A Taste of Heaven (Billionaires' Secrets Book 3) by Jennifer Lewis Page A

hired again. They got me in such a panic that, when he asked me out while I was mopping him up, I didn’t dare say no.”
    “A Cinderella story.”
    She laughed. “Yeah. I guess it was. I didn’t have a penny to my name at the time because my second husband wouldn’t let me take anything with me when I walked out.”
    “That’s not too nice.”
    “He wasn’t. That’s why I left.” She shrugged. “Best thing I ever did. Well, after leaving my first husband.”
    “He was a rat, too?”
    “Most definitely. Ooh, is this potato salad?” She’d pulled the lid off a crock and dipped her nose down to inhale.
    He watched her one tiny dimple deepen at the whiff of Creole mustard. “Great Aunt Emmeline’s recipe.”
    “You have a lot of relatives.”
    “Maybe that’s why I’m not looking to find any more.” She gave a little pout. She knew he wasn’t serious. “There’s a spoon in the bottom, help yourself. And there’s some andouille sausage in the warmer, and fresh rolls. And champagne, of course, in case we get thirsty.”
    S amantha eyed the champagne and flashed him a nervous glance. “I think I’d better stay away from that.”
    “You’re afraid you might decide it’s okay to touch me after all?” He leaned in, so close he could smell her lovely smooth skin and the natural feminine scent hiding under her elegant perfume.
    “No.” She spoke too quickly and he heard a ripple of hesitation in her voice.
    The uncertainty hung in the air like smoke.
    He felt it creep into his lungs and spread throughout his body as the image of her naked in his bed—just last night—flashed across his mind.
    He wanted Sam back in his bed, preferably tonight.
    But he was a patient man. Some things were worth waiting for.
    She handed him a plate with a knife and fork. He reached into the basket and unwrapped the fresh smoked sausage and the crusty bread.
    Their arms moved within inches of each other. Louis teased her by reaching so close that she drew back a little to avoid contact. The hairs on their arms almost brushed.
    But not quite.
    The warm air between them crackled with volatile energy created by the absence of contact. He couldn’t remember ever hurting so badly for a woman’s touch.
    A woman who might be his stepmother.

 
    Chapter Nine
     
    S am took a bite of the spicy sausage. The boat engine throbbed in a steady pulse, and water slapped against the sides.
    She could feel Louis’s eyes on her as she licked her lips. His gaze oozed over her like fresh honey. She should be offended that a man she barely knew felt free to stare at her like that.
    Except that she’d already slept with him.
    “Were all your husbands older than you?”
    Louis’s strange question jerked her out of a sensual fog. “All my husbands.” She grimaced. “You make me sound like Zsa Zsa Gabor.”
    “I think she made them wait until they put a ring on her finger before she slept with them.” He winked and bit off a chunk of bread.
    Sam’s mouth fell open. Then she drew in a breath and reached for her sense of humor. “You’re right. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?”
    Her mother had repeated that phrase many times during her teen years, when Sam was competing to be Miss Corn Dog or whatever title came with the pageant of that week.
    She frowned. “In fact, I was a virgin when I married my first husband.” She looked right at Louis. “And yes, he was older.”
    Louis’s expression didn’t reveal any opinion, negative or otherwise. “What went wrong?”
    “Who knows?” She shrugged and looked out at the waving grasses. The sun hung low on the horizon, bathing land and water in a thick golden soup of light.
    “You probably do.”
    She glanced up. People didn’t usually talk to her like this.
    Like what?
    Rude. Or maybe just blunt.
    But Louis just watched her, eyes twinkling with mischief as he ate.
    “Okay. Let’s see. I married him so I could get away from home because my mother ran me on the