Graham

I couldn't make it in time for our appointment with Lori the next Thursday. Amber and Matt were showing her my property so she could advise where to set up the tent and the ceremony aisle. A last-minute phone call with a potential sponsor took well over an hour. By the time I was halfway home, Amber called to let me know they were nearly done and would be heading out.

Damn shame because I'd wanted to catch them. The meeting last week had been surprising in more ways than one. I hadn't expected it to be so efficient... or for Lori to be that stunning. I had no doubt she'd aimed to look professional wearing that dress. It revealed absolutely nothing. In fact, it covered far too much of her, and yet my imagination ran wild the second she sat in front of me.

When I arrived in front of the villa, I was pleasantly surprised to see Lori pacing in front of a red Honda, talking on her phone. Her voice reached me through the open window.

"I respect that you are my client and I liked working with you in the past, but I will not put up with excuses. If you can no longer afford my services, just say so, and we will part ways."

Her back was to me, and since she hadn't seen me arrive, I could observe her in her element. Her tone was firm, her back straight. Lori Connor didn't take anyone's bullshit. I liked that she had a backbone. I liked the back of her too; she was wearing a pencil skirt, tight at the waist and molding perfectly over the curve of her hips and ass.

"Okay. We have a deal. I appreciate the honesty. Give me a call when you get back on your feet," she said. After hanging up, she spun around.

"Mr. Frazier, hi! I didn't hear you come up."

"Just Graham. Is everything okay?"

She pointed to her car. "Engine won't start. Tow service is on their way, but they said it would take at least an hour and a half. Know any coffee shops or restaurants in walking distance?"

I knew a few good restaurants, but I had a better idea. "Come inside with me. I'll make us dinner."

She blinked, then shook her head. "Thanks, but I'll grab something nearby."

She'd hesitated long enough for me to know she was tempted, so I pushed. Dinner in Lori's company would be a great way to spend the evening.

"Lori, I'll cook. You’ll relax and tell me about the progress you made today with Matt and Amber. What's not to like about my offer?"

The corners of her mouth lifted in the most beautiful smile. She crossed her arms over her chest, but her smile was even wider when she answered. "Well, when you put it like that, it is quite irresistible."

Lori brought me up to date on the wedding arrangements within minutes. They'd already decided on the type of tent. Menu tasting was next on the to-do list.

"The tent will be in the backyard, of course. The beach is too narrow to have the ceremony there. We can have it in the backyard as well, or on your deck, to overlook the water. Certainly large enough for eighty. But you'd have everyone traipsing through your house."

"I don't mind." 

"I love your house. And the view is to die for."

"Thanks. That's what sold me on it."

I wanted to be near the ocean, and this property was the first to come up. It was far too big for one person, but I hadn't wanted to wait longer. The kitchen opened up to a formal dining area, and a tall breakfast bar separated the two spaces. I pointed to one of the two tall chairs under the counter, and said, "You can sit there while I cook."

"What's on the menu, chef?" Lori climbed on the stool and drummed her palms on the counter, eyeing the double oven on the other side. I leaned with an elbow against the surface, placing my other hand on the short backrest of Lori's chair.

"I have chicken legs. Could whip up a tomato sauce and boil brown rice. I also have pasta. Like gorgonzola sauce? I know an excellent recipe with cream and a mix of gorgonzola cheese and parmesan."

She wrinkled her nose. "Chicken with tomato sauce sounds good."

"You really want to go for the pasta, though."

"How could you tell?"

"Body language. So, why say no to something you want?"

"Oh my God, you can't corrupt me like that. Of course I'll go for the pasta."

She laughed, and seeing her plump lips open up like that for me made me wonder what else I could corrupt her to do. I came closer, moving my hand from the backrest to her back. Lori straightened but didn't pull away.

"I'm very good at corrupting." 

She laughed again and tilted her head to one side. "And you had me all convinced you like to follow the straight and narrow path."

"What gave you that impression?"

