Consume Me (Master Chefs #3) Page 6

  Taryn and Errol looked at each other and smiled. They’d already viewed the terrace that from the many windows of the living room. Shrugging, they followed him.

  “It’s a bit of the country right here in the heart of the city,” the agent said as he opened the door and mounted the steps that brought them to the rooftop garden.

  “This is spectacular,” Tar gushed.

  “You have a spa, sauna and gym.

  “I’m already looking forward to making love to you up here,” Errol whispered in her ear.

  She giggled and shot a sidelong glance at the agent who appeared not to have heard him.

  “That settles it then. Let’s close this deal. I can have my things moved here before you can say paté de foie gras.”

  The real estate agent discreetly left them alone to discuss the matter all the same.

  “Don’t be too impulsive, Errol.”

  Setting his fists on his hips, he turned to her. “Why are you doing this, Tar?”

  “Doing what?”

  “I don’t know. You're impeding our progress? You're holding us back. I thought you wanted this. It doesn’t get much better than this, Tar.” He took both of her hands in his. “I thought you wanted to be with me. I thought you wanted to marry me. Are you having second thoughts?”

  “No. I do want to marry you, Errol. I want all this, but it just isn’t the right time. Please try to understand.”

  He pressed his lips together. “Okay. Fine.”

  She glanced at her watch. That morning, she’d quickly check the flights out of Paris on the internet and there was one leaving in just under an hour. “Look, it’s too late for me to catch a flight today, so I’ll stay another day, but tomorrow…”

  He smiled. “And you can bet I’ll take advantage of every minute of this last night together.

  “But seriously, Errol, first thing tomorrow…”

  “Not first thing. I have an early class tomorrow morning.” He pulled her into his arms. “I can take you to the airport afterward… at two o’clock.”

  “I can take a cab, Errol. You don’t have to…”

  He huffed his frustration. “I want to take my fiancé to the airport, Tar. No disrespect to your mother, but I’m sure she can handle another few hours with my crew.”

  She had no reasonable argument for that. “Okay, I’ll stay a few hours more.” Getting on her tiptoes, she reached up to kiss him. “As much as I hate to go, tomorrow I will leave.”

  He kissed her back, pulled her tightly to him and groaned his displeasure. “I’ll go wrap things up with the real estate agent, and we’ll head to the hotel after that. I want to start ravaging you as soon as possible.”

  Taryn followed him inside and remained in the kitchen while he headed to the agent in the living room. She watched him walk away feeling suddenly guilty for making him go through all this while she returned to New York. It didn’t make sense that he should sell his apartment and move just because she’s afraid of the dark. Then again, it showed his commitment, didn’t it?

  “Let’s go,” he said when he returned a few moments later. “Everything is settled.”

  In the car on the way to the hotel, Taryn felt she had to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Only when they reached their luxurious and spacious room did she finally speak her mind.

  “Errol, I feel awful about this. It’s unreasonable for you to move because of me while I return to New York.”

  “I anticipate you’ll come back, won’t you?”

  “Yes, of course, but…”

  “Then it’s settled. There’s no point putting it off. By the time you get back, I’ll be in the new place and you’ll have nothing to fear.”

  Taryn sat back on the king sized bed. “It’s just that I know how you already have so much to take care of… what with your restaurant in New York burning down and everything. It’s selfish of me to add this to your problems.”

  He sat beside her and ran his hand from the curve of her neck down between her breasts. “I don’t want to spend the last moments I have with you discussing all this. I want to taste you, and savor you, and fill my soul up with you.”

  Cupping her breast, he laid her back and covered her lips with his own. His hands trembled as he pulled her shirt up, exposing her breasts to his ravenous mouth.

  “I can’t get enough of the taste of your skin.”

  “I want your skin, too,” Tar said as she reached for the zipper of his pants. If she had to leave him again for a few weeks, she wanted to leave him with something to remember. She wanted to drive him crazy, make him so horny he’d remember this night forever.

