The Baby Truce

The Baby Truce
Jeannie Watt

Reggie Tremont has always had clear goals. Open a catering business: check. Enter Reno's premier catering competition: check. Have a baby with her ex…. Okay, maybe Reggie Tremont's life went slightly off course with that singular unplanned event. But she's not going to let Tom Gerard–renowned rebel of the culinary world and father-to-be–distract her again.Tom may insist that he's changed and that he's dependable. That he's sworn off his prima donna fits. But he needs to back those promises with some action…starting with being a humble prep cook for her. It turns out that sharing her kitchen with him is more temptation than Reggie can afford. And suddenly she's considering another unplanned event…with him!

“Start chopping veg for eighty chicken pot pies.”

Tom smiled, humoring her. “Reggie, you’re preparing an Italian meal, which I happen to be rather good at, and you want me to chop veg for pot pies.”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “I understand.” And he no doubt did. Reggie was putting him in his place.

She started to fold her arms over her chest, caught herself, and forced them back to her sides. “And I want you to be nice to Patty. For some reason her back is up.”

“No problem.” This time there was a note of irony in his voice, but Reggie ignored it as she led the way into the kitchen.

She pulled a list out of her apron pocket. “Here you go. I’m sure you can familiarize yourself with the kitchen. This is your station.” She indicated an area of the stainless steel counter with a sweep of her hand. “Let me know when you’re done.” She hesitated, then added, “And be nice to Patty. I mean it.”

“Yes, Chef.”

Reggie left Tom standing next to the counter and went into the office. When she returned, Tom glanced up. Oh, yeah. This wasn’t nerve-racking or anything, having him here.

Tom was chopping as he’d been told to do, his hand moving so quickly it was a blur. Reggie knew he wasn’t showing off. He was making a point. Yes, he’d chop veg, but using him that way was a waste. He was probably thinking of how he could revolutionize her kitchen.

He’d lost that chance seven years ago.

Dear Reader,

I love to cook, but more than that, I love it when my husband cooks for me. What is it about a man in the kitchen?

I had heard that chefs are notoriously difficult to write and guess what? They are. Many chefs are bona fide alpha males, used to command and having their every order followed without question. My chef, Tom Gerard, made a spectacular career for himself by refusing to compromise, and then destroyed it in the same way. When the story opens, he has burned most of his professional bridges by refusing to bow to authority and has finally come to realize that there are consequences to his actions. And as he makes that discovery, he gets another bit of news. His former girlfriend, caterer Reggie Tremont, is pregnant—and she doesn’t need any help or support from him, thank you very much.

Now Tom not only has to rebuild a career; he has to rebuild a relationship with the woman he once abandoned.

I hope you enjoy Tom and Reggie’s story. While writing this book, I researched celebrity chefs, read several chef biographies and became a cooking show junkie. I guess you could say that Tom and Reggie broadened my world and, thanks to the many recipes I just had to try, I may have broadened in other ways, too.

I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to contact me via my website, www.jeanniewatt.com.

Best wishes,

Jeannie Watt

The Baby Truce

Jeannie Watt

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeannie Watt lives off the grid in rural Nevada and loves nothing better than an excellent meal. Jeannie is blessed with a husband who cooks more than she does, a son who knows how to make tapas and a daughter who knows the best restaurants in San Francisco. Her idea of heaven is homemade macaroni and cheese.

To Gary, my personal chef.

I couldn’t do it without you.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY