She didnt buy it. Didnt want to buy it. Im fine, she said, and patted Taylor. Really.
Of course you are. Taylor pulled back and helped herself to the spoon sticking out the ice cream. Youll just have to come up with something better, thats all. Stabbing Suzannes spoon into the air, she said around a mouthful, the two of us together against the world. Mmm, this is heaven. Ryan? She offered him a bite, which he leaned over and took, opening his mouth to get it all, using his tongue to lick off the corner of his mouth.
Suzanne stared at that mouth, torn between running for the hills and demanding another kiss, right here, right now.
Let me help you move today, Taylor said.
But Im jobless.
So?
Sojobless equals poor. How can you possibly still want me as a tenant?
Let me help you move today, Taylor said.
But Im jobless.
So?
Sojobless equals poor. How can you possibly still want me as a tenant?
Do you always have ice cream available?
Are you kidding? Always. And I cook a lot, too.
Thank you God, Taylor said fervently. Thats good enough for me.
So why arent you a caterer? Ryan lifted his hands when both women turned to stare at him. Id think that would be a natural progression, from chef to caterer. And you could work for yourself. Not some flighty jerk whos going to pass off your job to your exs new girlfriend.
Taylor turned to Suzanne, excitement lit in her eyes. You havent seen it yet, but the unit youre going to move into has a huge kitchen.
I cater all the time, Suzanne said slowly. As a hobby. But thats all it is, a hobby.
So make it more, Taylor said.
Suzanne stared at her, then laughed. Its not that easy. In fact, its damn near impossible. Running a business just isnt my thing. Too regimented and, as her mother would attest, she just didnt do regimented.
Hey, Ryan, you need a caterer, one of his laborers called out, making Suzanne realize everyone stood around listening even while they pretended not to.
The identical laborer swiped his arm across his forehead and bobbed his head. Yeah, for our birthday party! Friday night, remember? You promised youd have it at your place, cuz were too young to hit the bars until next year. We need food, lots of it.
Lots, agreed his twin.
Ryan stared at them both, then shook his head with a little laugh. Thats not a bad idea, actually.
When he looked at Suzanne expectantly, she let out her own little laugh. No. No pity jobs.
Turning down a client, Suzanne? Ryan asked, an unmistakable dare in his gaze as he cocked his head and made her knees weak with just one look.
Her heart pounded, and not from the dare either. Her poor body apparently hadnt gotten the memo her brain had sent, that it wasnt going to get lucky with this man.
Dont forget, great kitchen, Taylor said. And as your landlord, I give you permission to run your business out of your place.
Suzanne felt like a fool with all of them looking at her, but she was putting her foot down on this one.
Opening a catering business was as bad asas dating. A recipe for failure, and shed failed enough. I cant, Im sorry.
Would you excuse us a minute? Taylor asked the men, and hooking an arm around Suzannes neck, backed them up a few feet. Are you crazy? she whispered. This is an excellent opportunity. A job and a hunk, all in the same turn.
We swore off men, Suzanne whispered back.
No, we swore to remain single. Nothing was said about living like a monk. Suzanne, have you seen him look at you? Do this. Do him. It might relax you a bit.
Taylor!
Oh, its just a job. A one-nighter at that. And hey, if I can sell off my beloved furniture to keep us in this damn building, you can make a few snacks for a party.
It burned, but Taylor was right. With a sigh, Suzanne turned back to the waiting men, then nearly swallowed her tongue at the way Ryan was looking at her, a little smile curving the lips she knew tasted better than even ice cream. Okay.
Okay, youll do it? asked Ryans worker. Youll cater the party?
She looked into his hopeful eyes, and also his workers. Ill cater the party.
Cool!
Ryan just smiled, and damn if her stomach didnt quiver. Why are you doing this? she asked him softly.
Doing what?
Beingnice.
Im always nice. He laughed when she merely lifted a doubtful brow. Okay, maybe I dont like to cook.
Cant you mean, offered the first worker, zipping his mouth when Ryan sent him a long look.
Hmm. So the man wasnt perfect after all. He couldnt cook. Somehow that made Suzanne feel better. A lot better.
IF SUZANNE THOUGHT about how much shed done in just three days her head would start spinning. And seeing as she was busy hunched over a large tray, putting together the innards for egg rolls as fast as her fingers could move, now wouldnt be a good time to get overwhelmed.
Shed moved her belongings, few as they were, from the loft apartment down one flight of stairs.
Taylor let her borrow some furniture so that the bigger apartment didnt seem so bare. Suzanne had scoured the South Village want-ads for a job and had blisters on her fingers from filling out applications. And because she did love it, and because shed grown fond of eating, she agreed to several more catering jobs-as a hobby only. She and Taylor had gone outlet shopping to stock her new kitchen, which indeed, with some cleaning-aka hours of elbow grease-had turned out to be more than she could have hoped for.
