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But all this contradicted what I’d overheard him telling Ash when I went to the bathroom. He wasn’t interested in finding love like his brothers had. Not that I’d be the one he’d love if he was interested. I did a mental facepalm at my stupid thought.
Still, it was hard not to get taken in by the sexy man whose passion for food equaled my own. Not only that, but because of his wealth, he’d been able to fully embrace and experience food that I couldn’t. Oh, what I’d do to have him teach me about food.
Growing up, quality specialty food was in the McAdams household, but my mom was right in that there was a line between the family and the help, despite my friendship with Beth. I’d never been to one of their fancy dinners or soirées. I might have nicked a bruschetta or stuffed mushroom once or twice, but I’d never had food like Kade was offering me now.
Kade had the reputation of being immature and lacking a serious nature, but there was no mistaking how serious he was about food. I wanted to think his attention to me was because he found me interesting too, but the truth was, it was probably because I was willing to listen raptly, as he spoke about his passion for food. We were kindred spirits to that end. But that’s all it was. The flash of heat in his green eyes when I took a bite of whatever delicacy he handed me was just interest in my reaction. The problem was, it was making me wet with desire, and I didn’t mean mouth watering, I meant wet at that other part of my body. I felt like my skin was on fire, and I didn’t want to do anything crazy like throw myself at him.
“Morgan?” I looked up toward the wedding planner. “You can give your maid of honor speech now.”
I nodded, glad for the respite from Kade’s tantalizing eyes.
“Excuse me,” I said to him.
“Of course.”
I stood, using my hands to smooth out my dress, hoping my full belly wasn’t poking out too far. I held up my glass of champagne.
Kade gently clanged his glass with a spoon to get everyone’s attention.
“I’m supposed to give a toast to my friend Beth. I first met Beth when I was five, and had to go to work with my mother when school was out on a snow day. I was told I needed to stay in the back and not bother the family. Apparently, no one told Beth that she wasn’t supposed to come in back and bother the help.”
There was a small chuckle from the group.
“She saw me and, bored out of her skull, she ordered me to play with her.”
Beth’s cheeks flushed. “I was bossy back then.”
“Just back then?” Ash teased.
“She and I have been friends ever since. To me, she’s been like a sister.”
A tear fell on Beth’s cheek and she mouthed, “Me too.”
“I’m so glad that she and Ash found each other again. What a beautiful family you make with my favorite munchkin, Hannah Banana.”
“That’s me!” Hannah burst out bouncing in her chair.
“I would like to take some credit in all this wonderful happiness. I was rooting for you to win her over, Ash.”
“Thank you,” he said with a nod. “It wasn’t easy.”
I laughed. “But there was never any doubt that Beth loved you. Had always loved you. And I know she’ll always love you. Here’s to Beth and Ash, and finally having their happily ever after.”
“Here, here,” the members of the wedding party said as they held their glasses up in a toast and then drank.
With that out of the way, I needed air. I wasn’t sure my nerves could handle more Kade Raven, even as I desperately wanted more from him. I excused myself and headed toward the bar. Once I got there, I decided I needed fresh air more than a drink. Remembering a side door when I went to the bathroom, I decided to use that instead of risking being seen walking through the restaurant to the front door. I didn’t want anyone to think I was leaving.
I stepped into the warm night air, inhaling. We were in New York City, so the air wasn’t necessarily pleasant, although since I was near Kade’s kitchen it wasn’t bad.
My nerves were just settling down when the door opened and a man in chef’s coat stepped out with Kade behind him.
Kade noticed me, tilting his head as if he was surprised that I was there. But he kept his conversation with the chef.
“We had some trouble with the fish tonight, but I think that was because we had two new people on the crew,” the chef said.
“Two? Tonight?” Kade’s tone suggested he didn’t like that.
“Jer thought since it would be a smaller crowd, it was a good night to get them up to speed.”
