paranormal romance into erotic novellas, both
contemporary and paranormal, with her Sextet sisters, and loving it!
A lifelong lover of horses and animals in general, she lives with her
husband, two sons, two horses, four cats, and one dog in rural Indiana.
She enjoys cooking, gardening, and has played guitar since the age of
ten. A member of the RWA and INRWA, her previously published
works include The Cat Star Chronicles series: Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast, Fugitive, and Hero . Book seven, Virgin, will be released in June 2011.
TWO MANY CHEFS
Mellanie Szereto
DEDICATION
Infinite hugs and kisses to my ever-supportive husband.
More hugs to my wonderful Sextet sisters.
And a special thanks to Rebecca for her foodie expertise.
Chapter 1
How the hell did I get roped into this?
Why did she, Wren McCoskey, food chemist and dinner-from-a-
box queen, have to interview two chefs for her cousin’s wedding
reception? Not any two, either. The only two men I’ve ever fantasized about while enjoying an evening with Richard. And couldn’t this have waited until I carried my luggage upstairs to unpack? Her poor
companion was probably suffocating in there. Of course, he hadn’t
been seated between a man who snored and a teenager who sang out
of tune to his iPod. Poor Richard got to ride in the cargo hold with only engine noise from the St. Louis to the Port Columbus Airport.
No more conferences for at least the next six months.
Scanning her test kitchen, she made an eye-hop from station one
to station two. Rule sheet. Check . Pen. Check . Notepad. Check . The counters were spotless, the cabinets and refrigerators stocked, and
each range, oven, and microwave in working order. Her assistant
deserved double-overtime pay for seeing to those details. Wren
glanced at the clock on the wall above the walk-in freezer. Three
minutes ’til two.
Bzzzz.
Her stomach twisted. Almost eight years had passed since Dane
and Spencer had last seen her. High school graduation. Would they recognize her? Damn, she hoped not. The braces were long gone, her
waist-length hair had been cut and colored, and laser surgery had
corrected her myopic vision. No more geeky glasses. She might have
to join a convent if they told her she hadn’t changed at all. Were nuns
allowed vibrators? She’d get mighty lonely without Richard.
86
Mellanie Szereto
Crossing the kitchen to the delivery entrance, her bootheels
clicked on the tile floor. Deep breath. Slide the dead bolt, turn the knob, pull. Try not to swoon at the sight of hot chef number one.
Dane Fletcher . She plastered on a smile to hide her sudden lack of respiratory abilities. He still had the same unkempt blond hair,
adorable dimples, and mischievous aqua eyes—that wayward air
begging every woman to save him from himself. And his long, lean
body had only improved with age.
“Damn, the single men of the world will mourn for years if you’re
the bride. Dane Fletcher, here to wow your taste buds.” His eyes
traveled from her face to her feet, obviously taking in her cleavage
and the belly button ring above her low-cut jeans. His dark-blond
eyebrows rose, and his tongue slipped out to wet his lips.
She almost laughed. He hadn’t changed at all. Ever the flirt. “No.
Maid of honor. Wren McCoskey.”
The moment he recognized her name came. His jaw dropped and
his wide eyes seemed to search for some recognizable trait.
Wonderful.
“No way. Not Bird the Nerd. Jay didn’t say his twin sister grew up
so...swanlike. You know we’re partners in the restaurant, right?”
She bit the inside of her cheek. That stupid nickname. Grr. Since
when is being smart a bad thing? And twin implied a relationship she and Jay did not have. He’d instigated the whole damn birdbrain idea.
Ignoring her old insecurities, she nodded and gestured him into
the kitchen. “I prefer Wren. Familiarize yourself with the setup. No
looking inside the refrigerator or the cabinets
Bill Bryson
Stephen Coonts
Sophia Johnson
Vera Roberts
Aaron Rosenberg
Cornell Woolrich
Gill Arbuthnott
Roddy Doyle
Karen Kingsbury