A Taste Of Pleasure

“Yes, Andre and I collaborate quite well.”

Toni took a bite and uttered a low groan of pleasure. She hated that his reaction made her proud...and a little aroused.

They’d been at the same table for dinner. He ate like a bear, dipping into everything, taking his time with the dishes he liked, eating seconds and sometimes thirds. She’d always liked a healthy appetite in a man.

Not that she was watching, or wondering if he made love the same way.

He slid the fork from his lips.

“That cake is art. Maybe you’ll cook for me one day?”

Her eyes snapped to his clear gaze. Was he flirting?

“I mean, I could come to your restaurant.”

Of course, he wasn’t attracted to her. He liked superthin arm candy that ate salads and wore tons of makeup. She pressed her lips together. Her lipstick had melted off hours ago.

“Sure. Stop by next time you’re in New York,” she said politely.

“Erm...you have—” He stepped closer and reached for her.

“What?” She looked down her body.

He swiped a finger across her upper breast and a jolt tore through her. Shocked, she followed his hand, which pulled away with a small dollop of icing on his finger.

She grabbed a towel and handed it to him, but he shook his head and placed the tip of his finger in his mouth.

“So good. I get another piece at the table, yes?”

She nodded absently as he walked away, blinking against the tingly sensations that lingered on her skin and swirled through her body.

* * *

Toni stood at the edge of the crowd and watched the throng of women in evening wear get ready to fight over the bouquet. The bride teased the group with a wave of her flowers, then turned her back.

Toni sighed and smoothed a hand over his brow.

I can’t do this anymore, Toni. I don’t want this life.

He downed the rest of his champagne and turned to go. He couldn’t watch anymore.

A large hand landed on his shoulder. “She’s hot for you, man. She’s been staring at you all night.”

Toni forced himself back around and smirked along with his fellow groomsman. Reluctantly he slid his gaze to the thin blonde in the red dress and sure enough, she was staring right at him.

She smiled. He forced a grin back in an effort to be polite, but he quickly looked away.

Virgin Mary help him.

She was beautiful...and way too reminiscent of his ex-wife. Being just out of a divorce, weddings were not high on his attendance list, but he couldn’t let Destin down. Nor did he want to bring his baggage to the happy day.

Toni turned his head to where the groom was staring lovingly at his bride. Toni supposed he’d done the same at his wedding.

This isn’t want I signed up for.

He tried to shake the angry voice of his ex-wife from his head. He lifted his glass to his lips. Empty. When the show was over he’d head to the bar, and then everything would be all right.

Fortified by his new plan he looked up and prayed the spectacle would soon be over. There was a shot of whiskey with his name on it. Toni focused on the bride, who had stopped midthrow and was waving at someone. His thoughts were wiped from his brain.

Danica let her curling hair fall around her shoulders and made her way from the cake station into the crowd of single ladies. He licked his lips, as if trying to taste the icing that had landed on her cleavage again. And what a stunning bosom it was. She was tall and hourglass shaped with full hips that he couldn’t take his eyes from as she walked in her heels.

“That’s too much woman for you, bro.”

Toni chuckled.

“There is no such thing as too much woman, Leo.”

Leo laughed in agreement and slapped him on the back.

“You can’t have all of ’em. Save some for the rest of us.”

“Don’t worry, brother. I only want one.” He was half kidding, thinking that a good night’s sleep didn’t sound so bad. But as Dani stood close to the back and slightly away from the women jostling for position, he couldn’t help but imagine her naked in his sheets.

The bride tossed the bouquet and he compared the scene before him to the game-winning goal in the World Cup. The girls moved as one toward the airborne flowers. The blonde in the red dress dove. Dani put her arms up for the block. The blonde grazed the bouquet and tipped it into Dani’s hands.

The crowd oohed.

But Dani swatted it into the hands of a young flower girl while the blonde lost her footing and hit the ground.

The crowd ahhed.

The blonde looked pissed. Dani sauntered away. And Toni headed for the bar.

* * *

Dani put the top layer of the wedding cake in the refrigerator for the newlyweds, closed the door and officially ended her maid of honor duties. Although the DJ was still playing, the party had thinned out once the bride and groom conspicuously disappeared. And it took Dani a minute to realize that her friend Liz had also left with one of the groomsmen, which meant the Dani would have to enjoy one last drink alone.

She found a seat at the bar, ordered a shot of whiskey, and paid no attention to the tall, broad-shouldered man with his back to her. Her thoughts drifted back to her encounter with the best man. Who did he think he was arguing with her over the wine? He looked damn good in a suit though. And those eyes, they glittered like a rainbow after a storm.

Dani cursed her weakness for tall, handsome and cocky.

As for Andre, when she got back to New York, she’d put an end to their sexual relationship.

If she could just find a sweet, humble, not shorter than herself man, then life would be perfect. Okay, maybe he could be a little shorter than her, but he’d have to have muscles to complement her figure.

And he’d have to be cool with her work schedule. Running a kitchen was a 24/7 job, which is why she had a penchant for sleeping with her coworkers. She sighed. This cycle had to stop.

Dani’s gaze darted back and forth, and then she pulled out her phone and opened up her dating app. Swipe left, swipe left, swipe left. Someone brushed by her back and she pulled her phone close. No one needed to know how pathetic she had gotten to be swiping at a wedding. When the coast was clear she made one more swipe.