Saute, simmer, and flambé…
Jill Adgate wants three things from life: a successful catering business, the devoted love of an exceptional man, and a family. What she has is no job, a mounting pile of bills, and her outspoken best friend—who sets her up on a blind date with the man who inadvertently ruined Jill’s life.
Chet Castle is a prosperous businessman who has everything, except the ability to trust. Burned by a money-hungry fiancée, he refuses to get involved with any relationship that has a shelf life longer than a head of lettuce.
Intrigued by her ambition—and determined to get her in bed—Chet offers Jill the chance of a lifetime: Work for him for the next eight weeks as his live-in chef and he’ll help her get her catering business off the ground. When sparks fly in the kitchen, Jill realizes what’s cooking with her commitment-phobic employer is a recipe for disaster…but it’s just too tasty to not take a bite.
Jill Adgate wants three things from life: a successful catering business, the devoted love of an exceptional man, and a family. What she has is no job, a mounting pile of bills, and her outspoken best friend—who sets her up on a blind date with the man who inadvertently ruined Jill’s life.
Chet Castle is a prosperous businessman who has everything, except the ability to trust. Burned by a money-hungry fiancée, he refuses to get involved with any relationship that has a shelf life longer than a head of lettuce.
Intrigued by her ambition—and determined to get her in bed—Chet offers Jill the chance of a lifetime: Work for him for the next eight weeks as his live-in chef and he’ll help her get her catering business off the ground. When sparks fly in the kitchen, Jill realizes what’s cooking with her commitment-phobic employer is a recipe for disaster…but it’s just too tasty to not take a bite.
EXCERPT
Her body hummed as his smile wavered. Although he wore sunglasses, she’d bet her last dollar his gaze swept across her chest, lingering on the betrayal of her pert nipples pushing against the fabric of her suit.
Until this moment, shyness had never been a trait she possessed. Air stalled in her lungs, her palms grew sweaty, and she itched to cover herself with a towel. Even though her replica vintage swimsuit hid more than most sets of women’s underwear, she felt too exposed. She turned to the side slightly and folded her legs up. Not that it helped, but it made her feel a bit less exposed. Chet slid his feet from his sandals, brushing a hand through his hair. The heat from the sun wasn’t the only thing scorching her skin. She trickled several droplets of water over her arms, but she couldn’t drag her focus from his toned flesh.
Jill soaked in his ripped abs and the obvious package of goodies covered by his brown swimsuit—the same sexy brown as his hair. Damn, did a man have a right to fill out a pair of swimming trunks like that? Flecks of hair, just enough to give him a manly appeal, covered the etched muscles of his long, tan legs. She licked her lips, hoping she could still speak.
“Do you want some privacy?” Yes, say yes. She needed an excuse to make an escape without coming off like someone desperate to be making an exit.
* * * * *
Hell no, he didn’t want privacy. Through the shield of his sunglasses, he inspected her body from the tips of her pink-painted toenails to the top of her brightly flowered swimming cap. Did people still actually wear those things?
“No, you look comfortable. Stay and enjoy the day.”
“Oh…are you sure?”
“Sure.”
Amazed at his own ability to talk without his tongue hitting the cement, Chet turned to throw his towel and sunglasses on a nearby lounge chair. Damn.
The red and white polka-dot halter-style suit featured a tight bodice, but her slender hips and shapely thighs hiding beneath a matching skirt grabbed his attention until all oxygen left his blood. Even showing less skin than the average girl on the beach, she far exceeded sexy and alluring.
Get a grip, Castle. She’s off limits, no matter how delectable. He turned and stepped onto the diving board. He bounced along the surface as he made his way over the water. When he looked at Jill’s bathing cap covering her head, he held back his grin. The neon rubber flowers reminded him of something his grandmother would’ve worn, but there the similarity ended. Everything beneath that cap was far from making him think of Grandma.
Until this moment, shyness had never been a trait she possessed. Air stalled in her lungs, her palms grew sweaty, and she itched to cover herself with a towel. Even though her replica vintage swimsuit hid more than most sets of women’s underwear, she felt too exposed. She turned to the side slightly and folded her legs up. Not that it helped, but it made her feel a bit less exposed. Chet slid his feet from his sandals, brushing a hand through his hair. The heat from the sun wasn’t the only thing scorching her skin. She trickled several droplets of water over her arms, but she couldn’t drag her focus from his toned flesh.
