Tempting the Dangerous Tycoon (The Book Club 1)

  Tempting the

  Dangerous Tycoon

  By Elizabeth Lennox

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  Copyright 2021

  ISBN13: 9781950451517

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Any duplication of this material, either electronic or any other format, either currently in use or a future invention, is strictly prohibited, unless you have the direct consent of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue.

  Excerpt from “Resisting her Husband”

  Chapter 1

  “Hey Annie! There’s a phone call for you!”

  Annie stubbornly remained by the bakery display case as she wiped her hands nervously down the front of her apron. She glanced towards the doorway that led to the bustling kitchen. “Take a message,” she called out, hoping that Joe could hear her over the chaos. There were machines churning away in the kitchens, ovens rumbling in the back area, and the constant hum of chatter from both her employees in the front of the shop, as well as the steady line of customers arriving to pick up their daily dose of sugar and caffeine.

  “Where is he?” she whispered to herself, checking the time for the tenth time in as many minutes.

  “The guy says it’s important!” Joe called back.

  Annie’s gaze swept over the customers’ eager features, searching for the one that…! Good grief! Why was she standing here, waiting for the one man that always…well, always set her heart on fire?! The guy she was looking for would be at least a head taller than every other person in the bakery. He always stood out! Not just because of his height, but because of…well, because he was jaw-droppingly gorgeous! There was a powerful aura around him that drew attention. Including hers!

  “Not now, Joe!” she hissed urgently, then nervously smoothed her hands down over her apron one more time as she moved towards the cash register. “I’ll take over, Beth,” she said to the twenty-something college student. “Can you help Judy with the ovens?”

  “Sure!” Beth replied, stepping away from the cash register with a smile. A moment later, the younger woman vanished through the doors that separated the front of the bakery from the kitchen. There was a small burst of noise as the doors opened, then relative quiet as those doors automatically swung closed.

  For the next few minutes, Annie smiled and rung up each customer, which was easy since almost everyone used credit cards now. Annie made sure to greet her regular customers by name and chat for a moment, wanting everyone who came into her bakery and coffee shop to feel special, as if they were a guest in her home and not just someone buying a donut and getting on with their day.

  “Where is he?!” she muttered again, impatiently glancing at the clock on the side of the cash register.

  “Who?” Tim asked as he stepped out from the kitchen, carrying another batch of today’s special donut. Tim looked a bit flustered, which Annie understood. Her idea to make margarita donuts had created a surge of customers this morning and Tim, the head baker, was barely managing to keep up with demand.

  He slid the huge tray of still-warm donuts into the case even as Annie’s employees descended on the sweet treat, taking the specialty donuts and packing them carefully into bags or boxes.

  Annie didn’t bother answering Tim. Instead, she focused on the next customer, smiling in greeting and hoping they felt welcome. One after another, the customers shuffled through, each ordering donuts, a few requesting pastries and everyone wanting a cup or two of the freshly brewed java.

  She was finally getting into the groove, ignoring the disappointment that washed over her when she realized that the special guy wasn’t coming this morning. She’d just finished ringing up a dozen donuts and three coffees when a shiver of excitement slipped up her spine. Shocked, Annie paused, looked up and…there he was!! Mr. “Tall, Dark, and Handsome” stepped through the front door and looked around. For a split second, their eyes connected and she felt it, that special sizzle she experienced every time he stepped into her bakery. The chaos around her faded away and there was just…!

  “Coffee and donut.”

  Annie jumped, her gaze dropping away from her mystery man to focus on the customer in front of her. “I’m sorry?”

  Irritated blond eyebrows drew together and the man standing in front of her lifted his bag and cup up. “Just coffee and a donut,” the short, frumpy man repeated, impatience coloring his tone.

  “Oh!” she gasped, shaking her head as she looked down at the register again. “Right. Sorry about that.” She tapped the screen and the man’s total appeared on the screen. He shoved his credit card through the machine, then walked out, ignoring Annie’s “Have a great day!”

