When Kate Waters steps in for her sick mother as a private chef in the house of Nathan Gerald, she isn't expecting him to be the same attractive and graceful man she met at a bar the night her boyfriend broke up with her. Nathan does not also believe that the same woman who had piqued his interest at the bar is the daughter of his chef. They had both gone to the bar to drown their sorrows and when they meet coincidentally again, it's like the universe is trying to pass them a subtle message. Although rich and successful, Nathan is broken and has a traumatic childhood experience that shaped his beliefs and haunts him as an adult. Following the death of his mother, his entire life changed, and he always blamed his father for the death of his mother. He distances himself from his father and his new family-his half-siblings, and stepmother. Meanwhile, his father has been trying his best to amend his wrongs. Kate finds herself attracted to Nathan-who, on the other hand, doesn't believe in love due to his family tragedy and has only been in steamy no-strings-attached relationships. He has always held the belief that love doesn't exist and that it only leaves you hanging, parched and hurt. Somewhere along the line, he has to admit he can't resist the beautiful, witty, and overly caring Kate, too. When they start a romantic relationship, Nathan is soon conflicted about his long-held belief about love. When they both begin to get too attached, Nathan cuts off the relationship. After Kate leaves, it's hard for Nathan to get his mind off her. Having never felt that way about a woman, he's somehow at his wit's end. He visits his Uncle-who helps him elucidate his feelings. The lovers eventually get back together, but tragedy strikes, and Nathan's in a life-and-death situation- and the person who saves the day is someone Nathan has always seen as a sworn enemy.
Chapter 1 His beautiful mouth and fresh scent
I rushed to add some ingredients to the last meal I was cooking before my shift ended at Wicks. I've worked at wicks as a chefsince I graduated from college about a year ago. It was one of the largest and most popular restaurant in downtown Seattle. My mother was a chef too-although a private one, and I had picked my culinary skills from her. I graduated with a degree in marketing from NYU, and I could have gotten a more professional job or something, but I wanted to own my own restaurant someday, hence the reason I decided to work at Wicks and get some garner some experience.
"You should be rounding off and getting ready for your date," My best friend Andy said as he entered the kitchen.
"Mark knows I'm at work, so he wouldn't mind if I'm a bit late," I turned around to face Andy who was beaming at me.
I met Andy a few days after I started working at Wicks. We found a kindred spirit in each other the moment we met, he was a cool and incredible person so it was easy for us to connect and we've been become friends since then. He was the only go to person and I was cool with it. Some of my friends from college usually call to complain that my relationship with them had strained, which was true and sometimes I felt guilty. I was twenty five-the age where the pressure of trying to figure out the next chapter of one's life was much and I was absorbed in trying to put my life together that I didn't have the time to devote to friends anymore, but I've kept the only one I had close.
"I agree with you, but you shouldn't keep the poor man waiting.What if he's finally going to propose?" Andy laughed and I stared at him with wide eyes.
"Propose? Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Andy."
"Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
"I know, but I don't think he's ready for that yet, and I kind of understand him." I shrugged.
I had a quick shower in the restaurant's bathroom and changed into a fitting black dress that hugged my body tightly. I applied minimal make up, and brushed my hair into submission. I checked myself out in the bathroom mirror and smiled satisfactorily at my reflection. I hadn't seen my boyfriend Mark in three weeks, so I wanted to look impeccable given that it was also our second dating anniversary. When I was done, I gave Andy a quick hug before stepping out.
I sat across from Mark in our favorite restaurant, digging into the plate of pasta in front of me. Mark was looking dashing as always. His copper colored hair was cut short on the sides, he was clean shaved. I could spend all day admiring him.
"I'm sure you've got tons of gist for me," I said, giggling.
"Yeah," he said, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He looked mildly uninterested. "Hmm, the concert was great as always, and New York was practically just New York." He added.
"Okay... I'm glad you're back, babe. Now I can have you all to myself," I said with the giddiness of a child who was handed her favorite chocolate.
"Do you want more wine?" he asked, pointing at almost empty glass of wine. I responded with a shake of my head.
Silence enveloped us as we continued to eat our meal until Mark said. "There's something I need to tell you, Kate."