  She pulled out his already hardened shaft, brought it to her mouth for one single long suck then slid his erection between her breasts. Pushing her breasts together to better squeeze his erection, she glided her voluminous orbs over the length of him.

  “You wild siren, damn I love you.” He grabbed her wrists, jerked her further up on the bed and straddled her. “I want to fuck you. I want to screw you. I want to make love to you. I want you, Tar. I want you.”

  He jacked her skirt up and pushed his erection deep inside her, filling her with his arousal, filling her with his love, filling her with memories that would cling to her for weeks on end.

  Wrapping her arms around him, she held him close, kissed his chest, his neck, and his cheek before finally finding his lips. She never wanted to let him go.

  And hours later, when he took her for the third time, she seriously questioned her decision to return to New York. They were so good together, it was impossible to imagine being away from him again. How would she survive another few weeks without his touch? How would she manage to concentrate on her responsibilities back home when all she wanted was to touch him again?

  Chapter 10

  While Errol prepared to go to his morning class, Taryn contemplated him from the luxurious sheets of the large bed. The hotel room was spectacular, rich and elegant, and she couldn’t help but wonder how he could afford such a luxury while his restaurant lay in ruins.

  “How are things going with La Benicoise?” she asked without thinking. She’d managed to keep from mentioning the burnt down eatery all weekend, but her curiosity finally won over.

  He shrugged as he buttoned up his crisp white shirt. “Not so great. The insurance company isn’t satisfied with the reports they’ve received. I’m thinking it might just be easier to sell.”

  Stunned, she looked at him wide-eyed. “Selling? Isn’t that a little bit drastic. I mean, this is your baby.”

  “It’s quickly turning into a headache. I just don’t know if it’s worth it anymore. Besides, it’s not like I don’t have plenty to occupy my time with.”

  “I couldn’t ever imagine giving up Sam’s so easily.”

  He pulled the zipper of his slacks up and shot her a questioning glare. “I’m not giving it up so easily, Tar.”

  Taryn couldn’t help but notice how defensive he sounded. Suddenly, Matt’s words came back to her. It was inconceivable; Errol would never torch his own restaurant. Then again, never would she have thought she’d hear him say he wanted to sell the place.

  On the other hand, if he sold the restaurant, he would no longer have to have contact with Suzanne. That alone would be well worth watching him sell his New York eatery.

  Pulling on his jacket he looked at her with hungry eyes.

  “Are you sure you won’t change your mind… about leaving? I could be back here at two and fuck you the rest of the day.”

  “I’m sure, Errol.” She chuckled and patted his clean shaven cheek. “Though the thought of us naked and making love all afternoon sure sounds tempting.”

  “You know, you leave me no choice but to go back to New York the minute I have enough episodes in the can. While I’m there I can take a closer look at what’s going on at La Benicoise.”

  Taryn smiled, but in the back of her mind, all she wanted to do was talk to him about Matt’s suspicions, but felt it wouldn�
�t go over very well. Instead, she changed the subject altogether.

  “Last night I was thinking of your offer to sell your apartment to buy the one we visited yesterday.”

  “Isn’t it a great apartment?”

  “It is, but don’t you think it’s a bit much. I mean, what if you can’t sell yours?”

  He smiled and grabbed a quick sip of coffee. “I know someone who’s been dying to get his hands on that apartment. For the past three years he’s asked if I’m ready to sell… something about setting up a nice little nest for his honey. Apparently, it has everything he wants and needs; close enough to his work place to make nightly calls easily, but far away enough from his wife to keep the relationship discreet.”

  Shocked, Taryn gaped at him. “That’s horrible.”

  Chuckling, Errol cupped her chin and tilted her head up for a quick, but loving kiss. “Indeed it is horrible, but if he wants my apartment, I’ll sell it to him. All I have to do is make one phone call and the deal is done.”

