Getting It Now!. Rhonda Nelson. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Rhonda Nelson
Издательство: HarperCollins
Серия:
Жанр произведения: Современные любовные романы
Год издания: 0
isbn:
Скачать книгу

      Trying hard not to be mesmerized, Philip shook his head. “Er…no. I can’t say that I’ve enjoyed the pleasure.”

      Her lips formed an enchanting smile. “Oh, then you’re in for a treat. Personally, I always have the jambalaya. It’s some of the best in the area.”

      “I’ll take your recommendation then,” Philip told her, offering her a smile. Best to soften her up with pleasantries before he proceeded with the mandates, he decided. Provided he’d even remember them. Once again he could feel his brain turning to mush and his dick thickening in her glowing presence.

      Thankfully once the waiter had supplied drinks and taken their order, he’d regained a modicum of his composure. “Have you had a chance to look at the breakdowns yet?” he asked.

      Carrie nodded, bent down and withdrew them from her purse. “I have. I noticed in keeping with the ‘sizzling’ theme, there are several spicy dishes. Are there any that you object to? Anything you want to tweak or change?”

      “No,” Philip said. He paused, blew out a breath. “Look, before we go any further, do you mind if I’m completely honest with you, Carrie?”

      The smallest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Who wouldn’t prefer the truth to a lie?”

      Philip hesitated. He’d been rehearsing this spiel for the past couple of hours and yet now that the time had come to make good his delivery, he was having a hard time keeping to the diplomatic but hard-assed approach. He leaned forward. “I’m sure that you’ve heard that I wasn’t particularly keen to do this special.”

      Her eyes sparkled with wry humor. “I might have heard mention of it once or twice.”

      Again that charming humor, he thought. “Did you happen to hear mention of why?”

      The bane of his recent existence calmly sipped her drink and pulled a light shrug. “Just an unconfirmed rumor.”

      “Well, let me give you the official version. The last time I did a ‘special’ my female co-host hijacked my show.” His voice inexplicably hardened. “Don’t take it personally, but I have no intention of letting that happen again.”

      The faintest hint of irritation tightened her otherwise serene features.

      “I’m the one with the most experience here,” he continued, “and if it’s all the same to you, rather than being equal partners per se, I’d prefer that you think of yourself as an assistant.”

      Her compelling eyes widened fractionally. “An assistant?” she repeated tightly.

      “Sort of like my Vanna White,” Philip said, giving her an analogy he hoped she’d understand. He’d grown quite fond of The Wheel of Fortune since moving to New Orleans. Fascinating game, really.

      “I’m not a letter-turner on a game show—I’m a chef,” Carrie said, her smooth voice slightly strangled with what Philip belatedly realized was anger. “As for being your assistant, if it’s all the same to you,” she said, patronizingly throwing his phrasing back at him, “I’d just as soon stick to the format.”

      Philip winced. Frankly, he hadn’t really expected her to argue with him. His was the voice of experience after all. But he could tell by the somewhat mulish set of her jaw and the white circle around her supremely sexy mouth that she was heartily displeased. What? he wondered. Did she not like Vanna?

      “I’ve insulted you,” he said.

      “Now that’s insightful,” she replied sarcastically.

      Hmm, Philip thought with a mental wince. That was bad…because he really hadn’t gotten to the part where he’d assumed he’d offend her. But there was no way around it, and he was a firm believer in speaking his mind. Fewer misunderstandings that way. Besides, after the Sophie debacle he didn’t appreciate subterfuge.

