She’d certainly captured his attention with no trouble at all.
That first glimpse of Stella when she’d turned around had nearly rendered him speechless. Thankfully, he’d remembered why he was here and that any distraction, no matter how sexy, could cost him everything.
Just because he was here to get close to her, didn’t mean he could lose sight of the prize.
But then the rest of the kitchen staff started milling in and Stella went to work and took charge. While Dane figured out what the hell he needed to do to create a dinner for one hundred–plus people coming in and out over the next few hours, he also managed to watch Stella in action, knowing that would give him insight as to how to handle his next steps with her.
Damn if she wasn’t even sexier when she focused on her own goal. He knew she wanted this resort for herself, he also knew her father wouldn’t let that happen. The old bastard was stringing her along and had no intention of giving his daughter anything.
While Dane had never met the man in person, watching him from a distance and hiring an investigator to dig up details had shown that Ruiz Garcia was the biggest male chauvinist jerk Dane had ever heard of.
But that was just one more weapon in his arsenal—a point of connection between them he could use to create sympathy and trust. They both had bastard father/stepfathers and they’d both lost their mothers.
Once all was said and done, and he’d secured Mirage, Stella would see that he’d actually done her a favor by getting her out from under the thumb of her controlling father.
Until then, well, Dane would have to do a little more socializing than he’d planned. The pleasure of spending time with a sultry, alluring woman would make up for the comfort zone he’d stepped so far from. She was responding to him nicely so far—he just had to make sure that he kept up the act...and that he didn’t let her expose the ugly, scarred parts of him, whether they were visible or not.
There was one obstacle after another, but that end result...
Several hours and countless dishes of pork roast with mashed potatoes later, Dane worked on the cleanup. The rest of the staff had been dismissed and Stella was out in the dining room straightening everything.
Dane certainly wasn’t a star chef, but being raised by a single mother had given him an edge in household tasks. Lara Anderson had been adamant that her boys do every bit of work deemed for “women” and she swore she’d make them good husband material. His mother wasn’t here to see that neither of her sons had any intention of being a husband, but Dane was still thankful he’d paid attention when she’d shared her special recipes and guided him through basic preparation steps.
Most of the dishes were washed and put away. From the checklist, it looked like all Dane needed to do was prepare a few things for the breakfast crowd. The fruit needed to be cut and placed into separate bowls. The bread was all ready to go, it just had to be put out at room temperature.
The more Dane did, the more he missed his ranch. Being alone and feeding just one was more his speed. His cattle could fend mostly for themselves and the horses were like his best friends. Aside from his ranch hands, those animals were about the extent of anyone or anything he wanted to care for.
Soon, though. Soon he’d be out of here, with the property in his name and then he could figure out how much time to spend at the ranch and how much to spend here. The penthouse he’d gotten for this stay would be a perfect suite for him to keep, but he knew the owner’s suite was even more spectacular. His mother had spared no expense when she had brought her dream to life.
“Well, you saved my ass.”
He’d admired said ass quite a bit since first stepping through the dining room. The sway of her little dress as the hem hit the back of her knees. Those tiny buttons that ran down the middle of the front had teased him all night. He’d stared at the one just between her breasts as if willing it to slide right open.
Dane wondered what she wore beneath and opted to use his own imagination. He figured Stella to be a lace type of lady. Someone like her would want to be all business on the exterior yet all woman beneath.
His body responded instantly to the image of her with the dress stripped away, her dark hair around her shoulders and her breasts bound by lace.
Dane slid the sharp knife through the juicy strawberry, but didn’t glance up at Stella. She came to stand on the other side of the stainless prep area and rested her palms on the flat surface. If Ethan were in his place he would’ve cleared off this island and had her beneath him in seconds.
Dane wasn’t Ethan. Revealing his body by taking Stella to bed wouldn’t seal the deal—it would sour it, once she saw what he was hiding under his clothes. No, there wouldn’t be sex—just flirting. Teasing. Winning her trust slowly and carefully. Well, as slowly as his sanity would allow. He wanted Mirage in his name right now, but he knew he had to be patient.
“Happy I could help,” he finally replied, attempting to get control over his hormones. He needed to pace himself. “I’m just going to get this fruit cut up and set in the fridge. What time should I be here tomorrow?”
“Oh, no,” Stella retorted. “You’ve more than helped. I called in our part-time chef and offered an exorbitant amount of money if she would cover for the next few weeks.”
Dane stopped slicing and set the knife down as he lifted his gaze to hers. “That wasn’t necessary. I would’ve helped while I was here.”
Stella smiled. Not the flirty smile he often got from women when he ventured out, but the type of smile that contained a sense of...pity.
Damn it. He’d seen enough of that from his staff at the ranch when he’d get lost in his war nightmares. He’d let the majority of them go because he did not need sympathy and he didn’t want anyone in his house hearing his cries. He refused to take pity from anybody and he sure as hell couldn’t afford to have it from the woman he was trying to get close to.
But pity from Stella was a bit easier to handle. She didn’t even know the real reason to pity him, so technically her emotions toward him right now were null.
“It’s not like I had anything else to do,” he replied. “Besides, it wasn’t bad and I got to help a beautiful woman.”
Stella pursed her lips, but she didn’t even blush. He’d have to reconsider his verbiage. Clearly she was either used to compliments or she wasn’t interested in them. Either way, he had to tread carefully and keep working to build a connection between them.
“I’m sure you could’ve done just fine on your own,” he amended. “I can’t imagine you would’ve let a rogue chef ruin the night.”
Stella crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head. “I don’t let anyone ruin my plans once I set them into motion.”
Perhaps they had even more in common than he’d initially thought. Which would make this entire process that much easier...once they got over this initial get-to-know-you phase.
“That attitude is why this place is so successful.” He flashed her a smile and picked up a strawberry, extending it across the island toward her. “You’re an admirable woman.”
She kept her eyes on his as she took the fruit from his hand. “I’ve already comped your room for the duration of your stay. Flattery isn’t necessary.”
Comped his room? Wasn’t that adorable. He had enough money to buy this entire resort and not put a dent in his finances, but the fact she’d done so just proved she was sincere in her commitment to Mirage...and her father didn’t deserve such loyalty.
“That wasn’t necessary,” he replied.
With a shrug, she bit into the strawberry. The second her lips closed around her fingers to clean away the juices, Dane was pretty damn thankful he had a barrier between his waist and her eyes.
Was