Burn (Heat #1)(7)

"To cook?" My fingers curl around the edge of the table.

"No." He holds my gaze. "I want you to come as a guest."

"Oh," I say without thinking, my mind moving at breakneck speed. "Is that why you asked if I'm seeing anyone?"

He drapes his jacket over the back of the chair next to me. When he looks at me again, his face is impassive. "No. I asked because I heard that you're the drop dead gorgeous blonde f*cking Brendon Trevino."





CHAPTER 6


I was the blonde f*cking Brendon Trevino. The drop dead gorgeous part is debatable but I'm flattered in a strange and uncomfortable way.

I expect Chef Monroe to drop the steely stare when I don't respond right away. I'm no judge of time when it feels like it's standing still, but I'm going to bet that at least thirty seconds have passed. I need to say something. "I was involved with Brendon for almost a year."

"You're her?" His eyes roam over my body. "You're the woman Brendon can't get enough of?"

That's accurate, I guess. Brendon Trevino's appetite for all things sexual is as insatiable as his hunger for fame. The man is a talented chef. He's actually the new executive chef at Axel NY, a restaurant owned by Hunter Reynolds. Hunter also holds a stake in Nova. It's a twisted web of familiarity that feels almost too intimate when I give it any thought. So I don't. I left my job at Axel shortly before I graduated from culinary school. When I interviewed here, the kitchen manager offered me a position on the spot.

"Brendon and I aren't together anymore," I say softly. "We broke up months ago. I don't even speak to him at this point."

"What happened between you two?"

It's not a question I'm prepared to answer. "It's complicated. I don't like talking about it."

I don't like talking to anyone about it, even Sophia. When I was with Brendon, I stayed at his place at least a few nights a week. He never slept at mine.

He'd often forget Sophia's name and when he was at our apartment, he was always uncomfortable around her. She once told me it was because she knew he wasn't the right guy for me.

I sensed the same thing which is why I never truly invested myself fully in the relationship. We had fun while it lasted. Brendon taught me a lot about food and about life.

"Cadence." Tyler's eyes volley from my face to the table and then back. "There's a lot of sensitive information in the kitchen. I don't want that shared with anyone, especially a competing chef."

Seriously? He thinks I'm a culinary spy?

It's hard not to take offense at Chef Monroe's comments. He doesn't know me though. It's natural that he'd wonder if I'm still involved with Brendon. "I understand your concern but I can assure you that I haven't spoken to Brendon in months. I don't think he's even aware that I'm working here."

"I see." He runs his finger across his chin. "I expect loyalty, Cadence. If your situation with Trevino changes, I need you to tell me."

"I will," I offer even though I'm not sure if I actually will. I can't imagine anything between the two of us changing. I sacrificed my relationship with him for my career. Brendon doesn't like taking a backseat to anyone.

"I'll expect you at the VIP event." He pushes his palms against the table as he stands. "Space is limited so don't bring your roommate with you."

I hadn't planned on it. I know Sophia has a sewing class every second Friday after work. I doubt like hell she'd give that up to tagalong to a work party with me. "I'll come alone."

His lips curve into a wry smile. "As I said, you're interesting, Cadence. I'm looking forward to spending time with you on Friday night."

***

"He knows you slept with Brendon?" Sophia holds a measuring tape against my left arm. "Who would tell him that?"

I drop my left arm and raise the right when she taps my shoulder. "It was probably Brendon. He couldn't keep his mouth shut about the stuff we did."

"What kind of stuff did you do?"

I don't answer. None of it fell into the realm of kinky. We had sex, sometimes in places we shouldn't have. Brendon's desire to take me in spots where we risked getting caught only amplified his need to tell his friends about it. He's a twenty-seven-year-old man who lives his life like he's a freshman in college.

"I'm just glad that part of my life is over."

"Do you think Tyler believes that it is?"

I turn so I can look at her. "I think so. He sees how hard I work. He must know that I take my career seriously. I have nothing to do with Brendon anymore. That's my past."

She nods as she tucks the measuring tape into the pocket of her jeans. "I have all your measurements, Den. I'll finish up your dress so when you walk into Nova on Friday night, Tyler Monroe won't remember his own name, let alone Brendon's."





CHAPTER 7


Sophia wasn't kidding about the dress. When she showed it to me last night, I literally had to sit down. It's black, short with a skirt that stops three inches above my knees. The top has a draped neckline and the back is virtually non-existent. The only thing holding the halter type top in place is a length of silver chain Sophia attached near the top of the back of the dress. It's sexy, disarming and when she watched me pin up my hair and apply make-up for a practice run-through, she squealed in delight. I almost did the same tonight when I got ready.