Authors: Eden Summers
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Erotica, #Romantic, #Romance
Ravenous (10 page)
“I will make sure she gets back to your hotel.”
The man was confident, his shoulders straight, his chin high–one hundred percent arrogant, for lack of a better description.
“Umm, I think it would be best if–”
“I’ll be fine.” Karen cut her off. “Antonio promised to take me dancing as soon as he finishes work.”
Erin glanced between them both, the self-assured Spaniard and her randy-as-a-sailor sister.
Jesse squeezed her hip. “Let her have some fun,” he whispered in her ear. “You can swap sex stories tomorrow.”
Four weeks later
Erin clutched a pile of paperwork in her arms as she unlocked the front door to Jesse’s city apartment. Her new home.
“Do you need a hand with all those files?” Karen asked from behind her, following her inside.
“No, I’m fine.” In a few more steps she’d be able to drop all the information down on the dining room table, make herself a coffee and put her feet up. Or maybe she’d grab something stronger, like straight vodka.
They’d spent the entire day, and every other day that week, searching for a suitable location for their catering business. So far everything was either too expensive, or too far away from where they both now lived. Erin was determined not to let the misfortune tear away her happiness, but each day became harder to smile through.
“We’ll find something,” Karen patted her on the back as they made their way to the dining room table.
Erin placed the mass of papers down on the glass tabletop and continued to the kitchen. “I know we will, I just don’t think it will be what we envisaged. We will either have to get a bigger bank loan to pay the rent on one of the better suited properties, or start working in the ghetto until the business has a steady income.”
“It wasn’t the ghetto.” Karen sighed and began spreading out the files on the table. “It was just…less…pretty.”
Erin snorted. “By the time we reached the property you’d wound up your window and locked your car door.”
“True.”
Erin made coffee and shuffled back to where Karen now sat, reading over different files. As she placed the mugs down on one of the useless pieces of paper, the front door slammed.
Jesse was home.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He walked passed with his usual sexy grin and kissed her on the cheek, his arms full with a large cardboard box. “Any luck today?”
Erin wrinkled her nose. “Nope. But we’ll find something soon.”
His smile wavered as he nodded. “I have something for you. Just let me put this box in the spare room.”
She watched him leave. He’d been bringing home boxes every day, filling his–their spare room from wall to wall. When he returned, he held a manila folder in his hand, his lips set in a firm line.
“This is for both of you.”
Erin frowned and reached for the file.
“Is everything okay?” She studied him. They had lived together for a week and this was the first time she’d seen him with a serious expression.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” He nodded, but didn’t smile.
She pulled out the chair next to Karen and Jess took the seat beside her at the head of the table.
“So what’s this?” She opened the file and slid it between her and Karen.
“It’s my offer,” Jesse’s tone was light, with no emotion.
“What?” Karen asked.
“Offer?” Erin glanced over the first page. There was a plan of a kitchen in the middle of the paper with paragraphs of writing underneath.
“Before you start reading, let me explain.”
Erin turned her attention to the man she loved and watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed. Something was making him nervous, which in return made her nervous.
“When you mentioned reopening your catering business, I got to thinking. Bellerin is already a well-known part of Sydney, with an exceptional reputation and I’m always looking for new ways to expand and improve the business…”
Erin’s heart began to gallop, thumping hard under her rib cage and Karen nudged her leg under the table, announcing her own anticipation.
“Over the past few weeks I’ve spoken to my financial advisors and some of the managerial staff at Bellerin. They all agree that broadening our services into catering would be a great idea.”
Erin turned to her sister with wide eyes.
“Let me finish,” Jesse continued. “In that folder is an outline of the current storage room at Bellerin. It isn’t as roomy as what you had back in Holbrook, but I’ve spoken to a few tradesmen and they assure me it can be turned into a working kitchen. There are also financial statements and what benefits you would gain from going into partnership with me.”
Karen sucked in a breath while Erin blinked in shock.
“Silent partner,” he amended. “Both Bellerin and Bellerin Catering would be run separately, but under the one roof.”
Erin focused back on the file, flicking through the pages as silence thickened the air. A location on the harbour would be amazing. An already established business to back them up?
Wow.
“And if we decide against it, does that mean you’ll expand into catering anyway?” Karen grasped the file and slid it towards herself. Erin was thankful that someone’s brain was working, because hers ceased to function over the excitement.
“Not at all. I have no desire to go into competition with you.” Jesse grasped Erin’s hand that rested on the tabletop and squeezed. “I know we can make it into a profitable business, my offer also comes out of love for Erin. I want to help you in any way I can and I’m lucky enough to not only be experienced, but financially viable.”
