Free French Kiss (Silver Cove Series Book 2) by Jill Sanders Page A

along with two women, one of which was hanging on Tristen’s arm like she never wanted to let go. The woman looked like she’d stepped directly off a billboard ad. Her long dark locks hung in perfect ringlets over her shoulders.
    “Good evening. I hope everything is to your satisfaction.” She glanced around the table.
    “Yes,” the older man said. “We were just talking about how wonderful the meal is.” Her eyes moved to Tristen as he set his fork down. His entire plate was cleaned.
    “Not me,” the woman sitting next to him said. “My food was dry.” The woman pushed her barely touched food aside. “I’ve never tasted something as dry as this. Did the chef dump sand in it?” She pouted. Her hand never left Tristen’s arm.
    “I apologize. Is there anything else you might prefer?”
    “Yes, a new chef,” the woman joked, causing several at the table to chuckle.
    “I assure you, you are in the best hands. Chef Carriveau is one of the best in Maine. I’d be happy to bring something else for you to try.”
    The woman twisted her lips and leaned forward. “If I say I want a new chef, then I’m sure—”
    “Don’t be a bitch, Kaleen. Why don’t you just get the filet mignon. Mine was cooked to perfection,” Tristen added. Her eyes moved over to his and he winked at her, causing her to smile.
    “Well, if you think it’s okay, Trist.” She sighed and nodded to Lilith. “I suppose I’ll try it.”
    “I’ll see to it myself.” She left the table and went back into the kitchen, where Adam was standing between two of his staff members who looked like they had just punched each other.
    “What is going on?” She felt her headache triple.
    “I’m handling this,” Adam growled as he pushed Kenny back a step. “Go, take a walk.” He pointed to the door and the man glanced in her direction, then stormed off towards the back door. “Now, do you think you could manage to clean up this mess?” Adam said to Evan, who nodded and went to get a broom to clean up the shattered plates.
    She waited until Adam turned to her and relayed the new order, then stood back and watched the kitchen staff work their magic. To her, it was a dance the way they moved around each other, working on their own little tasks, but coming together as one in the end.
    By the time the new plate was ready, her headache was pretty much gone. It could have something to do with the fact that Adam had set a plate of sweet potato fries in front of her and she’d munched on them while waiting. Or the fact that just focusing on another person’s task had calmed her down.
    Either way, when she carried the new meal into the dining room, she had her second wind and knew that she could handle pretty much anything that evening held for her.
    ***
    Adam usually lived for nights like this, the business of the evening dinner shift. The hustle, the chaos, the noise and smells of good food cooking. But tonight, he’d had enough. All he could think about was taking a long walk along the beach and then sitting there to watch for falling stars. He imagined he was sitting beside Lilly, holding her, kissing her, and getting to know her. Sure, it was one of the worst lines he’d ever given a woman, but it had never been truer.
    He left his staff cleaning up and walked back to his room, showered, changed, and went to find Lilly. He found her in Sarah’s office, slumped over a pile of invoices. He stopped just outside the door and watched her peering over a pair of sexy glasses at the paperwork.
    “Interesting,” he said, causing her to jump slightly. “I didn’t know you wore those.”
    She quickly pulled them off and set them down. “I don’t…” When he tilted his head in question, she smiled. “I mean, I don’t except when I’m tired, have struggled with a headache all day, and have to pour over invoices late at night.”
    Without a word, he walked around the desk and took her hand. “I have a cure for all that.”
    “Oh?” She allowed