The Zombie Billionaire's Virgin Witch (Zombie Category Romance) by Joely Sue Burkhart Page B

he
kept noticing her shapely figure.  The husky, compelling tenor to her
voice.  The annoyingly courageous way she kept threatening him with his
own damned contract.  “The secret to man’s heart really is through his
stomach, but only after you addict him.”
    “Don’t
worry, Mr. Michelopoulos.  You’re entirely safe.”  Crossing her arms
over her chest, she averted her face, staring out over the crowded dining
room.  “You have no heart.”
    Damned
if her chin didn’t quiver and her eyes shone suspiciously in the
candlelight.  A twinge of guilt gave him momentary pause.  This
evening should have been a triumphant return to her father’s restaurant. 
By all accounts, the guests were thrilled with her dishes.  She was a
success and following in her father’s footsteps.
    Now
he’d ruined all that excitement for her with his accusations.  Whether
hasty or not, he didn’t yet know, but he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that
her magic was a living, crawling thing inside him, spreading like a
cancer.  No, that’s just the curse eating my body away.
    “Nothing
negative will happen to these people in any way.”  Her vibrant voice
dulled, flat and carefully even.  She refused to meet his gaze. 
“There’s no ill effect if they never return to Remy’s .  However, if
the magic is working here, they’ll remember how delicious the food was and how
good and wonderful they felt while they dined here.  They may come back
hoping to feel that wonderful again, but it’s entirely their choice.  For
the cost of a reasonably-priced dinner, they can taste something extraordinary
that brings to life their senses in a way they never experienced before. 
If that’s a drug, so be it.  If it’s a sin in your book to make people
feel better, than I’m guilty as charged.  Now please excuse me while I go
serve up the next course of drugs.”
     
     
    Fighting
back tears, Clare strode through the bustling kitchen and straight through the
back delivery door to get some fresh air.  Stars were obscured by the
streetlights of the city, but the air tasted clean and warm.  On the verge
of spring, everything would be blooming soon, bursting into life.  Mom’s
roses would fill the air with perfume and their garden would be filled with
nature’s bounty.  Daddy’s favorite time of the year.
    Tears
coursed down her cheeks.  So unfair to have his good name and everything
he’d worked for his entire life ruined by that arrogant, judgmental
bastard.  To accuse her of dealing drugs!  Addicting innocent people,
warping them with her magic.  Her father had slaved his entire life in
that kitchen just to make people happy and to share his enjoyment of fine
dining.  He’d trained in Paris and traveled the world, learning from the
best, yet he’d been perfectly happy to come to this small Midwestern town and
open his own restaurant.
    Only
to be called a drug dealer.
    She
swiped tears from her cheeks.  Michelopoulos was a complete fool, afraid
of what he didn’t understand.  Okay, so maybe his distrust was a little
justified after she’d used her gift to distract him long enough last night in
order to work in her terms into the contract.  It wasn’t her fault if he
was particularly susceptible to her chocolate creation, and she’d certainly
warned him not to eat so much of it.
    Voices
echoed across the parking lot.  They’d been so busy tonight that customers
had parked in the back of the lot, usually reserved for the employees. 
Clare stepped back into the shadows along the wall, unwilling to be seen
crying.  The last thing she wanted was for Michelopoulos to know how badly
he’d wounded her, and she couldn’t forget that this entire staff was his. 
He’d replaced everyone she’d known from when her father had run the restaurant.
    “We’re
so glad that Remy’s has reopened.” 
    Three
people came closer, approaching a white Cadillac.  The couple was older,
probably someone who’d known her