Lush by Lauren Dane Page B

been
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    in French as well. My grandmother told me, after I had made a
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    very safe choice, that I’d never ever look back at my life when I
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    was her age and say I wished I’d made safe menu choices. She
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    said life was about taking chances and trying new things. So I
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    did. And I never really stopped.”
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    “I like that story. When I was growing up—Oh my god, what
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    is that?”
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    “Abalone.”
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    “Wow. Love it.” He fi nished chewing and went in for a few
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    more bites. She loved to watch people eat. Especially Damien.
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    He had started off wary but had taken up the challenge.
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    He sipped his wine. “This is also awesome. Anyway, we
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    rarely went out to dinner when I was growing up. We didn’t
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    often have much extra money. My mom’s a great cook, but we’re
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    a meat- and- potatoes family. I never really went to fancy places, 28S
    not until we hit it big and label people started to take us to
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    lunch.”
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    Lush
    “I love meat and potatoes. My favorite meal of my mom’s is
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    meatloaf. Also, small hole-in- the- wall places can really be great 02
    fi nds. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten has been from some
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    three- table place in a strip mall.”
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    Another course arrived and she had to clasp her hands on
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    her lap to keep from rubbing them together with glee.
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    “You’re really happy right now, aren’t you?”
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    “I am. This is . . . it’s special. I’m blown away. Taste this.”
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    She held her fork out and he leaned in to take a bite. “I hope
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    you’re not weirded out that I like to share.” She really did hope
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    not, because she wanted to grab some of what was on his plate.
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    “Hell no. I like it.” He indicated his plate and she hoped she
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    didn’t look like a hungry animal when she forked up some of
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    his food.
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    It was hours later when they walked outside. He hailed a cab
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    and she leaned into his side, despite the August heat.
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    “It’s a beautiful thing to watch you around food.”
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    She tipped her head back. “Yeah?”
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    He nodded. “Oh yeah. You enjoy it like nothing I’ve ever seen.
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    You get this light in your eyes. Pure joy. Sensual. Really, really
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    hot. Thanks for sharing this with me.”
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    “Thank you for coming with me. And for not complaining
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    when I ate off your plate.”
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    He kissed the top of her head. “Anytime.”
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    Two women approached. “Oh my god, you’re Damien Hur-
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    ley!” They giggled and he smiled at them.
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    “I am. How are you two ladies this fi ne evening?”
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    “You’re so hot. Would you sign an autograph?” She started
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    digging in her purse, unsteady on her feet.
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    Lauren Dane
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    “So are you staying in town? We have tickets to see you
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    tomorrow night. Can we come backstage? We’d totally make it
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    worth your while, if you know what I mean.”
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    He chuckled.
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    They ignored Mary totally. One of them even sort of edged
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    in front of her. She stepped back, shocked at the behavior.
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    He looked back to her. “Hey, don’t go anywhere.”
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    Damien saw the look on her face, knew she was pissed. He
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    felt bad— it had been a pretty fucking stellar night up until that 10
    point.
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    A cab rolled up and the doorman opened the door. She shot
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    him a look over her shoulder and got in. “Looks like you’re busy.
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    I can go back on my own if you’d like.”
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    “Gotta run. Have a good night, ladies, and enjoy the show.”
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    He hurried, disentangling himself from their grabbing hands
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    and slid into the cab.
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    Mary stared straight ahead as they pulled away from the curb.
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    “I’m sorry about that.”
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    “Yeah, I could