CHAPTER 4

From the moment he left the LM Kitchen that early autumn morning in Star Harbor, Seb’s mind started to whir. Not about food, although he really should have been thinking about expanding and enhancing his already impressive culinary repertoire. Not about his career, although he could do with a few hours of brainstorming, both alone and with his very competent assistant-slash-business manager, Ivana Vlatova. Not about the space for his new restaurant, although Ivana had set up a meeting for him with a Boston Realtor this morning. And certainly not about his new show, the underlying theme and tone of which he hadn’t quite settled on.

No, Seb was thinking about sex. Specifically, sex with the delectable proprietor of the Lexie Meyers Kitchen.

He’d kept his thoughts in check while he was in the company of his brothers, who obviously thought that he’d insulted Lexie. But once he was on his bike on the way to Boston, his thoughts were free to wander. And wander they did.

All over Lexie’s delightfully lush body.

He saw beautiful women every day. That wasn’t anything new. What was new was when a beautiful woman—a woman who had nothing to lose by being nice to him and everything to gain—recognized him and rebuffed him soundly. It was intriguing, to say the least. Very intriguing. Women had been flinging themselves at Seb for as long as he could remember, even before he’d achieved celebrity status.

He wasn’t sure why Lexie was affecting him this way. There were other women, after all—many of them. But there was something about the curve of her hip and the sparkle in her eyes that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Something that physically drew him closer even as she very verbally pushed him away.

Seb thought about Lexie for a long time. He thought about her for the entire ride to Boston, and was still thinking about her when he met Ivana at the Realtor’s office. He thought about her some more while the Realtor showed them space after unremarkable space for his new restaurant.

Unfortunately, Seb came out of his Lexie-induced stupor at an inopportune moment. One minute, he was in the throes of a daydream involving him, Lexie, plastic wrap, and cake batter, and the next, he was staring into the face of a middle-aged woman with a chic bob and a hopeful expression.

“So you think it’ll work?” she asked.

“Yes. I think it’ll work nicely,” Seb responded, still musing about Lexie. “Very nicely.”

“Great, so we can sign today.”

“Sign?” Seb was confused. “Sign what?”

“Why, sign the lease. For the space, of course.”

Now Seb was fully present. “I’m not signing anything for this space. The light’s not right, the layout is terrible, and the kitchen is way too small.”

“But … I thought you … I mean, that is …” the woman sputtered, but Sebastian was already halfway out the door.

Ivana pressed her lips together and barely repressed a sigh as she escorted him back to the waiting car. “You could at least pretend to be interested in this,” she murmured. “It’s only your career.”

Seb grunted as Ivana slammed the door. She was right. He wasn’t paying attention and he really should be.

Hiring Ivana Vlatova had been one of his more intelligent decisions. She was knockout gorgeous, which was useful for the art of distraction. She was also cold, ruthless, and utterly brilliant. By the time most people figured that out, she’d run laps around them. Suffice it to say, she usually got what she wanted, which in turn worked well for Seb. More important, she wouldn’t—under any circumstances—sleep with him.

Smart woman.

He slouched down in the seat of the car and glanced sideways at Ivana. As usual, she looked sleek and cold. Her black hair was meticulously arranged in some kind of long sweep to her shoulder blades. She was dressed for business. Or for battle. Sometimes he thought it was the same thing with her. She was staring straight ahead, a neutral expression on her face, which, for Ivana, was a clear indication of disapproval.

“Ivana?”

She turned to him, her artfully cut black suit shifting with her body, her clear blue eyes cutting right through him. “Yes, Sebastian?”

“What’s next?”

“Two properties in Back Bay and one in the Fens close to Fenway Park. I saw the specs the Realtor sent over last week, and one of them looks particularly promising. And Sebastian? I think you need to improve your people skills. Think warm and approachable. We don’t want potential investors or fans thinking you have a major attitude problem.”

Seb grunted again and turned to look out the window. Maybe Ivana was right. He did have an attitude. But his career was on an upward trajectory and he sure as hell didn’t want to blow it. Just then, he saw a woman strolling along the street wearing a wine-colored wrap. It reminded him of Lexie’s lips. He wondered if they’d feel smooth and soft pressed up against his own.

He should stay away from her. Cole and Val had clearly warned him off. And the lady herself had made it clear what she thought of him. Presumptuous.

What was that supposed to mean, anyway? Of course he was bold and direct. He hadn’t achieved fame and fortune by rolling over and playing dead.

Ah, well, he loved a challenge. Could he turn her frostiness into warmth? Her protestations into moans of passion? She’d be so good, he just knew it. That small, curvy body wrapped around him, tingling with desire instead of stiffening in outrage. That smart mouth whispering words of love instead of tossing retorts. That spark in her eye igniting into flames as he took both of them higher, higher.

“Sebastian? Did you say something?” Ivana questioned.

Had he said something out loud? “No,” he muttered.

“All right. Prepare yourself. We’re almost at the next place.”

And prepare himself he did. He deliberately wiped Lexie from the forefront of his mind. For now, there’d be no more thoughts of her. It was too distracting, and he had work to do. Steeling himself, he stepped out from the car into the chilly air.

* * *

“Here you go, Sebastian,” said Andy Neiman, sliding a tall glass of ice-cold beer to him across the polished oak bar. Andy was the proprietor of the local Star Harbor tavern, the Rusty Nail. “This one’s on the house. It’s good to have you back.”

