Buchanan: Delicious Part 18

Dangerous, she thought. It was past time for her to head home.

"It's late," he said.

"So I was just thinking."

"You head out. I'll lock up."

"Okay."

She jumped down from the counter. He moved toward her.

It was one of those moments when good sense seemed highly overrated.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

Despite the tension, she grinned. "Yeah. But I'm cute when I do it."

They moved closer until they were almost touching. And then they were in each other's arms, his mouth on hers.

Several things occurred to her at once, the foremost being that the man could still kiss like the devil. Even with his lips only lightly pressing hers, she felt s.h.i.+vers and heat and need. Second, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were so exquisitely sensitive-probably from a combination of abstinence and the pregnancy-she suspected if he'd simply touch her tight nipples she would explode into o.r.g.a.s.m.

She wanted to throw her arms around him and give in to the moment. She wanted to crawl inside of him and see how much two-become-one they could muster. But then that pesky third thought crept into her brain.

This was not a good idea.

She wanted it to be, but it wasn't. Smart people did not get involved with their ex-husbands at work. Not even ones who were only sticking around for a few months.

She gathered every ounce of strength and stepped back.

His arms looked inviting and she wouldn't mind more pressing her s.e.x-starved body against his. But then what? Did she really plan to get naked with him? Ignoring the whole working together issue, the second he saw her without clothes, the secret would be out. She might be able to disguise her condition behind loose s.h.i.+rts at work, but in the nude, she was obviously pregnant.

Not exactly how she wanted to tell him, she thought.

"You still have it," he said, his eyes dilated, his voice low.

"You, too."

"Not a good idea. Mixing work and..."

She nodded. "So I guess I'll, ah, go."

She headed for her office where she grabbed her purse and keys. "See you in the morning."

He walked her to the back door. "Come in later. I'll be here at seven to check on the delivery. If there's a problem, I'll call. Otherwise, you get some sleep."

The concept was too heavenly to ignore. "Thanks. You have to check the fish. Sniff it. You shouldn't be able to smell anything."

He smiled. "I know how to buy fish, Penny. I've done this before."

"So you say."

She hesitated, suddenly wanting something more but not sure what it was. A connection? Closure?

Whatever it was, she and Cal had already had their chance and messed it up big time. There was no going back.

TWO WEEKS LATER Cal ran the numbers a second time, then tossed the report in the air. "d.a.m.n, we're good," he said. They were already thirty percent above their income projections. Profits were only up eighteen percent, but that was because Penny insisted on large portions of expensive ingredients. As much as he hated to admit it, she was onto something.

Someone knocked on his open door. He glanced up, then waved in the young woman standing there.

Tina was still in street clothes, her coat and handbag over her arm. She held her punch card.

"You said you wanted to see me?" she asked.

Rather than asking her to sit, he stood, then pointed at the clock on his wall.

"Care to tell me what that says?" he asked.

"Five-fifteen."

"Right. Your s.h.i.+ft starts at five."

Tina sighed heavily. "I know, but there was traffic."

Something that happened every night, he thought. "You know the rules. No unexcused tardiness, Tina. You call and give us notice or you show up on time."

She stared at him. "Are you kidding? You're mad ' cuz I'm fifteen minutes late?"

"I'm not mad. You're not in trouble. You're fired."

Her mouth opened, then closed. "For fifteen minutes?"

"You were told the rules when you were hired. You had to sign a copy of them along with your application. Call if you're going to be late or lose your job." He bent down and picked up her paycheck. "I'll walk you out."

"Don't bother."

She jerked the check from his hand and sailed out. He heard grumbling, which he ignored, then returned to his seat. Penny walked in.

"Someone's unhappy. One of the waiters just left in a huff."

"Tina. She was fired."

"For what?"

He nodded at the clock.