Jill soaked in his ripped abs and the obvious package of goodies covered by his brown swimsuit—the same sexy brown as his hair. Damn, did a man have a right to fill out a pair of swimming trunks like that? Flecks of hair, just enough to give him a manly appeal, covered the etched muscles of his long, tan legs. She licked her lips, hoping she could still speak.
“Do you want some privacy?” Yes, say yes. She needed an excuse to make an escape without coming off like someone desperate to be making an exit.
* * * * *
Hell no, he didn’t want privacy. Through the shield of his sunglasses, he inspected her body from the tips of her pink-painted toenails to the top of her brightly flowered swimming cap. Did people still actually wear those things?
“No, you look comfortable. Stay and enjoy the day.”
“Oh…are you sure?”
“Sure.”
Amazed at his own ability to talk without his tongue hitting the cement, Chet turned to throw his towel and sunglasses on a nearby lounge chair. Damn.
The red and white polka-dot halter-style suit featured a tight bodice, but her slender hips and shapely thighs hiding beneath a matching skirt grabbed his attention until all oxygen left his blood. Even showing less skin than the average girl on the beach, she far exceeded sexy and alluring.
Get a grip, Castle. She’s off limits, no matter how delectable. He turned and stepped onto the diving board. He bounced along the surface as he made his way over the water. When he looked at Jill’s bathing cap covering her head, he held back his grin. The neon rubber flowers reminded him of something his grandmother would’ve worn, but there the similarity ended. Everything beneath that cap was far from making him think of Grandma.
About Christine Warner
Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends. Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic. A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines. A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.
Hi MJ! Thank you so much for helping me celebrate release day!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Christine! Each release day is so exciting! Another baby out in the world! Wishing you all kinds of success! Thanks for sharing your book with us here today!
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE this book :) Christine, you've aced it again...big congrats and very many wishes for its success!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Cait xoxox
DeleteHey Cait! This book reminds me a lot of your very own ROMANCING THE SEAS! Thanks for stopping by to wish Christine a happy kick off with her new novel! So nice to "see" you, as usual!
ReplyDeleteAh thanks, MJ :) huge compliment that...! Hope you're having happy days and still taking the karaoke world by storm :) xoxo
DeleteYou know it, girl! The entire karaoke industry would crumble without me!
DeleteI loved the book blurb and the excerpt. Thanks for introducing me to a new author, M.J., and I look forward to reading your novel, Christine. Sounds delish! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah! I hope you enjoy Jill and Chet's story :) Thanks for coming by and commenting.
DeleteDeborah- I appreciate you stopping in, as always. Hope you are having a fabulous week!
DeleteLoved the excerpt and am sure I'll enjoy the book. Christine, I notice you and I have a couple--no, three--things in common: reading, writing--and no arithmetic! Best wishes and much success! I see wordpress hates me tonight--so I'm not anonymous, really. Leslie P Garcia!
ReplyDeleteLOL...love it Leslie! Good to know there is another mathematical struggler out there. And sometimes wordpress hates me too.
DeleteThanks for coming by, I hope you enjoy reading Bachelor's Special.
Leslie- I knew I liked you for a reason! I think most writers and other creative types struggle with those more analytical skills. And I'm fine with that. My husband, however, is good at both. And that's just plain wrong! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteSounds like a fun book, Christine. Congrats on your release! Thanks for spotlighting it, Mary.
ReplyDeleteErin
Thanks Erin...I appreciate you coming by :)
DeleteI enjoy spotlighting talented authors. And I enjoy hearing from readers like you, Erin. Thanks for stopping over!
DeleteWell that's a hot and intriguing excerpt! Congrats, Christine, on your release!
ReplyDeleteYOWZA..glad you liked the excerpt Brenna :) Thanks for coming by and commenting :)
DeleteBrenna! That's such a lovely name! Might have to use that for a heroine some day... I appreciate you stopping in to wish Christine well on her release day, thanks!
DeleteGreat excerpt - I love the chemistry, and her swimsuit! Congratulations on the book's release! :-)
ReplyDeleteSerena- only you would hone in on her swimsuit, you little fashion diva, you! Thanks for coming over!
DeleteHappy release day, Christine! For some reason my post yesterday never arrived. Here's to many sales and very best wishes!
ReplyDeleteTere
Thanks for stopping in to wish Christine luck, Teresa! Every new book is just as exciting as the last!
DeleteLove your heroine's sense of style. You caught my attention for sure!
ReplyDeleteWow! Everyone is all about style today! Maybe I should start posting about Paris runways! Wait a minute! That's an idea...
DeleteThanks for popping in, Lola and good luck with your work as well!