  Normally, Annie would be upset if she’d disrespected a customer. But today was different. Different because HE was here! Her entire focus was on him! Oh, she didn’t let anyone know about her obsession with the tall, handsome man. Not by a shift of her head or a glance did she look over at The Man. Nope, she was a cool cucumber. A sophisticated woman of the world! She was…!

  “Breathe,” Beth whispered into her ear with a gentle chuckle.

  Annie let out the breath she’d been holding, feeling her cheeks flush with warmth. She glanced at the four employees behind the counter, all of whom were working diligently. Annie was incredibly proud of her bakery and her staff. It was her business. Her life! It was everything to her!

  So what if the only spice in her morning was a gorgeous man who came through the line? What was the harm if she ogled him for a moment?

  He ordered the specialty donut and a large cup of black coffee. There was something about The Man’s voice that appealed to her. Caused her to shiver with awareness and excitement and…danger? Yes, absolutely! That voice was deep and throaty, with a soft, foreign lilt to his words. She couldn’t quite place his accent, but it was absolutely beautiful!

  Slowly, the line inched forward and Annie smiled at each customer she helped. Perhaps her greetings were a bit more effusive than normal, but that was fine. She was a friendly kind of gal!

  He was stepping closer and closer. Darn it, she was going to blush! Her fingers trembled slightly as she tapped the buttons on the cash register. Unfortunately, the blush crept up her neck and filled her cheeks was far from attractive in her opinion. And darn it, she couldn’t stop it! Every time he came in, her cheeks turned that embarrassing shade of crimson. Not a delicate pink. Not a lovely glowing blush. Oh no! Annie’s cheeks turned a bright, painful red!

  “Just a coffee and donut?” she asked when he reached the cash register, even though she knew perfectly well what he’d ordered.

  “Good morning, Annie,” he greeted her, causing that blush to become even more painful. “Yes, just coffee and one of your specialty donuts,” he replied.

  Oh, she wished she could bottle his voice! She knew it would taste like spiced chocolate, smooth but with a hint of fire. Adding to that voice, his accent and those wonderfully broad shoulders never failed to fascinate her! He was clean shaven, like usual. But Annie could visualize this man just waking up, his almost-black hair mussed and the dark scruff shadowing his cheeks and jaw. He’d look amazing in nothing but a…in nothing, she finished. She’d bet he looked fabulous in absolutely nothing!

  A dark eyebrow lifted and Annie wanted to melt with pleasure.

  That’s when Tim burst through the doors and the noise, plus the large, metal baking sheet knocking her in the back, startled her out of her daze.

  “Oh!” she gasped, snapping back to the present.

  Annie bit her lip as she waved vaguely at the screen in front of him, unable to speak the total for his purchase. The man slid his credit card into the slot, the ping sounded, indicating that the purchase cleared, then he nodded to her as he collected his coffee and small donut bag and left.

  Annie watched, sighing with lust as the man pushed through the doors. He glanced both ways at the busy street, then crossed to the other side, disappearing into the building directly across from her shop.

  “Ma’am?”

  Annie blinked, her eyes still vague, and probably hungry, as she turned to the next customer. When the woman lifted two boxes of donuts slightly, Annie blinked and shook her head as she forced her mind to return to the business at hand.

  “So sorry about that,” she murmured, ringing up the woman.

  The next person in line was loaded down with four large boxes of donuts. “I’m in a hurry,” she snapped.

  “Right!” Annie gasped. “I’m so sorry!”

  The lady’s features softened from a scowl to a m
ore friendly expression as she chuckled. “I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m sorry.” She grinned, a sparkle in her eyes now. “You were justifiably distracted. And if I had such a view to admire, I’d be distracted too!”

  Annie smiled, but it was a weak effort. She gave the woman her total, the system processed the payment, then Annie thanked her and wished her a good day.

