The Best is Yet to Come by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-07-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Ryder found Kim Sun at Ivy’s house, teaching Jean how to bake sponge cake.

“Don’t fuss,” Kim Sun challenged his boss. “You said my menu bored you, so I have learned beef stew, liver and onions, fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. Mrs. McKenzie taught me. In return, I taught Mrs. McKenzie to make Napoleons, crepes Suzette and sponge cake. Good trade, huh?”

“Good trade,” Ryder had to admit. His pale eyes went to Ivy. She smiled at him, her eyes liquid, and for the first time, he felt nervous. She was going soft on him physically, and he was old enough to see dangers that she couldn’t. He’d gone too fast, despite his good intentions. She wanted him, and apparently she was willing. But he didn’t want her on the rebound. Even if she hadn’t wanted her husband, she’d loved him. He wanted her heart much more than he wanted her exquisite body. But he wanted that enough to lose his head and take it, which would only complicate things. He had to keep the pace slow and steady, which meant, unfortunately, that he was going to have to draw back and put a rein on her impatient desire. He was going to have to manage that without turning her off completely or damaging her pride, and without going out of his mind because of his own frustrated desire. A tall order for a man violently in love.

Ivy saw the expression on his face and misunderstood it. Had she been too forward? Had she frightened him off?

“I’d better get up to the house. See you tomorrow, Ivy,” Ryder said. “If you’re through,” he told Kim Sun, “you can drive me up to the house.”

“I am through for now,” the smaller man agreed. “Thank you, Mrs. McKenzie.” He bowed his head to Jean.

“Thank you!” she replied heartily. “I’ll fatten Ivy up yet with these new recipes!”

“She could use a little weight,” Ryder said, his eyes sliding warmly over Ivy’s slender body. “Not that there’s anything wrong with the way she looks,” he added gently.

“Flattery will get you supper,” Ivy teased.

“Thanks, but I’ve got a lot of paperwork to get through,” he said after a minute, hating the refusal when he saw her crestfallen look. But he couldn’t handle being alone with Ivy much more today. His body was already giving him hell for what he’d refused it earlier.

“You still have to eat.” Jean came to her aid.

“I’m taking your daughter to Paris next week,” he pointed out, startling Ivy as much as her mother. “It’s a business trip, but she’ll have time to shop and do some sight-seeing. The condition is that I have all my work caught up first.”

“In that case,” Ivy said softly, “please go home, Ryder.”

He laughed. “Heartless woman. First you offer to feed me, then you send me packing. At least I get to take the cook with me. Come on, Kim Sun. Let’s see how you ruin fried chicken.”

The little man glowered at him.

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