Blood Ties in Chef Voleur Read Online Free Page B

and smiled. “Hilarious,” she said, “considering I picked up four empty bottles just like this from your side of the bed this morning. I’ve got a long day tomorrow and I will take some water with me.”
    He didn’t comment, just headed back to the bedroom. She added two more bottles to the refrigerator, then followed him, going into their bathroom to undress. She shrugged out of Jack’s jacket, then dropped the single intact strap off her shoulder and let the dress fall to the floor, leaving her completely naked. She looked down at herself, blushing. She’d forgotten her little flirtation with her husband from before the party. He probably had, too.
    Quickly, she reached for her blue silk nightgown and slipped it over her head. They were married, but that didn’t change the fact that she’d only known Jack for two months. She hadn’t quite gotten over her shyness yet.
    “So, what did you think?” she asked Jack, peering around the bathroom door. He was in profile to her, unzipping his pants. His shirt was already off and the sight of his lean, tanned body made heat curl deep inside her, as it did every time she looked at him. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. It was still hard for her to believe that they’d fallen in love at first sight. Actually, to be truthful, she wasn’t surprised that she’d fallen for him. What amazed her was that he’d fallen in love with her so fast.
    She wondered, as she had many times, had he felt the same startling ache in the middle of his chest that she had when they’d seen each other across the gallery floor where she was exhibiting her fiber-art pieces? Had he immediately felt desire like a tuning fork shimmering and humming inside him? Did he remember each and every second of that first glance, as she had? She would never forget how he’d met her gaze, his mouth curved in a secret smile she hadn’t seen since, then walked straight over to her and asked her to skip the show and go with him to get something to eat.
    Even though she’d been a headliner at the gallery that night, she’d gone with him. Four weeks later, they were married.
    “Jack?” she said again.
    “Hmm?” He glanced at her sidelong, his dark brows shadowing his eyes. “What did I think about what?
    “About all the Delanceys?”
    “Oh. They’re pretty intense, especially about the baby of the family. Even Paul Guillame got a dig in to me. He told me that your brothers and cousins had pledged death times eight to anyone who dared to harm you.”
    “Oh, you met Paul. Did he really say that? I can’t believe it.”
    “Why?”
    She shrugged, thinking about her distant cousin on her mother’s side. “He doesn’t seem that deep or that interested in anyone but himself.”
    “Whoa. Ouch. Catty much?”
    She felt her cheeks turn pink. “That wasn’t very nice, was it?”
    Jack shook his head. “Nope. He might be shallow, but he’s right about your brothers—and cousins. I bent down to check on you and three big guys were all over me like it was their job to take care of you, not mine.”
    Cara Lynn felt a warm glow start in her midsection. “You think it’s your job to take care of me?”
    He looked up, his brows knitted, as if he hadn’t even thought about what he’d said. With a slight tilt of his head, he said, “I guess.”
    Cara Lynn laughed. “I really like that. Not that I need taking care of.”
    He smiled. “I know. You’re perfectly capable of handling yourself.”
    “Please, tell my brothers that.”
    “Why? What’s the problem with being doted on by your brothers?”
    “Nothing, if all you get are the perks. But with four older brothers, I have to put up with the downside, too.”
    “Right. Please, tell me the downside to being the favorite in a huge family of wealthy Louisianans.”
    “Just like tonight. Nobody thinks I can take care of myself. They don’t even think I can think for myself. It’s like I’ve had five dads threatening boyfriends and