Free Secrets that Simmer by Ivy Sinclair

nice."
    "I never have any problem taking an attractive woman out to a nice restaurant," Tony said. "How about the Violet Lune at 7 o'clock?"
    Maggie managed to keep the expression on her face neutral. The Violet Lune was the one restaurant in Copper City that was notoriously difficult to get into. Reservations took up to six months. He obviously had some pull if he thought he could get a reservation there the same day. "Violet Lune at seven then."
    "Looking forward to it," Tony said. He stuck out his hand. "All business, I promise."
    She put her hand into his, and That was when he gave it a hard tug that pulled her right up against him. He looked down into her eyes with a gruff expression. Then he leaned down and whispered into her ear. "At least, until you ask me nicely for something else. Which I guarantee you will." Maggie’s mind spiraled even as he released her and spun on his heel. "See you at seven."
    He left her standing there with her mouth hanging open, looking like an idiot.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    As Maggie approached the Violet Lune, she glanced at her watch and saw that it was just a hair past seven. She didn’t want Tony to think that she would always be at his beck and call. This was a business arrangement, but a lopsided one at best. She put her hand on the doorknob and turned it. When she entered the restaurant, she felt as if she had entered another world.
    Every table around her was occupied by beautiful, glamorous people. As she scanned the faces, she spotted several well-known politicians and celebrities. She felt uncomfortable even though she was wearing her nicest dress. This wasn’t the crowd that Maggie was accustomed to running with. Definitely nothing like what Tony was used to. She stepped up to the maître d’s podium. There was a man standing there with a slight grimace on his face as he appeared to be checking over the waiting list. She knew that there were people off to her left who were sitting there waiting for their name to be called.
    She heard that the only way to get into the Violet Lune if you weren’t a celebrity or politician was to come and sit and wait for an open table. If you got lucky, a table would open up because a reservation would cancel. The only way you knew that, though, was by being there. So people sat in the lounge by the bar for hours at a time. The thing was, they didn’t serve food in the bar. So Maggie had known several people who had tried to get a table and ended up completely wasted instead, all the while still not scoring a table.
    Violet Lune’s popularity was mostly because of the chef. Chef Marco was world renowned for his Italian cuisine. He was an up and comer in the restaurant industry, and the Violet Lune had been lucky to snag him when they did. They had caught his star when it was on the rise. Maggie had a sneaking suspicion that the Urban Dwellers had a stake in the Violet Lune business. That would be the only explanation for how Tony was able to get in that night. There was some type of affiliation, no doubt about it. The Urban Dwellers had their fingers in just about everything around Copper City.
    The maître d’ looked at her expectantly, and that was when Maggie realized she had yet to say a single word. That wasn’t like her at all. Even in situations where she was highly uncomfortable, she usually said something. It was almost a guarantee in those situations that it was the wrong thing to say, like her awkward TV interview, but at least it was something. She was hardly ever speechless. But the discomfort of the entire situation had gotten under her skin. She shifted and moved her briefcase to her other hand. She had the mystery file tucked inside, just in case she needed it.
    “I’m Maggie O’Hara. I’m supposed to meet Tony Atwood.”
    The maître d’s face lit up in a bright smile. It almost caused Maggie to take a step backward. His expression changed to one as if he was greeting a long-lost best friend. “Ms. O’Hara! Welcome to