Desire September 2017 Books 1 -4. Yvonne Lindsay

with our restaurant,” Marco said over his shoulder. “We serve fresh, local, organic food whenever possible. The focus here is a modern Mediterranean cuisine, though we can add some Latin influence, since I know Royce likes things spicy.”

      “Royce Brazier?” Jasmine asked, thinking of the by-the-book businessman she constantly butted heads with. “Are you sure?”

      Marco simply laughed, even though Jasmine was only half teasing. And she was pretty sure she could make out the hint of a blush stealing over Royce’s fair cheeks, despite the darkness.

      Not wanting to embarrass him further, or draw out any discussion over how “spicy” he might like things, Jasmine said, “I wasn’t aware After Hours catered.” They’d never been on her list before today.

      Marco grinned. “That’s because we don’t.”

      Jasmine looked between the two men. “I’m not sure I understand.”

      “We don’t actually cater here, but I told Royce I would help him out for this event.”

      Jasmine was already shaking her head. “That’s not a good idea.” The last thing she wanted was an inexperienced staff working her star event.

      “Don’t worry,” Royce said. “Marco did plenty of catering during school and early in his career.”

      “And I’m strictly a food man these days. So I’ve already partnered with Geraldine’s to handle the catering service and staffing. You’ve heard of her?” Marco asked.

      “Yes. I’ve worked with her on several occasions.” Knowing that the logistics were taken care of helped calm Jasmine’s panic.

      Royce nodded as if that settled everything. “Well,” he said, “let’s show Jasmine what we had in mind.”

      Jasmine glanced over at him in surprise. That conspiratorial look was back again. For good reason.

      When it came to food, Royce showed that he had a few surprises up his sleeve over the next half an hour. Instead of sitting back and only asking a few questions, as he had throughout most of their other meetings, the catering discussion brought out a passion in Royce she’d never seen before...or rather, only seen once before.

      She’d more than seen it when he’d pressed his lips against hers.

      She watched in unabashed awe as they tossed around menu ideas involving lobster, truffles and exotic spices. Royce certainly knew gourmet food. Jasmine had very little to add except for a few tips and tricks she’d learned throughout all the events she’d executed over the last five years.

      Before long, Marco was shooing them to a table in the main room so he could assemble some sample plates for them. Jasmine grinned at Royce as they were seated. “He doesn’t have to do this. I have a feeling anything that comes out of that kitchen is gonna be incredible.”

      Royce shook his head. “I never turn down the chance to taste anything Marco wants to make for me.”

      “You seem to know each other well.”

      “Since we were kids. We grew up not far from each other.”

      Jasmine wasn’t sure if she wanted to broach the subject of his childhood. To change the conversation from business to personal. Instead, she glanced around the elegantly stark room now that the lights had been turned up some.

      “Is he the one who taught you so much about food?”

      Royce only hesitated a moment before he said, “I learned to cook really young, because my mom was gone at all hours.”

      So much for avoiding the personal.

      “She would also bring home leftovers from different events where she served. That’s how I developed a taste for food that was far out of our budget.”

      “I can sympathize.” Jasmine rarely sampled anything that could be labeled cuisine, except at her events. They were more of a down home food family.

      Royce grinned. “I’ll have to cook for you sometime.”

      Seriously? The guy could cook?

      He must have read the thoughts on her face. “Let me guess. You thought I was only the order-in type.”

      “Instead of?”

      “The mess-up-the-dishes-and-have-to-run-the-dishwasher type.” He relaxed back into his chair. “I spend all day out. Believe it or not, cooking is very relaxing.”

      “Well... I wouldn’t know,” she admitted.

      This time he was the one to look shocked. “You don’t cook? I thought every good Southern girl cooked.”

      “I prefer to eat the fruits of someone else’s labors, in this instance.”

      “Then this is perfect for you,” Marco said as he approached across the room.

      He deftly placed a couple of long, hand-glazed platters on the table, each filled with gorgeous little colorful morsels that smelled as good as they looked.

      “Oh, my.”

      Royce glanced up at his friend. “I think she’s sold without a single bite.”

      “Just wait until she tastes it,” Marco said with a grin, then strode back toward the kitchen.

      Jasmine surveyed the bounty. “I don’t know what to try first.”

      “There’s an art to it.”

      She raised a brow at him. This was the first time the tables had been turned—a nonbusiness situation where Royce gave her advice.

      “Trust me?”

      He waited for her nod before lifting a tiny lettuce leaf cradling what appeared to be a meat and vegetable mixture off one of the trays. “Start here.”

      Before she could lift a hand to take it from him, he’d brought the bite to her lips. Jasmine felt her smile disappear as she blinked. She could do this. She would remain professional.

      Even though this felt far from professional.

      She let her lips open. Just as she took the food into her mouth she glanced up and met the delicious heat of his stare. Their proximity reminded her of his kiss, his lips over hers. Talk about delicious.

      Sudden flavor burst over her tongue. Cool, crisp lettuce. Spicy meat with an undertone of shrimp. A sweet drizzle that she couldn’t quite identify. As she moaned, she could see a reflection of her own experience in his eyes. His grin said he knew exactly what she was tasting. He picked up a matching hors d’oeuvre and slid it between his lips.

      “Just the right amount of sweet to balance the spice,” he said after he swallowed. Lifting a wineglass from the tray, he washed the morsel down.

      Jasmine did the same. Her inspection of the trays revealed several options for her next bite, but Royce knew exactly what he wanted her to have. Taste after taste, he walked her through the platters. Spicy butter glazed lobster skewers, meatballs spiced up with chorizo, jerk chicken mini-pizzas...her taste buds were in heaven.

      “You were right,” she admitted about halfway through.

      Royce gave her the most suggestive look she’d ever seen on his face. “About what?”

      “The food.”

      He feigned shock. “I did something right?”

      “This time you did, smart aleck. This food will be the talk of the town for months after the event.”

      “Marco will be thrilled to hear it.”

      “But you won’t.”

      He shrugged, sobering a little. “I really couldn’t care one way or another. But if I can help him even a little with this, then I’ll count it as a plus.”

      “That’s a great thing to do.”