Carolina, but after he’d visited Serenity and seen Sullivan’s, he’d been hooked. It was just the change he needed, a chance to get away from Atlanta and all of its memories. Moreover, Dana Sue had created something special in a community that was trying to turn itself around after some hard knocks to its economy. As all of the reviews had glowingly stated, Sullivan’s was a rare culinary treasure and he was glad to be a part of it.
As for Dana Sue, she was something special, as well. He’d even harbored a vague notion that someday their relationship might move from professional to personal, but it had quickly become clear that the shapely blonde was still in love with her ex-husband.
Even so, Dana Sue, her daughter, Annie, and even the annoyingly unreliable Karen had become his family. And as hard-hearted as he’d obviously sounded to Helen, when it came to Karen what he most cared about was the toll her problems took on Dana Sue, who simply didn’t need the added stress.
Unlike Dana Sue, Helen was not a woman who needed anyone to look out for her, which was yet another reason Erik was at a loss to explain why he’d kissed her so thoroughly a few minutes earlier. He was by nature a nurturer, a self-proclaimed knight in shining armor. The idea of tough-as-nails Helen needing nurturing was laughable.
Then again, maybe the kiss had been inevitable. She was a gorgeous woman, a little too uptight for him, a lot too opinionated. But sometimes just such a mix guaranteed an explosion sooner or later. Now that the kiss was behind him, the steam was released, and odds were it would never happen again.
He was just congratulating himself for making it all seem reasonable when Dana Sue came into the kitchen and joined him at the sink, where he was scrubbing pans. Picking up another pan from the sudsy water, she nudged him with her hip.
“So, what was that kiss all about?” she asked, keeping her gaze on the greasy pan in her hands.
“Pure impulse,” he said, dismissing it.
“Something tells me the impulse has been coming on for some time. There’s something in the air every time you two are in the same room.”
“Tension,” he suggested.
“Sexual tension, I think,” she retorted, a glint in her eye. “Why haven’t you done anything about it before?”
He rolled his eyes. “Helen and me? Are you crazy?”
“I don’t think so. You’re an incredible man. She’s an incredible woman. Both of you deserve someone special in your lives.”
“I don’t know about Helen, but I’m not looking for a relationship,” he said.
“You used to say you wanted me,” she reminded him.
He grinned. “Because I knew there wasn’t a chance in hell you’d say yes.”
“So you claimed to want me only because I was unattainable?”
“Exactly.”
“Not buying it. If you like the challenge of the unattainable, then Helen’s an even better bet. Think of the fun you could have trying to change her mind.”
“And then what? Tell her it was all just a game?”
“No, you idiot. Then you fall madly in love and marry her.”
Erik laughed. “I don’t see that happening. Somehow I just can’t picture Helen’s designer duds hanging next to my Levi’s in the closet.”
“After that kiss tonight, I can see it,” Dana Sue told him. “And judging from the way Helen ran out of here, I think she can see it, too.”
“Stop meddling, Dana Sue. She’s your friend and that alone is reason enough for me to stay away from her.”
“Why? I’m giving you my permission to pursue this. In fact, I’m encouraging it.”
“And what happens when one of us gets our heart broken? Whose side do you take?”
She looked vaguely disconcerted by the question. “It would never come to that,” she declared.
“Really? You can see into the future?”
“No, but I have faith in both of you, and I saw something tonight, a spark, that hasn’t been there before in either one of you. Passion—the real deal that leads to love—is a rarity. I’m here to tell you that a spark like that shouldn’t be ignored.”
“Well, I’m ignoring it,” he said flatly.
“We’ll see,” she taunted. “I’m sure I can think of some way to change your mind.” She shrugged. “Or Helen’s. It’ll only take convincing one of you to get this ball rolling.”
“It’s not up to you,” he said, even though he could see he was wasting his breath. He was just going to have to be on high alert from now on.
Damn. That meeting tomorrow. He’d have to be in the same room as Helen and Dana Sue when the memory of that searing kiss was just a little too fresh in his mind.
3
Karen’s heart was in her throat all during the first part of her shift prior to the meeting Helen had scheduled for two in the afternoon. Erik kept shooting daggers at her, as if he was really ticked off about something. She got the impression he’d been against the meeting. Dana Sue was trying to overcompensate by being extra nice, but the tension in the kitchen was really beginning to take a toll on Karen.
Added to that, they’d had one customer from hell, who’d sent her meal back three times. Erik and Dana Sue had finally drawn straws to decide which one of them would go into the dining room to deal with her and take a stab at making sure she left Sullivan’s happy. Dana Sue had drawn the short straw. Free champagne and dessert for everyone at the table finally soothed the woman, but the whole exchange had ruined Dana Sue’s mood. It was now as dark as Erik’s.
At precisely two o’clock, Helen sashayed in, wearing one of those power suits she favored, a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes that probably cost more than Karen made in a week, maybe even a month, and designer sunglasses that she didn’t remove.
Pointedly ignoring Erik, she smiled at Karen, then turned to Dana Sue. “Where do you want to meet? It’s going to be a little crowded in your office, unless Erik has decided to skip the meeting.”
There was a cool, antagonistic note in her voice that Karen didn’t recognize. Something told her it didn’t bode well for the discussion to come.
“Not a chance,” Erik replied tightly, adding to the tense atmosphere.
“The last of the customers have gone. We can sit in the dining room,” Dana Sue said briskly. “Karen, you want a soda or something? Helen?”
“I’m good,” Karen said, too nervous to even try to swallow something while her future was at stake.
“Nothing for me,” Helen said.
“Then let’s get started, shall we?” Dana Sue said with obviously forced cheer, leading the way.
“Could I see you for a minute first, Helen?”
