a pinball. Mine.

“Let’s get began,” James acknowledged, selecting up a bit of paper from the desk and skimming it. I sprang into motion, strolling over to him and snatching it from his hand.

“I’ll take it from right here, James. Why don’t you go examine on at this time’s menu with Andy?” My eyes by no means left Sienna’s as I spoke, I couldn’t appear to look away.

“You’re going to interview her?” James sputtered. I might perceive his confusion. I often hated hiring entrance of the home workers and left it as much as James. There wasn’t time to elucidate it to him. I wanted to be alone with this lady. My lady.

“Sure,” I growled. “Now, get out.” I grabbed his elbow and lifted him from my gray, leather-based, swivel chair and shoved him in direction of the door. I waited till I heard the clicking of the it shutting earlier than dropping into my seat and giving Sienna my most scorching, panty-melting smile.

2

Sienna

Whoa.

Yup. I virtually stated that aloud, and I couldn’t even blame myself if I’d truly carried out it. The man standing in entrance of me was greater than sizzling sufficient to warrant such a response, even throughout an interview. The darkish denims and midnight blue Henley he was carrying did all kinds of fine issues for his lengthy and lean physique. Prompting all types of actually good issues in my nether areas. His sandy blond hair regarded prefer it was a month or two overdue for a reduce, however the size labored for him. It was tousled as if he’d been working his fingers by it—which solely made me wish to do the identical. And his glowing inexperienced eyes… sigh.

As not possible because it appeared, Owen Walker was much more enticing in individual than he was on tv. I by no means watched cooking exhibits, aside from his. I used to be hopeless within the kitchen, nevertheless it wasn’t like I watched him for the meals. Though it regarded superb, too, which was a giant a part of why I’d chosen to use for the waitressing job at Saphyre. The scrumptious meals introduced in numerous prospects, they usually had been keen to pay loads to eat there.

From what I’d heard, these prospects additionally tipped properly. Very properly. Higher than Parisi’s, the place I’d been working for the final yr whereas I attended Georgia State College. Doing a double main in Biology and Chemistry, whereas nonetheless graduating in 4 years, meant I used to be stretching myself skinny. I’d been making ends meet, however that was about it. This job would imply I’d be capable of work a number of much less hours and even have some further spending cash. Solely I hadn’t anticipated to fulfill the well-known chef who owned Saphyre, not to mention to seek out myself gazing him after he’d kicked the supervisor I’d been anticipating to interview with out of his workplace. And if I managed to land the job, I by no means imagined he’d goal an attractive grin at me the way in which he was. However there he was; standing in entrance of me with a glint in his eyes and his lips tilted up, flashing me his pearly whites. It was sufficient to soften my panties proper off my physique.

Then his gaze dropped right down to a stack of papers on the desk, and he lifted the highest one to learn it. I had already been nervous because it wasn’t only a stretch for me to maneuver from a family-owned Italian joint to a restaurant with Saphyre’s fame. It was extra like a leap of religion. With how good James had appeared, I assumed I may need an out of doors probability of convincing him to present me a shot. However with Owen doing the interview and my intercourse drive deciding this was the proper tim

e for it to instantly roar to life? I didn’t see it taking place.

“I just like the look of your resume, Sienna.”

Then once more, possibly I used to be mistaken.

His gaze lifted from the paper and paused for a number of seconds on my cleavage earlier than shifting as much as my face.

And possibly about extra than simply my odds of touchdown the job. I wasn’t positive what to consider that, however my physique gave the impression to be in favor of it contemplating the state of my underwear.

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