Savor You (Fusion #5)(2)

I shake my head. If it were anyone but Camden I would agree. But the man got hotter in the last ten years.

How does that even happen?

“You know how I feel about sharing my kitchen.”

“You’ve made it quite clear,” she says with a laugh. “It’s not forever. By the time we’re ready to tape episodes for the show, we’ll be on a set. For now, Trevor wants you guys to meet and to start brainstorming recipe ideas and get to know each other a bit.”

“If we’re in competition with each other, why do we need to get to know each other? I should be able to just show up and kick his ass and then call it a day.”

She smirks. “There’s nothing spontaneous about spontaneous television.”

I frown and cross my arms over my chest, but Riley immediately wraps her arms around me and gives me a tight hug. I don’t love to be touched, so I stiffen, but that just makes her hold on harder.

“You’re touching me.”

“I love you, Mia.”

Damn it. “I love you, too.”

“You’re not a grouchy woman,” she says and I can’t help but grin. “You’re beautiful and you’re a genius in the kitchen.”

“Now you’re just sucking up.”

She kisses my cheek and pulls away. I rub the spot on my cheek and sigh. “Fine. I’ll turn the grouchy level down a bit. You know, all I ever wanted was to cook. I just wanted to open this place with you guys and cook delicious food. I never signed on to be a TV chef.”

“I know,” she says with a nod. “And you’ve been—”

“Difficult.”

“Awesome about it.”

I try to cock my brow again, but it doesn’t work.

“You may grumble, but you still do what we ask, and that’s more than I ever expected. I don’t know how you feel about meeting with Camden today because you don’t ever talk to us about it, but I can tell you this. You’re beautiful. That blue top looks amazing. He’s going to swallow his tongue.”

“I don’t care,” I lie.

“Honey, you’re a woman. Of course you care.” She checks the time on her phone. “He should be here any minute. We’re meeting in the bar.”

“Not the kitchen?”

“No, you can show him your kitchen yourself. It’s your space.”

She turns to leave, and I take one last look in the mirror. “You’ve got this. He’s just a man, and you’ve got this.”

I nod confidently, smooth my hands down my black skirt, and flip my curly black hair behind my shoulder as I leave the safety of my office and walk to the bar.

Our restaurant is simply stunning. If I didn’t own it, I would love to work here. We’ve expanded recently, adding two dozen more tables. The grey hardwood floors gleam in the low light. The chairs are plush and inviting, and the booths are deep, framed by heavy curtains for a more intimate experience. Not to mention, the food is remarkable if I do say so myself.

I walk into the bar and immediately spot Camden. His back is to me, but I’d recognize him anywhere. He’s a bit broader now, his shoulders and arms nicely wrapped in his white button-down shirt. But his hair is the same light brown, if a bit longer than before. It used to beg for my fingers to mess it up. And let’s be honest, even sitting down, I’d recognize his ass anywhere.

He’s talking with Trevor, the show’s executive producer and Riley’s new husband. Riley is there, along with Addie, Cami, and Kat—the other co-owners of Seduction, and my very best friends.

I take a deep breath and wrap all of the confidence I can muster around me, then walk steadily to the table.

“Hello.”

Camden turns with a smile, and I swear everything in me just stills. I can’t smile, or walk, or even give him the up and down once-over greeting that I’d decided upon last night. All I can do is stare into his deep-blue eyes, and lock my knees so I don’t fall on my ass.

Damn him.

“Mia.” Hearing my name from his lips feels like an out-of-body experience. “How are you?”

“I’m well,” I reply and hold my hand out for his. He shakes it, but rather than let go, he kisses the back of my hand. The girls give each other looks of surprise and I quickly retrieve my own hand. “And you?”

“I’m great.”

Someone, Kat I think, puts a glass of wine in my hand and I take a long sip, needing the liquid courage.

“You know each other?” Trevor asks, but he already knows the answer to that. I’m sure Riley told him everything she knows, which isn’t much.

“We used to,” Camden says, still holding my gaze. “A long time ago.”

“A long time,” I agree with a nod and walk to the opposite side of the table. I can’t sit next to him without smelling him, and the fact that he still smells the same doesn’t bode well for me. He’s spicy, like thyme or rosemary. I don’t think I’ve met anyone before, or since him, who can smell delicious and so fucking masculine all at once. I’ve been attracted to this man since I was nineteen years old. I remember what he looks like naked.

Dear sweet Jesus, he’s seen me naked.

I never should have agreed to this.

“Do you want some more?” Kat asks with a grin.