Her Valentine Fantasy. Nancy Warren

that if sex had a flavor it would be chocolate.”

      And in that second a vision of her, naked and wet while he teased her with chocolate, took him so strongly he stopped breathing.

      He wasn’t supposed to crush on the customers, he reminded himself as he took their orders, the Fantasy for her, and an overpriced crème brûlée that they kept on the menu for dickheads like her date.

      * * *

      Oh, no, Sam thought when he next swung out of the kitchen, the guy at table 12 was pulling out his smartphone again. Seriously?

      Dude, no.

      Not the fake text thing, he begged silently. Don’t do this to that sweet, sexy woman. But sure enough, bad first-date guy made a pantomime of shock, then distress. Sam could see his lips moving, saying something like, “Emergency, gotta go.” He practically leaped from his seat, putting his hand up to his ear, thumb and baby finger extended in an I’ll call you gesture. And then he charged out of the restaurant like his ass was on fire.

      Sam would have bet his life savings that bad first date had set up the fake emergency when he was in the john. Classy.

      As much he was glad to see the back of the guy, Sam saw two problems with his fast exit. First, he’d left a gorgeous, hot chick sitting by herself in a busy restaurant on a Friday night before she’d got to dessert. Second, he’d ditched her with the bill.

      Sam hoped he was as nice as the next guy, but he was running a business. He turned tail and grabbed a server’s assistant. “Get the bill prepared for table 12 right away. But don’t put the desserts on it.” He finished delivering meals to table 3 and then grabbed the bill, already slipped into one of the black folders with the stylized B logo on the front and immediately walked to table 12.

      “Will he be back?” he asked the lone woman at the table.

      “God, I hope not.” She acted as if her date running out on her hadn’t bothered her at all, but he swore he could detect a hint of hurt in the depths of her clear gray eyes.

      “Still want your dessert?”

      She shook her head. Then she glanced at where her date had been sitting and Sam saw the moment she registered that he’d stiffed her for dinner. With a small sigh, she said, “I’ll just take the bill.”

      He dropped the folder on the table, then, because it was his restaurant and what the hell, said, “We keep a car and driver. Some of our regulars like the service. He’d be happy to drive you home.”

      She smiled her gratitude and again he had that odd feeling, as though there was more between them than a few hot glances and a little chitchat while he’d waited her table. “Thanks. But I’m staying locally.”

      “No problem. Take your time.” He wanted to touch her, maybe brush his fingers over her shoulder to let her know she was awesome and amazing and deserved better. In fact, he wanted a lot more. Toyed with the idea of asking if he could see her, then figured he’d come across as a bigger knob than the one who’d left five minutes ago.

      He did the smart thing. He went back to the kitchen where the usual organized chaos prevailed.

      When he returned, the woman at table 12 was gone. He picked up the folder and flipped it open, assuming there’d be cash inside.

      There wasn’t.

      Nor was there a credit card.

      In the space where a credit card should have been was a hotel room keycard.

      She didn’t seem like the dine-and-dash type. And, while she wouldn’t be the first female customer who ever propositioned him, he doubted the room card was anything but the slipup of a distressed woman who got dumped on her first date. More likely, she’d meant to put a credit card down and, well, who knew what she’d been thinking?

      All he knew was, he needed to get paid, and she needed to get into her hotel room.

      He gazed toward the front door but she’d already left. He stood for a moment, thinking, then ran into the back and told Barney, the most efficient waiter he had, to take over his few remaining tables.

      Eloise, one of the sous chefs, was adding the spun-sugar flourish onto the forgotten Valentine Fantasy. She drizzled the heart-shaped chocolate with raspberry reduction. On impulse, Sam said, “Box that up, will you? She’s taking dessert to go.”

      Seconds later, he headed for the door out onto the street.

      “Hey, Sam, you coming back?” Chef yelled.

      He turned. Thought of that sweet sexy woman currently heading back to her hotel without a keycard or a date. He had no idea what was going to happen. Maybe nothing. Probably nothing.

      But he recalled the instant connection they’d felt. Said, “If I’m not back, close up, will you?”

      “Sure thing.”

      And he jogged out onto the street.

      He knew from the keycard that table 12 was staying at a trendy boutique hotel in the next block and he headed in that direction. The evening was cold and he hadn’t bothered to grab a coat, so he walked swiftly, the wet streets and dripping trees telling him that it had only recently stopped raining.

      He saw a woman he thought was table 12, seat two head into the hotel and took off running. He pushed through the glass doors, jogged through the lobby and caught up with her as she pushed the elevator button.

      “Hi,” he said.

      She glanced around. Took a second to place him and then said with surprise, “Hi.”

      He produced the folder and opened it to show her the keycard. “You gave me your keycard instead of your credit card.”

      A quick blush suffused her cheeks and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. I just—I wasn’t thinking. I’m so sorry. Oh, I already said that.” She opened her small clutch as the elevator doors opened. Then she looked at him, embarrassment still warming her cheeks. “I’ve got cash upstairs. I hate to take you more out of your way, but I don’t want to make the walk of shame back to the restaurant with my credit card. I was— No man’s ever dumped me in the middle of a date before.”

      He liked her. There was honesty and humor in her gaze. “Sure,” he said. “No problem.” They stepped inside the elevator and the doors closed. They were the only two riding up. He could smell her light fragrance, feel the energy between them. He said, “Not that it’s any of my business, but that guy was a total dick.”

      She snorted with sudden laughter. “I know! I had no idea he’d be so full of himself. But it’s February and—”

      “Valentine’s Day is coming,” he finished for her. “I know.”

      They rode up fourteen floors. She said, “I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you too much.”

      “Not really.” He could see she felt bad enough. “I got somebody else to cover my tables.”

      The elevator stopped and the doors opened. She preceded him into the hall. He followed her to her room and then handed her the keycard.

      “Thanks.”

      Then he produced the small, square bakery box.

      “What’s in there? Handcuffs so you can take me in?”

      She gazed at him over the box and he felt again that strong, sizzling sense of connection. He wished she hadn’t put the idea of handcuffs into his head. Now he pictured her cuffed to the bed while he pleasured her to the edge of madness.

      Her lips tilted in a smile so sensual it melted him. He was almost overwhelmed by the urge to kiss her.

      He stepped closer. “I’ve brought you your Valentine Fantasy.”

      CHAPTER TWO

      Jessica