Playing With Fire. Kayla Perrin

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СКАЧАТЬ would be dimmed to create ambience for the diners, the lights here were fully up. This restaurant was almost identical to its sister establishment in terms of decor, with the exception of some of the lighting fixtures and framed photographs on the wall. All the photos here and at Nicholas’s other location were black-and-white, and reflected moments in Chicago’s history—hence the name.

      “Hello?” Zienna called out. A delectable aroma of some sort of fish wafted to her nose, and her stomach grumbled in response. Nicholas must be in the kitchen. She couldn’t wait to sample his new dish.

      As she walked through the extensive bar area, she thought back to the first time he had brought her to Reflections, five months ago. He had given her the whole romantic treatment with the just the two of them there—the lights down low, candles on the table, and soft music playing through the sound system. It had been an incredible date. She’d quickly realized the huge benefit of dating a chef.

      “Baby?” Zienna said.

      Just then, Nicholas came out from kitchen area, his eyes meeting hers. And in that nanosecond, she took in his entire appearance and couldn’t stop the jolt of heat. Dressed in black slacks and a black shirt open at the collar, his six-foot-three frame couldn’t have been sexier. The white apron tied around his waist made him all the more appealing.

      Seeing her, his handsome face lit up with a grin. He had the kind of earnest smile that brightened his eyes and could make a girl melt. That was the feature that had drawn Zienna in, but she was a woman who lusted over a hot guy just like anybody else, and loved Nicholas’s lean and muscular frame, and his tight behind. With his shirt off, his golden-brown skin was flawless but for a dark circular birthmark over his heart. With his washboard abs and honed physique, he could have easily graced the cover of a sports magazine. He’d played football and basketball in college, and still had the body of an athlete.

      Zienna had seen a college picture of him with long dreadlocks, something she could hardly have imagined, given that his hair was currently cropped short and his face clean-shaven. It was a look he preferred now, claiming it was more professional.

      “There you are,” Zienna said.

      “Look at you.” His eyes swept over her from head to toe. “Wow.”

      “This old thing?” she teased. She knew the black sheath dress and strappy four-inch heels she’d put on made her look like a knockout.

      “You’re not supposed to come in here wearing something I want to take off of you....”

      Zienna giggled as he hugged her. “I figured I should dress to impress. No point acting like an old married couple already.”

      “I’m not gonna complain.” Nicholas eased back. “Damn, girl. That dress fits you like a second skin.” His eyes settled on her ample cleavage, his favorite part of her body.

      “You’d better stop looking at me like that,” she warned him in a low voice. “Unless you want to christen this place again.” Which was exactly what she’d hoped for when she’d dressed earlier. Placing her hands on his chest, she leaned in close. “Because you are looking pretty hot yourself. I always was a sucker for a guy dressed to the nines...and wearing an apron.”

      Which truly was a turn-on. Nicholas knew how to cook, and had regaled her palate with mouthwatering entrées and scrumptious desserts.

      “There’ll be no christening tonight,” Nicholas said. He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently.

      “No?” Zienna pouted a little. They had done it on the counter in the kitchen, and both had reflected afterward that a booth would have been the smarter choice. “You sure I can’t lure you over to a booth in the back?”

      “Sorry, not tonight. Because in addition to me wanting you to try my latest dish, I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

      “Oh?” Zienna glanced around curiously.

      “I told him to show up for eight, but he called about twenty minutes ago, said he’d be about ten minutes late. Which means any second now he should be walking through the door.”

      “Way to spoil a girl’s anticipation.” She again pouted playfully as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I was kind of hoping for round two.” Their coupling in the kitchen had been out of the ordinary, and highly exciting for Zienna, who wished that Nicholas would be a little more spontaneous when it came to sex.

      “Rain check?”

      “Of course.” A beat passed. “At least I have time to do this.” Zienna tipped up on her toes, and Nicholas immediately encircled her waist with his strong hands and lowered his lips to meet hers.

      Warmth spread through her entire body as they kissed, the only sound being their heavy breathing.

      And then the door chimes sang, and Zienna quickly pulled her lips from her man’s. Meeting Nicholas’s eyes, she suppressed a giggle.

      “I can come back,” said a deep voice from behind her.

      “My man,” Nicholas said, another grin exploding on his face. He released Zienna and stepped past her.

      She surreptitiously dabbed at her mouth to remove any moisture. Then, smiling sheepishly, she turned to meet Nicholas’s friend.

      And as her eyes landed on the familiar face, her smile went flat a moment before her stomach bottomed out.

      2

      “Nick.”

      “Wendell!”

      Zienna watched in shock as her new lover and old lover embraced. In four years she hadn’t seen this man, and now here he was, like an apparition come to life.

      When the friends separated, Nicholas walked back over to her and slipped an arm around her waist. He pulled her close. “Wendell, this is Zienna. Zienna, this is one of my best buddies. At least he was—until he followed some girl to Texas and didn’t come back.”

      Nicholas chuckled, but Zienna could hardly breathe. She glanced up at Wendell, saw that he was staring at her with an amiable expression. Damn, he looked even better than she’d remembered.

      “Well, don’t just stand there,” Nicholas said. “Say hello.”

      Wendell extended a hand. “Hello, Zienna.” He paused. “Again.”

      Oh, lord, Zienna thought, her heart thundering. Wendell had done what she hadn’t expected and certainly didn’t want—made it clear that the two of them had a past. What was he thinking?

      Nicholas looked from Wendell to her with a curious expression. “Again?”

      “Zienna and I used to know each other,” Wendell explained, his gaze locked on hers.

      She widened her eyes at him slightly, the only way she could think of to tell him not to spill the beans on just how well they’d once been acquainted.

      “Remember when I tore my rotator cuff?” Finally, Wendell turned his attention to Nicholas. “Zienna was the kinesiologist who helped me get back to optimum performance.”

      “You’re СКАЧАТЬ