Free Mending Fences by Lucy Francis Page B

it.” He stepped out of the hostess’ embrace and wrapped his arm around Victoria’s shoulders. “Honey, this is Georgia Grant. She manages the Silver Lode and is apparently filling in as maitre’d tonight. Georgia, my girlfriend, Victoria Linden.”
    Girlfriend . Automatic pilot forced Victoria’s hand out to meet Georgia’s. Huge, multi-colored fireworks exploded inside her, leaving her unable to control the huge, beauty queen grin plastered on her face as Georgia showed them to their table in a private corner. She forced down the urge to run home, call her old high school friends and scream over the phone in delight. God, she hadn’t been this giddy since Dale Whitby asked her to the Junior Prom.
    Dakota Grant, her lithe form wrapped in a pristine white chef’s coat, arrived at their table shortly. Fusion’s owner and head chef was Georgia’s identical twin, save the hair, which Dakota wore short, spiky and burgundy.
    She hopped up and down on the balls of her feet as Curran rose from his chair. She, too, greeted Curran like long-lost family, flinging her arms around him.
    In her happy daze, Victoria noticed the way his eyes lit up, the way his innate charm kicked up a notch. He introduced her, then laughed as Dakota badgered him with questions.
    “Where have you been, anyway? I thought for sure I’d see you in here during Sundance.”
    He shrugged and ran his hand along the chef’s back. “Sorry, lady. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss you or your cooking. Just trying to stay out of the camera’s eye, you know?”
    Dakota snorted. “Whatever, C. Glad to see you, anyway. Try the veal medallions tonight. The sauce is one of my better creations.”
    She said goodbye to Victoria, then pulled Curran down and kissed him on the cheek before returning to the kitchen.
    Victoria noted the glow in Curran’s eyes and wondered. In the last month, she had gotten no closer to knowing why he ended his highly public lifestyle. She didn’t know quite how to work the conversation around to it, and he didn’t volunteer anything.
    No matter his reasons, he had obviously missed it. It showed on his face, in his delight at seeing the Grant sisters. She heard the joy threaded through the rumble in his voice.
    Tonight, he’d taken himself back into his element. Curran Shaw had returned home, and claimed her as his own.
    Her insecurities ate at her self-confidence. The things she’d been told so many times and thought she’d pushed out of her system rose in her mind. She wasn’t pretty enough, smart enough, warm enough… anythingenough.
    Not for a man like Curran. He was simply toying with her. How long could she possibly expect it to last? Especially when she wasn’t sleeping with him.
    Then he took her hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. His smile, the warmth and sparkle in his eyes when he looked at her helped her chase away those old, hurtful words.
    If she were truly that worthless, she wouldn’t be here, now would she?
    He leaned close and kissed her, his lips firm yet tender slanting against hers.
    Here and now. It was all she could ask for. It was all she could handle.
    It was enough.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    “I forgot to tell you, Mrs. Campbell called this morning.” Victoria dropped onto the couch in her great room after her first real night out with Curran. She pulled her knees up, giving him room to join her on the couch.
    “Confirming their plans to return next month?”
    “No, telling me they’re joining friends on a trip across Asia. Looks like I’m staying here until the middle of April.” And staying close to you. The comfort of knowing where she would live for the next two months bubbled into a froth with the anticipation shivering in her belly. They’d barely returned from the movie, and though he’d been a perfect gentleman all evening, a palpable tension filled the space between them.
    Curran set down a bottle of lotion he’d retrieved from the bathroom and closed his