Her heart melted. She didn’t need to look at his business plan to know his offer was more than generous.
“You don’t have to decide now. Take as much time as you like. I won’t be offended if you reject the offer either. It’s a big decision and I will stand by you both, no matter what the outcome.”
Moments passed, then Karen cleared her throat. “From my brief skim over the documentation, your numbers appear a hell of a lot healthier than ours do.”
Jesse nodded. “There is less risk this way. Rent costs will be minimal and you won’t have to sign a contract like you would with another building.”
Erin pictured the empty storeroom at Bellerin and imagined what they could do with the space. Jesse was right, the area wasn’t as big as their old place in Holbrook, but it was large enough for what they needed.
Karen clicked her fingers in front of Erin’s face, bringing her back to reality. “I don’t even need to ask, do I?”
Erin smiled. Obviously they would have to go over the numbers, call their bank manager, and check the kitchen space, yadda yadda yadda. But yes, Erin had already made up her mind. She wanted to work with Jesse. She wanted to build a future for them both at Bellerin. She’d daydreamed about doing exactly that since deciding to move to Sydney.
Karen chuckled. “It does sound perfect, doesn’t it?”
Erin’s heart galloped as she swallowed over and over again, trying to dislodge the golf ball in her throat. She felt lightheaded, the gift of true happiness too much for her body to bear.
Jesse squeezed her hand tighter. “Say something.” His gaze studied her in uncertainty. “I don’t want either of you to feel pressured. I just want you to be happy.”
Erin turned to Karen. She couldn’t form words, so she raised an eyebrow at her sister, who laughed with a nod.
“We’ll work out the details later,” Karen whispered.
Glancing back at Jesse, Erin opened her mouth, then closed it again. Delirium consumed her and she didn’t know how to voice her gratitude.
“Is that an ‘I’m happy’ facial expression or ‘I’m going to vomit on my boyfriend’s brand new shoes’?” Jesse asked with a frown.
Erin gave a final swallow and leaned in to cup his cheek with her free hand. She stared at him, hoping her love and admiration shone through in her gaze. “That’s an ‘I’m too grateful for words’ expression.”
His eyes brightened and a smile curved his lips. He inclined his head and placed a kiss on her mouth, deepening it with a swipe of his tongue before breaking the connection. “I’m going to give you everything your heart desires, Erin.”
Karen cleared her throat. “Well, Erin might not vomit on your new shoes, but if you two don’t quit it, I think I will.”
Tears stung Erin’s eyes. “Jesse, you’re all I ever wanted.”
Night Talk
by Maxine Sullivan
From
USA Today
bestselling author Maxine Sullivan comes a fast-talking, no-holds-barred battle of the sexes…played out live on air!
When Zac Ryan is roped into replacing an absent guest on a Chicago radio talk show, he decides to have some fun. After all, he’s Australian, on vacation, and fellow host Cassie is something else. So when their chemistry burns up the airwaves, it’s a no-brainer to come back for a few more shows.
But the difference between Cassie’s sexy on-air personality and her prickly, professional off-air self makes Zac wonder which side of her is real — and whether he’s the man to find out.
Hindsight
by Sarah Belle
Humour, wit, and just a touch of humility: the swinging 60s as you’ve never seen them before.
The universe has sent Juliette a sign. She wishes it had been an email instead…
Juliette’s career is on fire, her marriage and family are in melt-down, and a red-hot goddess wants her husband. But those are the least of her worries when she wakes up on her lounge room floor in the year 1961.
Without any of her modern conveniences — nanny, housekeeper, surgically attached mobile phone, designer wardrobe, and intravenous lattes — Juliette is just over fifty years out of her comfort zone. But as she takes on the role of a 1961 housewife, with gritted liberated teeth, she discovers an unexpected truth: slower doesn’t mean boring, at home doesn’t mean dull, and priorities don’t mean sacrifices.
As she finds unexpected friendships, a resuscitated love life, tragedy and triumph, Juliette begins to wonder if she really wants to return home after all.
The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley
by Viveka Portman
In the vein of Portia Da Costa and Charlotte Featherstone, Regency England gets just a bit raunchy in this novella about a gently-raised lady who wants to feel like a woman…
“I have never seen fit in my life to divulge my secrets in a diary, yet now, after today’s proceedings, I do…”
Lady Catherine Bexley is new to marriage and the marriage bed, but surely there must be more to it than this? Her husband is proper and perfunctory — treating her with careful respect but leaving her aching for more.
When she witnesses a gentleman disciplining a maid at a house party, the ache explodes into ravenous desire. She finds herself no longer willing to wait for her husband’s stiff and passionless attentions — and soon develops a naughty plan to finally get what she wants.
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