"Not sure." She licked her lower lip, and I nearly closed the distance and kissed her. Then she averted her gaze, so I backed off. What the hell was I doing, anyway? I moved through the kitchen and took out all the ingredients, starting to prepare our dinner. 

"Wow, you really cook!" Lori exclaimed while I was chopping onion.

"Yeah. It relaxes me. You thought I'd invite you in for frozen pizza?"

"That possibility crossed my mind." I heard the smile in her voice and looked at her over my shoulder.

"Your bar is pretty low, isn't it? Let's see if I can impress you."

"Game on, chef."

From where I was standing, I had a direct view of her long legs under the counter. Her skirt reached just over her knees, and my fingertips itched with the impulse to touch her and push the fabric all the way up her thighs. How smooth would her skin be? How delicious would she taste?

"How long have you known Matt and Amber?" she asked, effectively cutting through my thoughts. I set the sauce to simmer and turned to face her.

"Since middle school. They're my best friends."

"It's very sweet of you to pay for their wedding menus."

"I have another surprise up my sleeve, but I'm keeping mum on that."

"Tell me," she beckoned, but I shook my head. "You're doing this on purpose."

"Of course I am. Payback for doubting my cooking skills."

She broke out into a full-on belly laughter that filled the whole kitchen. I couldn't look away from those full lips, those long legs.

Once the food was cooked, we took everything outside on the deck. It was immense. She was right; the ceremony could easily take place here. I had a rattan couch on one side, and a table for six next to it. We ate at the table.

"You should go on those cooking competitions. You'd win everything. Did you take cooking classes or something?"

"All Nana's doing. My grandmother. She's better than any chef."

"Well, this is amazing. Even better than my sister's recipe, but"—she made a gesture to zip her lips—"I'll be in trouble if she gets wind I said that."

"Your secret is safe with me. I didn't know Jace had another sister." I was friendly with all the guys on the team, but we kept a professional distance.

"We're six siblings. Three brothers, three sisters. How about you?"

"I have two half siblings, but I’m not in contact with them. Though I've known Amber and Matt for so long that I think of them as family."

I didn’t want to get into more detail. My mother had left when I was two years old, because of my father's cheating. Philandering seemed to run in the blood of Frazier men. My father and grandfather hadn’t had any respect for their wives and families. I’d wanted the opposite. But my divorce proved that marriage wasn’t easy, even when you give it your best shot. I focused the conversation on Lori. "Which one's the sister with the amazing kitchen skills?"

"That would be Valentina." 

"What does she do for work?"

"She owns a perfume and cosmetics company."

"And the others?"

"Landon recently sold his software company in San Jose and moved here. He's in the process of opening an investment fund. Will is a detective, and Hailey’s a business consultant. She travels a lot, and is in the city mostly on weekends."

"And by that sad note in your voice, I'm guessing you wish she'd be around more?"

"Yep." She didn't elaborate, because she focused on her pasta and didn't stop until she'd cleaned her plate. I had a feeling that under Lori's pencil skirts and tucked in blouse was a wild nature waiting to be unleashed. I loved the gusto with which she ate, the passion in her laughter. After our plates were empty, we moved to the rattan couch.

"And? Is the lady impressed?"

"Oh, yeah. Top marks, Chef Frazier. If you ever quit the club, you'd make a killing with an Italian restaurant. The club's been in your family for three generations, right?"

"Yes. My grandfather inherited a fortune and then invested it all in his two great passions: booze and soccer. The booze company went belly up within five years, but the soccer club survived for generations."

It had always felt like my second home. Lately, it felt like my only home. The arena and the offices were next to each other. As a kid, I'd experienced the fondest memories at the club, be it on the neatly trimmed grass, kicking balls with the greatest soccer names of the day, or on the floor of my grandfather's office, listening to him running the place. Soccer had been about the only thing we bonded over.

"That's a legacy to be proud of." She checked her phone and sighed. "I should head out soon."

I disagreed. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much fun, and I wasn't ready for our evening to end.