Pure Indulgence. Janelle Denison

followed by a hug meant all was forgiven. As adults, the wordless pact was still as meaningful as ever.

      “Good luck tonight.” Jillian grabbed her designer purse and slung it over her shoulder. “Call me later to let me know how things go, okay?”

      “I will.”

      Kayla watched Jillian sashay from the kitchen, and could only shake her head when her sister snatched a Chantilly cream puff from a cooling rack on her way out the back exit.

      JACK TREMAINE WAS SEDUCED by her smile. As sweet and addictive as the desserts she was serving, the teasing curve to her sensual mouth lured his attention back to her time and again. Her laughter had the same effect, a husky, playful sound that instigated a spark of desire low in his belly.

      The instantaneous response was unlike anything he’d experienced in a very long time, and he was undeniably intrigued by this woman’s ability to affect him with nothing more than an impish grin, lilting laughter, and sparkling green eyes. Years of being on the receiving end of so many women’s scheming smiles and sly designs of becoming Mrs. Jack Tremaine had obviously jaded him. She was like a breath of fresh spring air.

      He took a drink of his cold beer to douse the heat spreading through his veins. He heard the business-related dialogue going on around him but was far more interested in watching the lovely lady interact with the guests than in participating in the conversation. Wearing a uniform of black skirt and white blouse, she moved with natural grace as she served the guests standing in line at the linen-draped dessert table. He assumed she was a waitress employed by the banquet facility hosting the San Diego Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner. Despite the plain outfit, there was no denying that she had the kind of sexy, voluptuous body a man could lose himself in for hours, days, years. Her breasts were full and soft-looking, definitely more than a generous handful, and her curvaceous hips and long legs were designed to cradle a man in between.

      There was nothing dainty, delicate, or overtly sophisticated about her, and that, along with her complete lack of pretense, drew him too.

      She glanced up after serving a man a slice of some kind of cheesecake she’d just topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream, and their gazes met and held. She appeared startled to find him staring at her, and the amiable smile on her lips wavered. She even cast a quick, surreptitious look around to make sure that she was the one who’d captured his attention. Then she tipped her head and gave him an uncertain smile.

      Before he could continue the silent, flirtatious exchange between them, another guest demanded her attention and the moment was gone. He waited for the line at the table to dissipate, and once she was alone, he excused himself from the group of businessmen and their significant others and headed over to sample a few of the desserts she was offering.

      Busy replenishing trays from the portable refrigerator against the wall behind her, she didn’t see him approach, giving him the opportunity to appraise her up close. His gaze slid down her backside as she bent low, and he couldn’t help but admire the gentle flare of her lush hips, and the way her black skirt tightened very nicely over her shapely bottom, prompting all sorts of sinful, erotic fantasies.

      His groin stirred, and he shook himself, hard. Good Lord, he felt like a horny teenager. He’d always preferred real full-bodied figures—and ones that were one-hundred-percent natural. They turned him on much more than the too-thin and artificially enhanced women he’d dated. Their looks were as fake as their interest in him as anything more than a wealthy meal ticket—like his date who’d disappeared to “powder her nose”. He’d regretted bringing Gretta even before he’d laid eyes on this woman, and now his feelings were magnified.

      For the last few years he’d devoted ninety-nine percent of his attention to making a success of his fine dining restaurant, Tremaine’s Downtown, and he’d dedicated one percent to dating. As a result, he’d deliberately gone out with women who wouldn’t pose a threat to his time, and who wouldn’t affect him emotionally.

      But now that his business was financially stable enough for him to open a second restaurant, he was becoming increasingly aware of how much was lacking in his personal life. He realized maybe he was ready to settle down in a committed relationship. He glanced at the woman in front of him and smiled to himself. Obviously he had a whole lot of lost time to make up for.

      He hoped for a chance to get to know her before he had to face his date again. And there was no doubt in his mind that he’d be letting Gretta down tonight. Permanently.

      The woman turned around with a platterful of fancy candies and came to an abrupt stop. Her green eyes, threaded with gold flecks, widened in surprise, and he could have sworn he heard her suck in a startled breath. Her blond hair was secured into a ponytail away from her girl-next-door pretty face, and she had a beautiful, flawless complexion. His fingers flexed at the urge to reach out and stroke her smooth cheek, to see if her skin was as creamy-soft as it looked.

      A slow, lazy grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “You’re tempting me,” he said huskily. Boy, was she ever.

      Her gaze turned wary, and she carefully set the silver tray down on the table, causing her blouse to stretch taut across those full, luscious breasts of hers. “Excuse me?”

      “You’re tempting me…with all these desserts.” He waved a hand to encompass the array of confections surrounding him. “I have little to no willpower when it comes to anything sweet.”

      “Oh.” She ducked her head, as if she couldn’t quite believe he was flirting with her, but not before he caught the delightful blush sweeping across her cheeks. “What can I get for you?”

      Certain the first answer that came to mind would undoubtedly shock her, he decided to behave himself. “Everything looks fabulous. What do you recommend?”

      A teasing light entered her eyes. “That all depends on what you’re in the mood for.”

      Oh, man, another loaded question that begged for a suggestive reply. “Let’s go with something rich and decadent.”

      She reached for a plate and slanted him a speculative glance. “Sounds like you’ve got yourself a major sweet tooth.”

      He shrugged, and winked at her. “I rarely pass up dessert.”

      “Ahh, a man after my own heart,” she said with a dramatic sigh that was underscored by a mischievous grin, which let Jack know that she was finally relaxing with him. “My personal motto is, ‘Life is too short. Eat dessert first’.”

      He laughed in amusement. “I might have to adopt that motto for myself.” He read the place cards in front of each dessert, amazed at the varied and overwhelming selection of treats in front of him. “Hmm, I think I’ll try a slice of the chocolate praline layer cake.”

      She nodded her approval, causing her silky ponytail to swish against her shoulders. He wondered how long her hair was, how the blond strands would feel running through his fingers, trailing across his chest, his belly, his thighs….

      “Excellent choice,” she said, snapping him out of yet another arousing daydream as she passed him a piece of the decadent-looking cake, along with a fork.

      He took a bite, and the silky substance literally dissolved in his mouth. “Oh, wow. This is absolutely delicious.”

      She looked extremely pleased with his comment. “That’s one of my favorites, too, though I have to admit I have too many desserts that I’m fond of,” she said a bit sheepishly.

      The woman was a mass of intriguing contradictions, from confident to modest in the span of a few moments. But it was those sincere traits that roused his libido and his interest in her. “If everything is as delicious as this, I can see why you have so many favorites.” He continued eating his layered cake, and moved down to the end of the table to check out a few pots of melted sauces. “What’s this over here?” he asked curiously.

      “This is for the more health-conscious,” she said wryly, and gestured toward the platter of pineapple wedges, strawberries, peaches, and sliced bananas and apples. “Guests can eat