Meagan by Shona Husk Page B

to run every small thing past you. You have better things to do with your time and I know what I’m doing. This place is a success by any standard.” It was her name that had made it the success, but without his cash it would’ve never happened.
    â€œAnd I want to keep it that way. This is the proverbial golden goose.”
    Yeah, and she had the bank account to prove it. “Fine. I’ll forward you the details of the new winery.”
    â€œWe could go and visit.” That smile again.
    â€œYes…and just how often does your schedule align with mine?”
    His smile faltered. “That was harsh.”
    It was, but it was also true. “I’ll make sure you get some sample bottles.”
    He nodded and offered her a forkful of prawn entree. She obligingly took it. There was no need to annoy him; after all, he still needed to approve the menu change.
    â€œI like this, a lot.” But he edged the plate away without finishing the food.
    â€œGood.” She’d known he would.
    He moved onto the vegetarian main—that wasn’t his thing. She had yet to create something meat-free that would dazzle him, but she put that down to him being a man. Beneath that suit was a rugby-loving guy. She tried not to think about what else was under the suit. He nodded his approval but offered no comment, before sampling the pasta and beef dish. He ate a little more of that and she bit back the smile. She knew him too well.
    He offered her a bite of the beef. “You should eat some.”
    â€œI’ve been tasting these meals for the past two weeks. I’m over them.” She wanted to move onto the next thing. The new business venture was never far from her mind. She wondered how his search for a venue was going but didn’t ask. One thing at a time. They could talk about Footprint later.
    There was that frown again. “You still need to eat.”
    Not really, she still had six kilos to lose. “I do eat.” But eating this stuff every day was why she hadn’t lost the weight. It was so much harder after the second baby, plus being that little bit closer to forty.
    His gaze drifted down to her breasts; pulling the front of her tank up would’ve been too obvious so she sat still. Could he see the top of her lacy bra? His gaze drifted back up. “As always, I think you look lovely.”
    Charmer. But she smiled. It was hard not to when he was looking at her like she was the next dish he desperately needed to try. “I bet you say that to every woman.”
    â€œOnly the ones who need to hear it.” He brought the dessert closer and looked at it as though he didn’t want to like it.
    He hated it already because of the profit margin. She should’ve fudged the figures and then told the truth after he loved it.
    â€œWhy this dessert?”
    â€œWhy not? I wanted something rich and sinful.” Heat rushed to her cheeks and down her neck as soon as the words were out of her mouth. That was exactly what being with him was like. And he knew it.
    He laughed. “Is that right?” He picked up the spoon. “You made the ice-cream.”
    She tilted her head and raised both eyebrows. Really, did he need to ask that? “It was created for this dessert.” It wasn’t quite a simple vanilla ice-cream.
    He tasted that first, then the praline, before finally getting to the point…the chocolate ball three times the size of a normal truffle. “Any surprise filling I should be aware of?”
    â€œJust try it.” She might’ve moved a little closer to the edge of her seat. Would he love it enough to let it through? She was definitely not holding her breath, but she was also not giving up.
    She’d let the truffle warm up a little so that it would be smooth and creamy. She knew exactly what it would taste like. The seventy percent couverture chocolate was full of flavour without being bitter and would be balanced by the cognac.