Just One Taste (Kimani Romance) Read Online Free Page A

to keep her tempered. She looked around the empty kitchen. Large and extravagant, this was exactly as she’d planned when her brother had asked her to design it for him. Her thoughts quickly focused on the ideas she had for her new café kitchen. It would be perfect, if everything worked out like she planned. “Soon,” she muttered, “but right now…” She turned quickly and her arm hit a dessert plate and brandy snifter, knocking them off the counter. They fell to the floor and shattered.

Chapter 3
    C hase and Kelvin stood in the foyer just inside the doorway as torrential rain poured down in front of them. They discussed the evening’s events as he watched the guests drive away. They came to the same conclusion, that it was a successful beginning. But Chase knew he had a long way to go to get his plans solidified. He made arrangements to follow up the next few days with a series of one-on-one meetings.
    “How soon can we get the governor’s team involved?” he asked as his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID. It was Daniel Buchanan. He let it go to voice mail.
    “The governor’s tied down in legislation right now and has a governors’ meeting in New York next week.”
    “Okay, set up an appointment for the week after. I want to meet with him as soon as possible.”
    “Before you head back to Alaska?” Kelvin asked.
    “Yes,” Chase said, checking his cell phone messages. “All right, that’s it.” Kelvin nodded. “Oh, one more thing, good job on getting the caterer. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Kelvin nodded, turned and hurried to his car. He drove away. Moments later three more cars left from the back of the house. Chase stepped back inside and paused in the foyer to look around. This really was a stunning home. Six bedrooms, six baths, living room, dining room, library, office, exercise room, a game room and a few others he hadn’t even bothered to check out. It was perfect for his short stay in the states. It was also just by chance that his half brother, Andre, knew Mikhail Coles and was able to secure a short-term residence for him while he was in Key West. The cell phone rang again. He answered, knowing exactly who it was. “Yes.”
    “Chase, did you see the location yet?” Daniel Buchanan asked abruptly, obviously not in the mood for basic phone pleasantries.
    “Hello, Daniel. No, I haven’t seen it yet.”
    “Why not?” he said heatedly. “What are you waiting for?”
    “It’s private property.”
    “It’s on an island, not in the middle of Fort Knox. It’s not like there’s security. It’s a shack in the middle of nowhere. You need to get out there and see it now,” he ordered.
    “Daniel, it’s against the law,” Chase said pointedly.
    “Damn the law. Tell them you’re a Buchanan.”
    Chase nearly laughed out loud. Daniel was a throwback relic from the arm-twisting days of the twenties when lawless racketeering, official bribing and blatant aggression ruled the land. “That might work in Alaska, but not in the real world with the rest of us. I follow the rules.”
    He huffed. “Fine, so what exactly are you doing?”
    “I just purchased two buildings in town.”
    “Chase, we’re supposed to be making money on this venture, not giving it away.”
    “We need leverage. This is it.”
    Daniel exhaled loudly with a deep grumble of annoyance. “All right, did you at least meet with the officials yet?”
    “Yes. I met with them this evening. They just left. It went well. I don’t think we’ll have a problem should it become necessary to go in another direction.”
    “What do you mean ‘should it be necessary’? You suggested initiating the process of eminent domain, I approved. I want you to go in another direction right now. We’re on a nonnegotiable timetable here.”
    “I know our timetable, Daniel, and upon further review of the situation I don’t believe that’s a necessary option at this point.” Chase knew full well