The Tycoon's Reluctant Bride Read Online Free

chatted as they sipped cocktails and single malt whiskey.
    Then she saw him.
    Laura drew in a deep breath. Alex. What was he doing here? She looked down at her outfit - gray pants and a white chef jacket, her hair caught up in a neat bun under a white cap.
    The man who had proposed to her wore a smart, charcoal-gray suit that looked expensive, with a crisp white shirt and blue tie. He sipped an amber liquid from a cut glass tumbler.
    She ducked back into the kitchen, her heart pounding. Bustling about the kitchen, she tried to keep her mind off him.
    It didn’t work.
    Although her chef outfit looked a little smarter than the clothes she’d worn when Alex had come to the office four nights ago - if you discounted the couple of minute food stains on her cleavage - the cotton garments did nothing for her generous figure. At all.
    Automatically swirling raspberry coulis onto the dessert platter, Laura couldn’t stop thinking about the decision she had to make. Without Mr. Wilson paying, she didn’t know how King Royale was going to continue to trade in August. Any of her overdue clients paying would be welcome, but it would barely be enough to help the company limp along for another month, or maybe two.
    Unless she married Alex Trask.
    Laura’s cell phone rang, the musical tone breaking into her racing thoughts. Wiping her hand on a cloth, she picked up the phone from her bag in the corner.
    The male voice on the other end of the line did nothing to dispel her worries over the future.
    “ Something wrong?” Edna inquired when Laura jammed her phone back into her handbag and stomped over to the kitchen sink.
    “ We didn’t get the Bellamy account.” She couldn’t hide the distress in her voice.
    “ I’m sorry, hon.” Edna looked at her sympathetically. “I know you were hoping we’d get it.”
    “ Yeah.” Laura just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Why was everything going wrong?
    Blinking back her tears, she finished garnishing the dessert platter, her mind repeating the same thought over and over. She was out of options.
    ###
    Laura had almost finished packing up when she overheard a conversation near the kitchen doorway.
    “ I didn’t think Alex Trask would come.” A woman spoke in hushed tones.
    “ I know!” said her companion. “It was such a last minute acceptance, after I told him we’d hired King Royale.”
    Laura stilled, warmth flushing her skin. Alex knew she’d be working here tonight? Maybe he just likes your food, she tried to tell herself. But the memory of the look on his face when he proposed haunted her, just as it had for the last four nights when she’d tried to sleep. Had she imagined the gleam of desire in his eyes? Or was it just her imagination?
    Firm footsteps alerted her to somebody entering the kitchen. She turned around, a polite smile on her face. Her smile faltered when Alex Trask stood before her. Her mouth suddenly dry, for a few seconds she could do nothing except look up at him.
    “How’s business?” he inquired, his eyes sweeping over her, appearing to take in every aspect of her appearance.
    For once, why couldn’t she be wearing a nice outfit that flattered her curvy figure when she came face-to-face with Alex? Instead of looking like a white blob?
    “Fine,” she lied, fixing her gaze on the silk of his tie, wishing she had the courage to ask him if he only came tonight because he knew she was the caterer.
    “ Really?” He raised an eyebrow in inquiry
    Laura frowned. What would he say if she told him about Mr Wilson not paying his huge bill, or that she'd missed out on the Bellamy party? She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant but aware of failing - miserably.
    “My offer is still open.” He took a couple of steps towards her. Although the kitchen was a decent size, it suddenly felt crowded. Laura resisted the urge to retreat. “But not forever,” he continued smoothly, taking another step towards her.
    She couldn’t help it - taking a step back, she