Devoured. Letty James

not,” I replied and took a sip of my vodka tonic. Then wondered how I was going to swallow one of those slimy snot balls, otherwise known as oysters, which Frank had set before us. Marco pushed the platter toward me, offering me first choice. I couldn’t do it, even for a multi-million dollar possible client.

      “Sorry, Marco. I can’t eat oysters.” I hoped he would infer that I had an allergy. No such luck.

      “Can’t, or won’t?” He lifted an eyebrow. That’s probably how he kept control in the kitchen—all he had to do was lift that eyebrow. But I wasn’t backing down.

      “Sorry. Won’t. Bad experience when I was young.”

      “Too bad. You know they are considered the classic aphrodisiac.”

      “Chocolate is more my speed.”

      He smiled and slid the oyster into his mouth, swallowing it whole, the brine washing down his chin. Now that part I liked, imagining him licking me with a salt water tongue. He must have seen the lust in my eyes. He wiped his mouth and leaned close, his arm encircling my shoulders this time instead of the chair. “You watch me eat oysters and I’ll watch you eat chocolate.”

      “Deal,” I said, looking into his bright green eyes. Flecked with blue and gray they reminded me of my favorite moss agate fertility stone that Claire had bought me for my birthday the year Alex and I decided to have a baby. The problem was whenever Alex saw that hard stone he went limp. It made an excellent dildo after he left.

      The vodka was making my head fuzzy, so I broke my cardinal rule and took a roll from the napkin-covered bread basket. It was rich brown pumpernickel, still warm. I smeared it with some butter from the provided ramekin. Ah, what bliss. I closed my eyes savoring the sweet chewy ecstasy of buttered carbs.

      “Honey, you really need to get out more,” Marco whispered in my ear making my arms goosebump as I swallowed. I opened my eyes and he was still close enough to kiss. I resisted and leaned back in my chair, lifting my glass so there would be some solid object between us.

      “If I got out much more I’d be big as a house.” The minute it was out I could have smacked myself up against the head. Never talk fat with a chef. One thing I learned from Alex. The other was never get married again, but that didn’t apply here. Frank saved me by bringing an appetizer of grilled shrimp with a mango dipping sauce. I promptly pulled a curled pink morsel off the skewer and dunked it into the sauce, licking my fingers afterward.

      “That’s better,” said Marco. Apparently I’d been putting on a show and didn’t realize it. The show was interrupted by a tall heavy man who had the jowls of a bulldog. He reached a meaty paw across the table as Marco stood up. Marco was a big man, but he looked like a beanpole next to this guy.

      “Chef.” The big man nodded in greeting.

      “Don. So glad you could come. Have you met Christine Monford? She’s my real estate agent.” Marco turned to me and winked. The Jowl man shook my hand and I swear it disappeared in his sweaty one. I wiped my palm against my skirt under the table. “Christine, this is Don Franco, he’s my banker.” Marco motioned to one of the staff to bring Don a chair. “Christine’s somebody you need on your contact list, Don. She could bring you lots of customers.” Don grunted my way and I wondered what kind of banking he handled. I’d been in this town a long time and knew almost all the mortgage people. He didn’t look familiar and he was somebody I wouldn’t forget meeting. While Don hadn’t impressed me, Marco had. He was continually combining business and pleasure. A man after my own heart.

      I pushed my feet back into my pumps and stood up to go. The party was over as far as I was concerned. Marco jumped up beside me. Don just looked at me with sad eyes that literally perked up when Frank placed a beer in front of him.

      I put my jacket back on watching Marco watch me. His eyes seemed to caress the skin under my jacket leaving me much too warm.

      “I’ll see you out,” he said.

      “That’s not necessary,” I said. It was about high time I hotfooted it home before I got myself in trouble and started playing footsie. I picked up my briefcase and purse. “Nice meeting you Don.” We nodded our heads at each other since his hands were busy with a beer in one hand and fried calamari in the other. Marco took my elbow and held it gently all the way through the restaurant and hotel lobby. I turned to him at the foyer doors to thank him and remind him of our meeting the next day. His hand was still possessively on my elbow when Alex walked through the lobby. He stopped right in front of us.

      “Chef, we’ve got a problem with the customer at table five. Says he talked to you about a special case of wine for his party tonight.” Alex shifted from one foot to the other as Marco eyed him.

      Marco sighed and ran his hand up and down the back of my arm, an automatic caress. I smiled brightly at Alex just for the sheer evil fun of it.

      “Tell him I’ll be right there,” Marco said to Alex, effectively shooing him away. Marco turned to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then held his face against mine for just a moment. “Umm, you smell good, but duty calls. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He gave me a salute then he was gone.

       Alex appeared again. What did he do, just go around the revolving door?

      “What do you think you’re doing?” He practically hissed at me.

      “Waiting for my car. Is there a problem?” I gripped the handle of my briefcase in case I had to throw it at him. Here was the man who always lectured me on networking but once I had started networking for my own career instead of his, suddenly it was considering bothering people.

      “You know there’s a problem. Keep your paws off Marco.”

      “Oh?” I raised my eyebrow at him. “I didn’t know he was yours to claim. I thought you were into girls, Alex.”

      “Very funny, Christine. Just because the man has had the hots for you since day one doesn’t mean you have to sleep with him. You’re being very immature to retaliate that way.”

      I was so mad I didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, the valet swung my car up to the curb. I had splurged last year after a big sale and bought a black Mercedes sedan. It was slightly used but nobody needed to know that. I looked at the car which to me symbolized my independence from Alex and suddenly wasn’t so mad anymore. Alex might have the love of a bimbo but I had a Mercedes and the ever appreciative glances of hot men. I gave the valet a generous tip then turned to Alex who was still skulking there.

      “I hadn’t planned on sleeping with Marco. I am simply selling his house. It’s what I do very well and he knows that. I don’t need to retaliate, Alex. I’m very happy with the way things worked out. If you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.”

      I turned and climbed into my luxury automobile sparing only one glance at his still scowling figure. He got what he wanted. Now I was going to grab what I wanted.

      Chapter Two

      The next evening, after changing clothes twice, and shoes three times, I settled on a basic black wrap dress and strappy black sandals. More party attire than business but I was willing to risk it if he was. I pulled into Marco’s driveway and surveyed the property as I pushed the button to slide the sunroof closed. I’d never been inside this house although I was familiar with the neighborhood. I’d done my research though and pulled the tax records. Five bedrooms, five baths, five million dollars. It was hidden in a neighborhood full of twists and turns that take full advantage of the waterside property. I knew he had bought the property after giving up a condo in town. Apparently too many parties at the condo were upsetting the neighbors.

      He greeted me at the door with a kiss on each cheek. He smelled even better than yesterday. He had an apron on that said Kiss the Cook. I laughed.

      “You like? My niece gave it to me for a Christmas present. She didn’t want me to ruin my nice clothes when I was at home. It does come in handy occasionally.”

      “Is