Of course her living room was still empty except for her favorite candles here and there. And it would stay that way for a while, as shed used her one credit card on the kitchen. But that was the least of her problems at the moment.
Ryans workers, Rafe and Russ, shed learned, were young, wild and wonderful. For their twentieth birthday party they vowed to eat whatever she cooked, though theyd admitted they loved Chinese food. In light of that, shed made a huge tub of fried rice and was nearly finished the egg rolls.
And she was loving it.
As a hobby. The thought of doing this seriously as a business terrified her.
Oh yeah, thats a girl. Russ, followed by Rafe pushed into her kitchen, their noses wriggling as they sniffed appreciatively at the scents.
Smells heavenly, Taylor agreed, right behind them.
Oh, man, Ill say. Russ rubbed his belly. Were done for the day, heading home. See you there with all this food, right?
Right, Suzanne said, then looked at him over her shoulder. Wait. You mean youre heading to Ryans house?
Well, yeah. But his house used to be ours, so I still say it sometimes. Rafe reached in to steal an egg roll but Suzanne rapped him on the wrist. His place used to be your place, she repeated as understanding dawned. Yourebrothers.
Yep. Russ beamed. But dont tell Ryan we told you, he doesnt like people to know were related.
Aha! Proof positive Ryan-the-Gorgeous was in deed just a pretty face. Sure, he had a kiss that could melt bones, and sure, just a look from those dark eyes made her stupid, but inside he was petty and a big jerk. Good, because petty and jerky she could resist.
Probably.
If everyone knew we were brothers, then the other laborers might figure out we get the best hours and more pay. Russ glanced pathetically at the egg rolls. And if they figured that out, theyd also figure out we have less experience than some of them, and Ryan doesnt want a mutiny.
Oh, thats so sweet, Taylor said, looking like a queen surrounded by her servants, as always dressed to the hilt. Today she wore a linen sundress with nary a wrinkle despite the fact shed been digging through her storage unit making a list of inventory. Isnt that sweet, Suzanne?
Yeah, sweet.
Damn it.
Whats sweet? Ryan wanted to know, squeezing into the kitchen with an easy smile and a shirt, thank you God, which meant maybe Suzanne had half a chance in hell on maintaining her concentration. Hed been distracting her for days, smiling at her, talking to her. Pretending to be a nice guy, which she had to admit, he seemed to have down to a science.
Yeah, sweet.
Damn it.
Whats sweet? Ryan wanted to know, squeezing into the kitchen with an easy smile and a shirt, thank you God, which meant maybe Suzanne had half a chance in hell on maintaining her concentration. Hed been distracting her for days, smiling at her, talking to her. Pretending to be a nice guy, which she had to admit, he seemed to have down to a science.
More reason to steer clear. She destroyed nice guys. Her aimlessness, her lack of regimentation and her Carter family ways drove men crazy, made them selfish and turned them into men who accused their exes of needing sex therapists.
Unconcerned about the danger lurking in his future, Ryan moved past the others, leaned in toward Suzanne and sniffed. Mmm. Heaven.
She stepped aside. Its just food.
I meant you, he said, a smile in his eyes. You smell like heaven.
Determined not to react even though her knees did that annoying wobble thing, she put her hands on her hips. Why didnt you tell me I was cooking for your brothers?
His smile didnt falter. Would you still have taken the job?
Damn it, probably not.
With a playful tug on her apron, he grinned. You sure look cute in the kitchen.
He probably thought women were cute pregnant and barefoot, too. Are you hitting on me?
Definitely.
She had to laugh. What else could she do? Besides, laughing hid the tremor in her voice. Everyone out, she decided, shoving them all toward the door, ignoring the groans and moans. Out, out, out.
See you tonight, Ryan whispered in her ear, managing in the shuffle to stroke her jaw with his big hand. Save me a dance.
Did he have to have such a voice on him? When he lowered it like that, all husky and suggestive, it sent shivers down her spine. Remember the vow-no men. I dont dance.
He studied her with those sleepy, sexy eyes. I can teach you.
I didnt say I couldnt, I said I dont.
He just smiled. Well see.
6
AT HOME, Ryan stepped into the shower, letting the hot spray hit his body. Treeing was hard work, and damn, but he was feeling every bit of that hard work in his aching muscles.
The day would come, soon, when hed lay down his chain saw and ax for good. Instead, hed spend his time over a drawing table, lifting only a pencil. Hed design all day long and come home after working still refreshed.
He couldwell, date even half the women his brothers and sister thought he did, for one. That would be fun. Light and simple.
After raising a family he was looking forward to light and simple. He hadnt thought hed ever feel a need for any steady relationship, but he had to admit that had been before.