  “But, Errol, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Don’t you think it’s too drastic?”

  “We’ve already been through this, Taryn.” He turned to look at her, his eyes suddenly dark. “Unless you're telling me you don’t want to come back to Paris.”

  “Of course, I’m going to come back.”

  “Do you want to marry me, Taryn?”

  “What a silly question. Of course I do.”

  Pensive, he nodded and grabbed his briefcase. “I’ve got to go,” he finally said as he slipped into his shoes and grabbed his keys. “Order breakfast, have a relaxing morning and I’ll be back in a few hours to bring you to the airport.” He tenderly kissed her lips before leaving.

  Alone in the hotel room, Taryn spun Matt’s words around and around in her head. Getting the insurance money would probably solve a lot of Errol’s problems, more so than if he’d simply tried to sell the restaurant.

  Then she considered his offer to sell his apartment. Everything was going so fast and she was beginning to feel rushed and exhausted by the overflow of emotions

  After her third coffee and a few bites of her toast, she decided to take a cab down to the Institute. Getting to the airport would be a lot quicker if they didn’t have to return to the hotel. Besides, she missed how the Institute touched all her senses, bringing her alive with all the sights and smells of fine cuisine. She wanted to take a little peek before leaving.

  She gathered her few belongings and headed down to the lobby where the clerk called her a cab. Within fifteen minutes she was at the Institute and after dropping off her luggage in Errol’s office, she headed to his class to surprise him.

  The class of about fifteen students had only one male. The others were all young females who looked at Errol like a god. Pretty, bright-eyed, eager and sprite, they all had the same look in their eyes. That look of adoration, of hunger, of curiosity.

  A sudden pang of insecure jealousy strangled Tar as she stood watching Errol smile at the young students. His eyes sparkled and his smile was warm. He was all sex and charm… and completely approachable; too approachable.

  Taryn scanned the room of pretty girls. A few were too obvious, making the conquest for Errol too easy and therefore unattractive to him. Others were eager to seduce him, but the look in their eyes bordered on desperation. She knew Errol would never want a desperate woman. But a few of them, barely a handful, were as pure, innocent and naively enamored with him as she had been.

  How long would it take Errol to forget her and choose a new conquest? How long before he grew hungry for female companionship and succumbed to one of his beautiful, young students? How long before he tired of this game of flying from New York to Paris and back to New York again?

  Probably not very long. After all, if he could have a pretty girl on his arm at all times, right here in Paris, why bother with the trouble of a girl who is all the way over in New York.

  The thought made her physically ill and she leaned against the wall for support. She loved him, with all her heart, but her insecurities were quickly taking over.

  Maybe it was too good to be true; believing that he could possibly settle down and marry a girl like her. Men like him didn’t marry girls like her. They rarely married at all. And if they did, they went on to have numerous mistresses, some as early as the very first weeks of marriage.

  She suddenly thought of the friend who wanted to buy his apartment. Could Errol, one day, find an apartment in which he’d regularly go find his lover?

  His class was almost over. Taryn’s heart wanted to reach out to Errol, to talk to him about her doubts. She wanted him to reassure her, to tell her that he loved her… and only her.

  But her pride also told her to hold her head up high and be strong. She couldn’t possibly spend all her time questioning and doubting him. What kind of relationship would that be?

  Just as the pretty girls and the lone guy left the large room and Taryn was about to enter, a tall and beautiful woman entered by the rear door; Madame X. Oozing confidence and sex appeal, she sauntered up to Errol, her brow cocked in arousal and the promise of a seduction.

  Wearing a dark blue, come fuck me dress and sky high black stilettos, she was everything but unthreatening. She kissed Errol’s cheeks, put her hands atop his shoulders and patted his arms in a show of appreciation for his toned muscles.

  Taryn felt the blood quickly rise to her cheeks at the sight, but making matters worse was the look in Errol’s eyes. He was pleased to see this temptress this vixen who dared touch him. His eyes welcomed her, lured her, charmed her. They dipped voluntarily into the wild woman’s deep, deep cleavage.

