GiGi swallowed and looked at her face in a compact mirror. She was pretty. Rosemary somehow made her look not tired, which was GiGi’s default setting.
“Okay. I hear you. But listen, dating is supposed to be fun; you’re making it so intense. I always thought you were the fun cousin.”
Rosemary playfully slapped her on the knee. “And don’t you forget it! I’m just beating around the bush, and I’m sorry. Maybe I should just go ahead and tell you.”
“Tell me what?” GiGi asked, eyes bugging at her cousin and best friend.
But before GiGi could get an answer, the blue-eyed, blond-haired massive rock star chef was darkening the door of her office.
Chapter Seven
Vann
“Tell her what?”
Vann had overheard a part of the women’s conversation as he strode toward the office, where he’d found the two ladies hovered over GiGi’s desk, which was covered in an array of makeup. He said those words at the same time as GiGi was saying hers. The difference was, Vann already knew the answer.
“Vann!” GiGi said, noticing him in the doorway. There was that sweet smile of hers, now slightly dolled up with tinted lip gloss. He loved that face of hers bare, but she was just as lovely with a little makeup.
“Maybe I’ll leave that to you, now that you’re here,” Rosemary said. “You have my blessing.”
Vann laughed. “So glad to hear that I have your permission to date whomever I please.”
Turning back to GiGi, he noticed the apprehensive look all over her face again. “I was going to try to meet you outside. How did you get in here? The front door is supposed to be locked.” GiGi said.
Had he been thinking more clearly, and not distracted by that too-sexy-to-be-legal dress she was wearing, he would have worded his reply more carefully. “It was locked, but then some of your staff recognized me and let me. They were very … chatty … and giggly.”
The pink flush across GiGi’s chest told him she didn’t like the idea of her staff flirting with him.
Was she jealous? She was indeed. Her heart rate had sped up, just slightly. He could hear it.
Vann resisted the urge to smile about her reaction. He hadn’t intended to make her jealous; he did not enjoy her feeling that way, but he could not deny how much her twinge of possessiveness excited him. Their souls could tamp down the curse of their inner beasts as much as they wanted, but they could not deny each other’s most base instincts. The jealousy, excitement, and heat hung in the air between them for several seconds before GiGi awkwardly cleared her throat, stood up, and smoothed down the front of her dress.
Vann’s throat went dry as he watched her, his eyes gorging on the visual feast that was GiGi in that dress. He was pleased. Surprised that she’d done exactly as he’d requested, but pleased. Even better: he could see how pleased she was with her own body. There was absolutely nothing sexier than that.
“Sorry for barging in on your makeup session, but I couldn’t wait another minute to see you. Hope you’re hungry.”
GiGi
On the outside, Vann’s house was an unassuming, tidy little restored bungalow, tucked into a row of similar homes, some turned into art galleries, some into bars, and others as rental homes.
On the inside, GiGi could hardly believe this was the home of a celebrity bachelor. She was surprised by how traditional and inviting it was. Against one long wall were built-in shelves filled with books. There was a reading nook in the window overlooking the neighborhood street. There was a cozy seating area with overstuffed couches, floor pillows, and antique tables. The kitchen was enormous, as she would have expected. Warm, and a built-in brick oven in the wall. “This house is…quaint!” she exclaimed.
Vann chuckled. “Thanks, I think. I wanted a soft place to land, where I could relax, and be a creative space but also good for raising a family. I’m not much for the modern bachelor pad style.”
She goggled at the wall of books. “I can see that. I mean, I can see this room decorated for Christmas. No joke.”
He helped her slide off her coat, and one of the straps of her dress fell off her shoulder. His hand was warm as he fixed the strap back into place. “That’s what I was going for,” he said huskily.
GiGi could feel his eyes on hers. His deadly serious gaze made her feel both unsettled and excited.
“I smell fresh meat,” she said, glancing toward the kitchen area. I smell fresh meat? Really, GiGi?
Vann gestured for her to have a seat at the breakfast island and took out of the warming oven a tray of appetizers to feed a family of five. She didn’t know what to try first.
GiGi settled on a smoked salmon and asparagus puff pastry thing. She pulled it apart just to check his technique, and could see the layers. This was fresh and made with real butter. It melted in her mouth.
Oh my God, that is good. Then she felt his eyes watching her again. “Enough love in that for your liking?” he asked, pouring her a glass of wine.
“You win. You deserve the wedding contract.”
“I know.”
“Cocky much?”
“I worked hard to get here, and I’m not shy about claiming what’s mine. You should take a lesson. You’re a great chef and you should own that.”
“I do,” she said. “I’m a fucking awesome chef. Pastry and otherwise.”
“Good. Then I think we could be a good match.”
She looked in his eyes and knew it was true. She also saw something else there, but it seemed so ridiculous. “I’m going out on a limb here, but…you look like somebody else I know.”
He smiled. “And so do you,” he said, sipping his wine.
“What