      “I won’t argue the point that you’re a chef, and a damned fine one to boot,” he said. “I’ve watched your show, have even eaten at Chez Martin’s several times before you joined the network. It’s not your ability that I’m concerned with,” he told her. He leaned back in his seat and regarded her moodily. “Frankly, it’s your attire. I’ve asked the producers to let you wear clothes during our special, but they’ve said no.” His lips quirked. “Evidently your audience expects you to be naked,” he drawled.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEAYABgAAD/4Q78RXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAUAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAhodp AAQAAAABAAAAnAAAAMgAAABgAAAAAQAAAGAAAAABQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIDcuMAAyMDEzOjEy OjE3IDE1OjIzOjM4AAAAAAOgAQADAAAAAQABAACgAgAEAAAAAQAAAfSgAwAEAAAAAQAAAxsAAAAA AAAABgEDAAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUAAAABAAABFgEbAAUAAAABAAABHgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQA AAABAAABJgICAAQAAAABAAANzgAAAAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEASABI AAD/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAf/uAA5BZG9iZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwP FRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQO Dg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEI AIAAUQMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAb/xAE/AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEF AQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYHCAkKCxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMi cYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFDByWSU/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj 80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcG BTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGRFKGxQiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kST VKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSkhbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/ 2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/APP8xrWXlrG7WwyPiWtKDDy4taJK1crDLa6XEfzmxkEayNqV2GW9RyQ5php0 MfBSSvdbGDRyKXNFP0Wl1QJkxrJCHZRbWxrnkAHSJ11/kq5mOx/Tx3Gx36SqWwO25wTZYq+wYlgk Ovdc8wOwc2pv/UJokTuu4I0aOzRLXN0doU9jHN0dpImE9jw7WCICnmgNc2QdWbk61tBVrd1zB4ta PwQX1gWWNH5od+CtXNLc6hjhwKdP6waVYx+m2X5+dU0fzbbfvlIqAcIVveSGNLoBcYEwB9Jx/ktT 3U2Uu2WABxAMSDofHaTtVzBbkU57fQbWXMa5z23ECtzAN1rbdW+1zf3Xb/3EusUOrtre3Hfj0OYG 1F53lxZ7X7rdtbHvrd+i9jP5r0v+MfGuc9JJJJT/AP/Qz7+j129PozsgOFVbt1MHV07Qzj+qoW4F E29QI2vtafU7tkD8391bGH9aPq7X9XR0Hq7TjNqaG49zGlzHbTuZudrssb/KWDl9Qxa8S0dMIyn2 NIDGzAZ/hLbOP+tqceWyhWrTq6C2/CqyuoOdjYvTaG1XBkGy2+x1l9WNjfSb/NO3W3P/AJpFxehN 6hSK9lrG4zHOqbWQ811lxe7exwb6/ut9380m6fnuzOmOxXWgPdkHIcwTMbG1N+l+56Xu/wCMXT/U l7Kut0teNwyBZWQNfpN3t0H5vsUEpVMAeZdLleRjPk82cgk8MuHw9v1PC9R6RfhWGp5a8OaH12N+ i9jvovbPu/8AIJ+qYTt1UR/NePz/AIrpPr437JbVXR6RAuyBX6gBmv8ARP8AZ/IZa97Vl4/V8FnU 8K3qmLXmYAq230thriY27maj6DvzN3vUujmkC+7V6riNq6k15P0W44A7zsrhbuNf09l+dY5npX01 2Eiur9I+t5dc3qD9p9TJpbW/Zl+1/wBlZXXkV/oPV9O4frN9TXZtpp6cHi9np+pkFs6hrWN9hc2v 02s9iw8vKxS5uXj2XMx+lenW27Eaw21vsfZd6/rW/RpxWbKKvdT611np+tUjIaWgOFdgWtyS/wBV tTqvc8kF7Q2Wgv8A0bbPVp22b/ax/qUKT7/s2VZh3WV3UvawOrDw+rQBnpOubLdzWN/QZP8AgP0X /Dq/l3Y7rgLbGYuXjNbZTk49W/FyKLP8I/Edt+z17Lf0tFNVlWy27G+xU+jsWP1T7A7a/HsrfZDW 7McXem1rRy6zOay9z/zK2f4Oln84oill+zunf9zG/wCc1JZiSCn/0eNbc7fDoc08g6hX8e1lTQWt DGnkNH9yy6mOdZC1aKS0a6K2NmGJJLBllTbvUYz09lbjERwJRWZF