“Hey, man,” Vin came on the line, his enticing tone sending shivers down her spine, despite her trepidation. “I was ready to hit a bar for a beer, but Lane said you’d already left the office for the night.”
“It’s Jewel,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. She cleared her throat in hopes of covering it up.
Vin was silent for a few tense moments, then said in a gruffer voice, “Since you’re calling me on Rogen’s phone, I can assume you just wanted to let me know you were with him?”
Jewel’s brow dipped. That wasn’t anger in his voice. That was pain. Again.
A curious thought ribboned through her mind, but she couldn’t clutch it tightly enough to discern its full meaning.
She said, “Try to be a little less hostile. We’re discussing business. And we’d like your help.”
“You’re trying to talk him into selling to you, aren’t you? Or”—Vin’s tone now held the anger she’d been expecting—“seduce him into selling?”
“Stop being so agitated. We’ve decided to go into business together. Sort of.” She didn’t want to elaborate over the phone. Rogen was right about her needing to work things out with Vin. Just to set all the records straight, at the very least. “Rogen came into the city tonight. He was waiting for me when I got home from work. Can you meet us?”
More silence. It was nerve-wracking. She wished she could see Vin’s expression, look into his eyes. Maybe somehow convince him that releasing the sexual tension between them had done absolutely nothing to alleviate the emotional turmoil. And that was necessary, as Rogen contended.
Though it was going to take some serious effort on her and Vin’s parts.
“Vin,” she said. “It’s important.”
“Fine,” he retorted in a steely tone. She could practically feel the angst exuding from him. And it turned her on—when it really shouldn’t.
His dark and broody disposition, the intensity of his moods and desires, had always called to her. Even over the phone.
Urg.
Who’s the one who can’t escape?
A flicker of heat against her clit, because Vin’s commanding presence was powerful enough to transcend satellite technology, had Jewel a bit breathy as she gave him the address.
Then Vin said, “It’ll be about an hour and a half.”
“I’ll put a pot of sauce on the stove.”
He was quiet again.
“Vin?” Her breath was held suspended. Was he going to change his mind?
He tortured her for endless moments, then eventually told her, “I really should muster some willpower when it comes to you.”
He disconnected the call.
Okay. Still pissed.
She returned the phone to Rogen. “He’s on his way. Not in a good mood. Be forewarned.”
Grabbing her wineglass, she left the living room, passing the long dining table that sat twelve, and entered the kitchen. Rogen followed. He set the bottle of wine on the island and surveyed the space while she lifted a pot from its hook on the overhead rack and placed it on the six-burner stove. She then retrieved three frying pans and laid them out.
Rogen fell right in step with her, since they’d made pasta together dozens of times before. They’d all spent a significant amount of time in one kitchen or another when growing up.
He located her flour container while she went to the fridge and collected eggs for him, then grabbed the coiled links of hot and sweet Italian sausage wrapped in butcher paper and ground beef for her Bolognese sauce. She started browning the meat in the pans while Rogen made a mound of flour on the granite countertop with a dip in the middle where he dropped the yolks and drizzled olive oil. Then he whisked eggs and kneaded the dough, which had to rest at least an hour, so she greatly appreciated his help while she worked her tasks. She also knew Rogen loved to cook.
She set out plastic wrap for the resting period and the old-fashioned crank-handled pasta maker for when the dough was ready, so everything was on hand for him. Then she dumped crushed tomatoes into her pot and added fresh herbs, letting the sauce simmer. Rounding the counter across from Rogen, she grabbed a bamboo cutting board and used a new razor blade to shave slivers of garlic.
He said, “Maybe it’s time we address the elephant in the room.”
She let out a hollow laugh. “Vin’s not even here yet.”