Delectable Desire by Farrah Rochon

washroom and wiped down his station, and then he went in search of Malik. He found his best friend stretched out on the sofa in the empty office that was used as a break room. He had a newspaper spread out across his lap.
    Carter flicked the towel he’d draped over his shoulder at Malik’s head, catching him on the ear.
    “What the hell?” Malik scrambled to sit up and turned to glare at Carter.
    “That’s my question,” Carter replied. “I come in on my day off to help you and find your lazy ass lounging with the paper? What’s up with that?”
    “I’m on a break,” Malik argued. “Now, why don’t you tell me why you’ve been holding out on me?”
    Carter’s brows rose in question.
    “This.” Malik held out the Arts & Entertainment section of the paper. “You’ve been seeing a Hawthorne-Hayes and didn’t bother to rub it in anyone’s face? That’s not like you.”
    Carter snatched the paper from him. On the front page of the A&E section, in full color and above the fold, was a picture of him and Lorraine last night in front of Les Nomades. The caption under the picture read Jewelry Heiress Lorraine Hawthorne-Hayes Is Showcasing New Bling.
    “When did you start dating her?” Malik asked.
    “I didn’t... I’m not. I mean...” But he couldn’t finish his response. He just stared at the picture, registering the pure shock and horror the photographer had captured in Lorraine’s eyes.
    “I know you’re a Drayson and all, but she’s pretty rich even for your blood,” Malik added.
    “I didn’t know who she was,” Carter said, still unable to tear his eyes away from the photograph. “I only know her as Lorraine. She never told me her last name. I guess this is why,” he said, gesturing to the picture. He folded the paper and tucked it under his arm.
    “So, how serious is it?” Malik asked. “You plan on going ring shopping soon? I’ll bet Daddy Hawthorne-Hayes would give you a discount.”
    “Shut up,” Carter told him. “I only met her a couple of days ago when she came in to order a cake for her sister’s bridal shower.”
    “You’ve only known her for a couple of days and already took her to Les Nomades? Damn, maybe you will be ring shopping soon.” Carter glared at him, but Malik only laughed. “You know I’m just messing with you, man. I had to put up with enough flak from you when things got serious between me and Belinda. I deserve to get some payback.”
    “Nobody said this thing with Lorraine was serious,” Carter countered. “I’m not about to get shackles around my wrists like you.”
    “Hey, man, don’t knock it until you try it. I didn’t realize just how empty my life was until Belinda and I got together.”
    Carter rolled his eyes. “Please spare me the sappy love song lyrics.”
    “Whatever,” Malik said. Then his expression took on a more serious edge, and his voice lowered as he asked, “Now that you’re dating, does this mean that other thing you’re thinking about is off the table?”
    “No.” Malik was the only one he’d told about his conversation with the restaurateur in New York. “Tell me you haven’t told Belinda about any of this.”
    “I told you I wouldn’t,” his best friend said. “Just promise me you’ll think this through, Carter. Lillian’s needs you. Don’t make any rash decisions.”
    “If I were in the business of making rash decisions, I’d be gone already,” Carter pointed out. “I’m weighing all of my options, but when I finally do make a decision, it’ll be the one that’s best for me. ”
    The door swung open and Drake entered the break room. “Hey, what are you two up to?”
    When Malik looked over at Carter with a note of inquiry in his eyes, Carter gave his head a subtle shake. He didn’t want Drake’s opinion on either of the topics he and Malik had just discussed.
    “Nothing,” Malik said. “What’s up?”
    “We need to talk about the cookbook,” Drake started. “I heard from the publisher