“Good to be back, Andy,” Seb replied, smiling at Val and Theo, who were sitting next to him. “Cheers.” He picked up the glass and raised it to Andy, then took a sip. Easing back on his high wooden stool, he took a look around the place. He’d last been here three years before and nothing much had changed. John Anson, a middle-aged man who ran the pharmacy, was at one of the sturdy wooden tables lining the wall with Max Wright and his wife, Karen, the couple who owned and managed The Wright Read, the town’s independent bookstore. Luke Bedwin, the owner of Star Harbor Hardware and the town’s unofficial handyman, sat with them. They all looked pretty much the same, just a bit older, with a few more gray hairs. He raised his hand in greeting, and they smiled back at him, something he was sure they’d never have done in his youth.

“Hope you got a lot done today,” Theo said.

“Some,” Sebastian said, taking another sip of beer. “Saw a bunch of properties and spent an hour talking on the phone with my sous chef, Jorge, about the fall menu.”

“Good,” Val said, nodding. “We went on a hike by Harper’s Pond before Cole went on duty. Wish you could have joined us.”

“Me too,” Seb said. Though his fall menu was mostly squared away, the property hunting had been a bust. Not only had he not been able to spend time with his brothers, but he had little to show for his efforts. And there was one other matter he hadn’t gotten the chance to attend to today. Lexie Meyers. He was a disciplined man, but as soon as he let down his guard, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to her. When was the last time he’d been this hung up on a woman?

“They letting tourists in this place now, Andy?” a booming voice sounded through the tavern. “My, how times have changed.”

As Val and Theo chuckled, Sebastian turned and rose to greet one of his oldest friends. “Jimmy Bishop, it’s good to see you again, man.” The two men clasped hands, and then Jimmy enveloped Seb in a bone-crushing hug, embodying his nickname—“The Bear.” Seb looked up at the enormous, blond man. “You gonna rib me for leaving Star Harbor, too?”

“What are friends for?” he responded with a shrug. “Besides, you brought it on yourself, leaving town just when things were getting exciting.”

“Have a seat.”

“I’ll move down,” Theo said, sliding down the bar with his brew.

“Thanks, man,” Seb said, and then turned back to his friend. “You’re looking good, Jimmy.”

“It ain’t easy hauling bowlines all day and scrubbing decks at night,” Jimmy said, easing his huge body onto the small bar stool. “Work keeps me plenty fit.” Which was an understatement. Seb was big, but Jimmy put him to shame—he probably had three inches and forty pounds of pure muscle on him. Jimmy had been a demon as a boy, full of fire and always itching for a fight. An integral part of their gang, he’d been a useful friend to have when he managed to keep his temper under control. “Business is good, though. Three seasons of work keep me busy. Can’t take tourists out in the winter, but I’ll have more time for Emma in the off-season.”

“Speaking of Emma, I have to give you my congratulations. Let me buy you a drink.”

Jimmy’s broad face softened and his blue eyes grew misty. “Thanks. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, you know. After we get married she’s going to work at the Star Harbor Library as their head librarian,” he said proudly. “She has the sweetest smile, and when she looks at me?” He shook his head. “Man, it just makes me glad to be alive.”

Forget his ferocious nickname; Jimmy seemed more like a pussycat than a bear these days. “Sounds like you’re happy.”

“Yeah,” Jimmy said, “real happy.” He looked back and forth between him and Theo. “If you guys are going to be around, you should come to the wedding. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“It’s in three weeks, right?” Seb asked, glancing at Val, who gave him a slight nod. “I was only planning to stick around until Friday.” He turned back to Jimmy. “But what the hell? It’s an honor to be invited. Jorge’s gonna kill me, but I’ll stay.”

“Professor?” Jimmy asked.

“Can’t,” Theo said ruefully, shaking his head. “I have a flight out Monday back to California. No way I can change it.”

“Sorry ’bout that. But hey, at least I get three of the Grayson brothers.” He wrapped a huge arm around Seb’s shoulders. “So if you’re buying, I’ll take a lager on tap. Can you set me up, Andy?”

“Sure thing,” the older man said. “Here you go,” he said, handing Jimmy the drink. “Seb, I’d put it on your tab, but I don’t know if you’ll be around long enough for me to collect.” His lips were pressed together in barely contained mirth.

“Hilarious,” Seb said in a tone that meant anything but. “I’ll pay you now.” He reached for his wallet.

“Good man.” Jimmy pounded him on the back in thanks and Seb picked up his own glass. “Now drink up. Promised Emma I’d meet her back at her aunt’s house later tonight. Cheers, old friends.”

“Cheers.” The four men clinked glasses and drank deeply. Out of the corner of his eye, Seb saw Ashley Flitt, one of Cole’s ex-girlfriends, walk into the tavern. Poured into tight jeans and a slinky top, she gave Seb a long, appraising look. Ignoring her, he focused on his drink. He wasn’t in town for that long, and he wanted to make the most of the time he had. That definitely didn’t include having a fling with one of Cole’s old flames. But there was another reason why he wasn’t interested. The LMK wasn’t that far away from the Nail. Was it his imagination or could he detect the faint aroma of freshly baked coconut cake?

Suddenly, he was glad that Jimmy needed to head out early. He wanted to get back to the relative privacy of Val’s boat. It was time to make a professional game plan. And dream about Lexie.