judgy or snooty. But he wanted her to like him.
05
Wanted to be sure he could handle himself at this place. He liked
06
to know things. Being prepared was his measure of control.
07
Her laugh calmed him a little. “It’s fi ne. Yes, let’s go there.
08
I like to check out bar food too. I haven’t eaten all day just to
09
be ready.”
10
She took his arm. “Also, you really do look amazing in a
11
suit. It works on you.”
12
He’d dressed up for her and he was glad he had.
13
“Come then, lady. Let’s get our grub on.”
14
When they arrived at the restaurant, her eyes glittered. He
15
squeezed her to his side, loving that she was so happy and that
16
he could share that with her. In the bar, she ordered a very dry
17
vodka martini with an olive and a few items from the menu.
18
Plenty of people recognized him, but none approached, which
19
he was thankful for. Maybe they forgot when they got a load
20
of Mary’s legs in those damned heels. He knew he’d nearly
21
stumbled twice because he’d been staring as they walked.
22
By the time their reservation came up, he was ready to have
23
her to himself in a more intimate situation. Bars were fun and
24
all, but at their table it was intimate. He sat close enough to speak 25
quietly with her, close enough that he could smell her perfume.
26
She chatted with the server, asking a million questions. So
27
much so that the chef- owner came out and her eyes widened,
28S
though she managed to keep it together. He asked about her
29N
• 84 •
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Lush
catering, her food and invited her to come back again the next
01
time she was in the city.
02
“If you’ll permit me, I have a menu in mind.”
03
Jean Louis Valpar was her idol. And he stood right there,
04
gray- haired, French and impeccable. Oh and charming. And he
05
had a menu planned? As if she’d say no?
06
“We would be most appreciative. I’ve been an admirer of
07
your food for some time. I can’t wait to taste what you’ve got
08
in store for us.”
09
He took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “It will be my
10
pleasure.”
11
He spoke to the server in rapid- fi re French and the server
12
disappeared to procure whatever he’d told her to.
13
“She’ll be back momentarily.” Jean Louis bowed. “It was
14
wonderful to meet you, Mary and Damien.”
15
Once he’d gone, Mary turned to Damien. “Oh. My. God.”
16
Damien smiled, taking her hand. “I sensed you might admire
17
him a little.”
18
“He’s like . . . my idol. The fi rst real cookbook I ever had
19
was Jean Louis’s Kitchen . When people say they wanted to go 20
to Disneyworld or whatever, I always said I wanted to come
21
here.”
22
“That’s awesome.”
23
The server returned with several appetizers, and the som-
24
melier came by with wine.
25
“Chef Valpar suggests these wines to go with each course.”
26
She looked over the list and handed it Damien’s way.
27
“That’s a lot of courses.”
S28
N29
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Lauren Dane
01
Mary grinned at him. “I know. I’m so glad I have an empty
02
stomach. Though the martini has hit.”
03
Wine was poured and she dug in, sharing with Damien.
04
“I wish you were with me every time I went out to eat. I’d
05
never have chosen any of this stuff. And yet, each forkful you
06
create is perfect.”
07
She blushed. “Thank you.”
08
“So what ignited this love of food?”
09
“I don’t know. I just have always loved it. My grandmother
10
took me to a swanky restaurant in Portland for my eighth birth-
11
day. It doesn’t exist anymore. But it was old- school French. I was 12
astounded by all the silverware, by the menu, which had
05
Wanted to be sure he could handle himself at this place. He liked
06
to know things. Being prepared was his measure of control.
07
Her laugh calmed him a little. “It’s fi ne. Yes, let’s go there.
08
I like to check out bar food too. I haven’t eaten all day just to
09
be ready.”
10
She took his arm. “Also, you really do look amazing in a
11
suit. It works on you.”
12
He’d dressed up for her and he was glad he had.
13
“Come then, lady. Let’s get our grub on.”
14
When they arrived at the restaurant, her eyes glittered. He
15
squeezed her to his side, loving that she was so happy and that
16
he could share that with her. In the bar, she ordered a very dry
17
vodka martini with an olive and a few items from the menu.
18
Plenty of people recognized him, but none approached, which
19
he was thankful for. Maybe they forgot when they got a load
20
of Mary’s legs in those damned heels. He knew he’d nearly
21
stumbled twice because he’d been staring as they walked.
22
By the time their reservation came up, he was ready to have
23
her to himself in a more intimate situation. Bars were fun and
24
all, but at their table it was intimate. He sat close enough to speak 25
quietly with her, close enough that he could smell her perfume.
26
She chatted with the server, asking a million questions. So
27
much so that the chef- owner came out and her eyes widened,
28S
though she managed to keep it together. He asked about her
29N
• 84 •
9780425256084_Lush_TX_p1-308.indd 84
9780425256084_Lush_TX_p1-308.indd 84
23/11/12 12:24 PM
23/11/12 12:24 PM
Lush
catering, her food and invited her to come back again the next
01
time she was in the city.
02
“If you’ll permit me, I have a menu in mind.”
03
Jean Louis Valpar was her idol. And he stood right there,
04
gray- haired, French and impeccable. Oh and charming. And he
05
had a menu planned? As if she’d say no?
06
“We would be most appreciative. I’ve been an admirer of
07
your food for some time. I can’t wait to taste what you’ve got
08
in store for us.”
09
He took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “It will be my
10
pleasure.”
11
He spoke to the server in rapid- fi re French and the server
12
disappeared to procure whatever he’d told her to.
13
“She’ll be back momentarily.” Jean Louis bowed. “It was
14
wonderful to meet you, Mary and Damien.”
15
Once he’d gone, Mary turned to Damien. “Oh. My. God.”
16
Damien smiled, taking her hand. “I sensed you might admire
17
him a little.”
18
“He’s like . . . my idol. The fi rst real cookbook I ever had
19
was Jean Louis’s Kitchen . When people say they wanted to go 20
to Disneyworld or whatever, I always said I wanted to come
21
here.”
22
“That’s awesome.”
23
The server returned with several appetizers, and the som-
24
melier came by with wine.
25
“Chef Valpar suggests these wines to go with each course.”
26
She looked over the list and handed it Damien’s way.
27
“That’s a lot of courses.”
S28
N29
• 85 •
9780425256084_Lush_TX_p1-308.indd 85
9780425256084_Lush_TX_p1-308.indd 85
23/11/12 12:24 PM
23/11/12 12:24 PM
Lauren Dane
01
Mary grinned at him. “I know. I’m so glad I have an empty
02
stomach. Though the martini has hit.”
03
Wine was poured and she dug in, sharing with Damien.
04
“I wish you were with me every time I went out to eat. I’d
05
never have chosen any of this stuff. And yet, each forkful you
06
create is perfect.”
07
She blushed. “Thank you.”
08
“So what ignited this love of food?”
09
“I don’t know. I just have always loved it. My grandmother
10
took me to a swanky restaurant in Portland for my eighth birth-
11
day. It doesn’t exist anymore. But it was old- school French. I was 12
astounded by all the silverware, by the menu, which had
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