Kate? That was new. I raised an eyebrow, but my face soon shone in amusement the instant he dipped his hands into his pocket. Is he about to propose since it's our anniversary? When he brought out his hand, there was nothing in it. My shoulder dropped.
"I really don't know how to go about this, Kate." A small frown creased his eyebrow, I dropped my cutlery and stared at him intently, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was weighing heavy on him, but it was hard to read through his impassive expression.
I raised an eyebrow. "What is it, babe?"
He reached across the table and held my hands in his. "Listen, Kate, you're an incredible person, and you know how much I care about you, but I need to focus on my music now more than ever. I don't want any distraction, particularly given that my management has advised against being in a relationship right now." His expression was stoic.
I frowned slightly, not sure where the conversation was going. "I'm not sure I understand you, babe."
Mark winced and ran his fingers through his hair. I'm sorry, Kate, but I don't think we can be together anymore."
I blinked repeatedly as I tried to process his words. "You can't be breaking up with me, Mark," I said when I finally found my voice. "Today makes it two years since we've been together, Mark."
"Oh! I didn't know." He shrugged. "You know I just got this record label deal, I need to bring in my A game, I just don't want to be distracted, Kate."
I swallowed hard and forced back the tears that stung my eyes."When did I become a distraction, Mark? All I've ever done since we've been together is support your dream." My voicecracked.
Frustration flashed across Mark's face. "I'm grateful for all you've ever done for me, Kate, you know I am, but my careerrequires more of my attention now, and I wouldn't want a situation whereby you would feel neglected. That's why I want us to end this now..."
His phone rang, cutting him short. Before he take the phone from the table, my eyes darted toward it and I was able to see that the caller was Jessica. He picked the phone from the table, and silenced it.
"Why are you not taking that?" I queried.â
"It's work, I'll take it later," he said, averting my eyes.
"You're still talking to Jessica, still fucking her!" I bellowed, and heads turned towards us, but I didn't care. Mark looked away and ignored my question. He had been cheating on me with Jessica for a whole year, and I found out just three months ago. When I confronted him, he apologised and promised to cut ties with her. If I was heartbroken before, I felt stupid now for thinking he had left her. What if there were more girls?
"I've always supported and loved you, Mark, and this is how you decide to treat me," I said raising my voice. "Who even breaks up with their girlfriend on their anniversary?"
"You need to calm down, Kate." His voice was low. Trying to avoid heads turning towards us again.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Mark, you're breaking up with me because of her, because I don't want to have sex yet, right and you've been busy fucking her?" I paused, and blinked back the tears in my eyes. "You went to New York with her and it was her hand that was showing in that picture you took in your hotel room, right?"
"Sex? Come on, Kate, that's not the bone of contention right now."
"Because you always complain about that, Mark."
He didn't even try to deny it. He sighed and checked his time. "I'm sorry, Kate, but I have to go now, I'm sorry. My management is expecting me back at nine." He stood up, patted my back and walked away.
I watched him walk out of the restaurant and wondered if that was truly goodbye to everything we had and shared. Even after being cheated on twice, I never saw this coming. It even sounded crazier that the breakup still came from his end. A combination of hurt and humiliation swirled in my stomach.
I grabbed my stuff and hurried out of the restaurant, averting sympathetic eyes that bore into me. I ran after him as he walked towards his car.
"Mark, please wait." I called and he turned around. Right about then, my eyes darted towards his car and that was when I saw her- Jessica sitting pretty in the passenger's seat of his car. She was a red-haired woman, with a lush skin and an almost feline appearance. Before either of them could do anything, I ran to the car, reached for her hair through the rolled-down window, and started pulling it aggressively.
"What the fuck?" She screamed as she fought to keep my hands off her. I pinned her head on the dashboard, still pulling her hair.
Mark pulled me away from her. "What is wrong with you, Kate?"
"So you came here with her to break up with me." I turned to face Jessica who was cussing me, her hair was a total mess now. "As soon as he finds someone else to fuck, he's going to dump your ass," I said to her.
By now, passers-by had begun to watch and snicker. Mark gave me a stern look before he entered the car and drove away with her. I lowered my head to avert people's piercing eyes as I began to walk away with my broken heart. I wasn't a violent person, and had never in a million years seen myself fighting over a man, but tonight I was livid, and that part of me I never knew existed came out to play.
