Falling for Her Rival

Falling for Her Rival
Jackie Braun

You know what they sayabout playing with fire…For chef Finn Westbrook it’s time to turn up the heat. Three years ago he hit rock-bottom – now he’s ready for a comeback…starting with winning a TV competition to secure a spot running New York’s trendiest kitchen! He just hasn’t counted on his attraction to rival Lara Dunham burning a hole in his plans…Lara has worked her apron off for this opportunity, and total focus on the competition is the plan – which is difficult when all she can think about is wanting her opponent out of the kitchen and into her bed! But there can only be one winner, and sometimes to win a girl has to play dirty!

Even though she’d already made it pretty clear what she wanted he was leaving her an out, giving her a chance to change her mind.

She could pull back and put on the brakes. No harm. No foul. Or she could plough full steam ahead.

Lara didn’t feel reckless when she chose the latter. Rather, she felt right.

“Your shirt. I’ve been wondering what you would look like without it.”

Deep laughter rumbled again. With his body still pressed against hers, she felt his mirth as much as she heard it. The sensation was oddly erotic, but what had the breath backing up in her lungs was his reply.

“I’ve been wondering the same thing. What do you say we both satisfy our curiosity?”

Dear Reader

I’m no gourmet chef, but I’m a pretty decent cook—especially when I’m not on a deadline for a book. My husband and kids will tell you the closer I get to turning in a manuscript, the more pizza and cereal they wind up eating for supper!

Even though my culinary skills may be mediocre, I love watching cooking programmes. I am especially addicted to competitions such as The Food Network’s Iron Chef and Chopped! So when I decided to write a book that featured a couple of talented chefs who have the hots for each other, I figured what better way to ratchet up the heat than to pit them against each other on a televised cooking contest?

Lara Durham and Finn Westbrook both have compelling reasons for wanting to win the show and the executive chef position at a New York landmark restaurant that goes with it. Those reasons become major obstacles, of course, when they start to fall in love.

Bon appétit!

Jackie Braun

Falling for

Her Rival

Jackie Braun

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

JACKIE BRAUN is the author of more than two dozen romance novels. She is a three-times RITA

Award finalist, a four-time National Readers’ Choice Awards finalist, the winner of a Rising Star Award in traditional romantic fiction and was nominated for Series Storyteller of the Year by RT Book Reviews in 2008. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons, and can be reached through her website at www.jackiebraun.com (http://www.jackiebraun.com)

Other Modern Tempted™ titles by Jackie Braun:

AFTER THE PARTY

This and other titles by Jackie Braun are available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

With much love to my husband and boys for their support.

Contents

Chapter One (#u8bb42306-34ea-5ec6-8c46-7dbc44fc81bf)

Chapter Two (#u95dc97b1-6ba2-56af-b001-61bd136f51ca)

Chapter Three (#u3f6aa90d-d017-5da0-b4f8-95835f952cdc)

Chapter Four (#u8640b07d-e288-5278-8ef8-a704f9b04464)

Chapter Five (#ucfcdaf25-0499-530e-97b4-fde82930d0e7)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

ONE

Gather ingredients

Lara Dunham moved the sprig of basil a fraction of an inch to the left on a sautéed chicken breast that sat atop a bed of risotto and asparagus tips. Afterward, she took a step back. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the food editor of Home Chef magazine, she eyed the table.

“I don’t know,” the other woman murmured. “It still doesn’t look right.”

Nor did it taste right, but Lara kept the thought to herself. She’d filched a nibble during the setup. It wasn’t merely a trick of the trade that had left her palate dissatisfied. Food used in photo shoots was often undercooked to help retain moisture. No, in this case, the rice needed more seasoning. In fact, it needed a lot more seasoning. But she bit her tongue because doctoring up the recipes wasn’t her call.

She did say, “The square plate isn’t working for me.”