  Damn it, Taryn fumed. She’d hadn’t even left Paris yet and he was ogling another woman. Not only that, but he allowed this other woman to put her hands all over him.

  Absent-mindedly, Taryn played with the ring on her finger. She’d been stupid to accept his proposal to begin with. She’d been stupid to believe he could ever want to marry her at all.

  Maybe she should just call the whole thing off before she really got hurt, before she became fully invested.

  Before she exploded right there in front of them and made a fool of herself, she silently turned down the hall and walked out of the Institute. She picked up her luggage in Errol’s apartment and hailed a cab.

  It was a horrible way to end such a fantastic weekend, but it was time she woke up and smelled the coffee. Errol wasn’t the kind of man to settle down, and he never would; not with her; not with anyone else.

  Chapter 11

  Tar walked blindly through the airport paying little attention to the people around her. As usual the airport was busy as vacationers, business people and visitors ran around looking for their terminal. She could hear the distant chatter as people left family members and loved ones at various terminals. Disheartened, she winced at the warm words of departure that surrounded her: au revoir, à la prochaine, bon voyage. It all made her hasty departure from Paris all the more painful.

  “Taryn?”

  Though she heard the excited call of her name in some closed off corner of her consciousness, she paid no attention and walked on. The only person who knew her was Errol and she wanted nothing to do with him.

  “Tar. Hey, Taryn.” A handsome young man jumped in front of her. “Taryn, where are you heading?”

  Deeply entrenched in her heartache and anger for Errol, she barely focused on the young man in front of her. At first bleary glance, she didn’t recognize him and was a little irritated by his pursuit of her.

  “Tar, it’s me… Henri.” He flashed her a brilliant smile and put a friendly hand to her shoulder.

  “Henri,” she finally managed as she brought her steady gaze to his beaming face. “Oh, Henri. I’m sorry. I’m so lost in thought, I can barely see straight.”

  “I can see that. I’ve been following you and calling your name since you turned the corner. You seemed awfully deep in thought… and not too happy about it either. Is everything a
ll right?”

  “Everything is fine, Henri. And what are you doing here? Where are you off to?”

  Henri checked his watch. “You know what? I have about half an hour before my flight. How ‘bout you?”

  I have forever, she wanted to say. Angry with Errol, she’d not even thought of the time and had made her way to the airport a full two hours ahead of her scheduled flight.

  “How about a good cup of coffee before you board?” he offered when she didn’t answer.

  She nodded. “That’d be great. I think I have quite a long wait ahead of me.”

  “Great. Come on. I know this great little place that serves decent coffee and some great pastries.”

  At the coffee shop, Henri ordered while Tar sat at a nearby table. She tried to muster up a happy mood to hide how she truly felt. If she kept her glum expression, he’d surely question her about it and talking about Errol, especially with Henri, was the last thing she wanted to do.

  “Merci,” she said as he arrived with two steaming cups of coffee and two mille feuilles.

  “My pleasure.”

  She took a sip of hot coffee. “So where are you off to?”

  “Switzerland.”

  “You going to visit your family?”

  “Yeah. Duty calls. I’ll be visiting one of our family farms there.”

  “Duty?”

  He chuckled. “My father tried to get out of his tractor too fast when he thought he’d run over the dog. He hopped off that big tractor tire and twisted his ankle. My mother called and asked me to come lend a hand for a few days.”

  “That’s so sweet of you, Henri.”

  “Timing is perfect. I’m up to date with all of my assignments, and I had this incredible craving for my mom’s boeuf bourgignon.” He drummed his fingers along the edge of his coffee cup. “You left so fast the other time… and then you just cut classes without saying anything to anyone.”

  Tar chuckled. “I don’t think anyone else in the class really cared one way or the other. You know, you're the only friend I have from the Institute.”