I cleaned a drop of tear that flickered down my face as I called Andy. "He broke up with me, Andy."
"He what?" Andy asked, he sounded shocked.
"He said he needed to focus on his music, but..." I trailed off as I remembered I never told Andy I had caught Mark cheating twice. If I had told him, he would have advised me to dump hischeating lying ass, so I didn't tell him because I was blindly in love and didn't want such advice.
"Where are you now?" Andy asked.
I looked around trying to figure out where I was when I saw a bar across the street and right there I decided I needed a drink to clear my head. "I'm at a bar, I'll send you the address." I ended the call, crossed the street, and stride toward the bar. I cleaned my misty eyes as I entered the bar. There were a handful of patrons seated around the tables scattered all around the place. I found a vacant stool and threw myself on it. I crinkled up my nose as the smell of alcohol started to hit me.
The bartender smiled at me, and I flashed him a forced smile. "Give me something strong, please. Whatever you recommend is fine."
The bartender sized me up, probably why I needed something strong like I had mentioned, but he shrugged and grabbed a bottle of Glenfiddich from the shelf behind him and poured some into a tumbler. He placed it in front of me, I picked it up, and gulped it in one go. I coughed and shuddered as I downed it. I slammed the empty tumbler on the table I coughed and shuddered as I downed it.
I took my phone, and began to look at pictures of Mark and I in my gallery. "Another one, please."
"Are you sure?" The bartender asked, looking at me quizzically.
I laughed slightly to assure him I knew what I was doing. "Of course, I'm sure. Keep them coming, please." He nodded and filled the tumbler with more drink. I downed it at a go again and shut my eyes tightly.
"Does this have something to do with heartbreak or a man? Hmm, falling in love doesn't always end well, you know" A husky voice beside me said, interrupting the little-drown-your-sadness party I had going on. I turned around to see a pair of mysterious blue eyes staring at me intently. Although my vision was becoming blurry- an aftermath of the 'strong' drink I had taken, I could still faintly make out his hot features. He was handsome, his dark hair was neatly cut short on the sides and swept back on top, my eyes roved around his body, until they fell on his beguiling mouth. He held me spellbound for a second,when I caught myself, I proceeded to down another round of my drink.
"I wouldn't take that anymore if I were you." He interrupted again.
I dropped the tumbler and faced him squarely "Who are you to decide if I should take more of the drink I'm paying for or not?"
"Apparently because you're drunk, and that isn't going to do you any good."â
"And I do not think it's any of your business." I picked up my drink and downed it hastily. "If you're looking for who to flirt with it then you've got the wrong person." I paid the bartender, gathered my things, and staggered out of the bar. My vision was hazy and it felt like my head would split into two. My stomach lurched together. I managed to get behind the bar, I leaned over and threw up once I was there.
After throwing up, I turned around, fought to find equilibrium, and almost collided with a biker speeding towards me. As I tried to avoid him, the heel of one of my shoes broke, I lost balance and almost fell headlong into the road, but instead of landing on the ground I fell back into the hard rock chest of the man from the bar as his hand pulled me back.
"Hey, Careful!" He was holding in his arms and tightly against his chest. I swallowed hard as I felt my soft breast pressed against him. "I told you the drink wasn't going to do you any good." He whispered.
He was tall, and I had to tilt up my head to look at him. Arousal surged through my veins when my gaze fell on his mouth the second time that night. I bit my lower lip and wanted to be kissed so badly by this beautiful man.
"Hey, Kate," Andy called from behind us, bringing me out of my wayward reverie. He let go of me, I removed my broken shoe, held it in one hand, and limped towards Andy.
"Are you okay? I told you not to drink too much," Andy asked, keeping me at arm's length to check if I was okay.
"I had just a few shots," I said in between belches.
"Who was that?" Andy asked, referring to the man. I turned around but the man was no longer there. My brow knitted together as I wondered where he had disappeared to, so fast.
"No one, Andy." I gave a casual shrug, but in my heart of hearts, I knew that he had struck a chord within me and I was sure that his beautiful mouth and fresh scent would plague my memory for a long time.