  The next three hours were just as busy. It was Friday, so the lines were longer than normal. Fridays were her busiest days as the employees of the downtown Chicago area stocked up on donuts for the weekend or brought in a batch for their office coworkers. Saturday would be busy as well, but the stream of customers wouldn’t be as steady. Plus, Saturdays also brought in customers buying larger cakes or desserts for weekend events.

  But Fridays…they were special. Not just because of the numerous customers and the steady flow of sales. But because of The Man. Every Friday, he came through the line, purchasing a donut or two and a cup of coffee. And every Friday, she felt like an idiot afterwards because she couldn’t seem to stop her face from turning that embarrassing shade of red. Or acting like a lovesick puppy!

  Good grief! Giving herself a pep talk, she reminded herself that she was a strong, capable business woman! Good looking men came through her line all the time! Some flirted, and others just bought their coffee, winked, and moved on with their day.

  Ugh, she hated the winks! They were so patronizing! Didn’t men understand that a wink was some sort of superiority thing? It was demeaning!

  Thankfully, The Man never winked at her. He might make her heart dance in her chest, but he never winked! He was always polite and patient and…and he was always incredibly good looking!

  Annie looked around, her mind still preoccupied with The Man as she wondered what he did for a living, if he was married, if he was kind and sweet or…?

  “Whew! That was a busy morning!” Beth groaned, untying her apron and hanging it on a hook. “You know, you could just give that guy your number and tell him–”

  Annie spun around, her eyes wide with surprise and horror as she stared at her morning manager. “What guy?” Annie asked, even though she knew exactly who Beth was talking about.

  Beth smiled knowingly. “The guy that makes you blush every time he comes through the store?” Beth lifted her eyebrows, a gentle smile on her pretty features.

  Annie pulled her eyes away, fiddling with the already-straight boxes that would eventually be filled with donuts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Annie replied, stiff with terror at the thought that everyone knew exactly what Beth was talking about. “I have to go,” she blurted before anyone could explain. She grabbed several donuts, shoved them into a bag, and rushed out the door. “Beth, you’re in charge!”

  She hurried down the sidewalk to the beautifully decorated store filled with lovely tea sets, shelves filled with cards and stuffed animals, and all sorts of sweet, romantic items. Besides her bakery, this shop was one of her favorite places in the world.

  “Hey Annie!” Kate called out with a smile. “Everything is set up. I’ll be there in just a moment.”

  Annie waved to Kate and hurried to the back of the store. Spotting Amilee already seated in one of the pretty chairs, Annie’s tension eased slightly. “You’re here!” she breathed as she set the bag of donuts down in the middle of a stenciled table surrounded by overstuffed chairs.

  “Are these the…?” Amilee inquired with soft reverence as she carefully opened the bag and peered inside.

  “Yes,” Annie replied, sighing with exhaustion and exasperation. The exhaustion was because she’d started working at four o’clock this morning. The exasperation was because she’d blushed, again, when The Man came through her shop, and then Beth commented on it. Resting her chin on her propped up hand, she jerkily nodded to her friend’s question. “Those are the margarita donuts. What’s left of them,” she said with a smile of satisfaction as Amilee pulled the donuts out and put one on each of the flowered plates. “Tim was really flustered with the huge crowd today. He grumbles when the line gets too long and he has to hustle to keep up.”

  Amilee’s dark, exotic eyes sparkled at the image of the thin, grumbling twenty-something baker having to move at a faster pace than his normal laid-back demeanor preferred.

  “Your announcement of today’s donut flavor on social media got about five hundred comments before eight o’clock this morning,” Amilee explained, licking her fingers. “Even I considered walking over to grab a couple, just in case you ran out.”

  Annie laughed, shaking her head as she placed napkins in front of the three chairs. “Oh, you know that I’d never leave you and Kate hanging,” Annie teased.

  “Right,” Amilee replied with a disbelieving tone. “Like the chocolate and peanut butter scones you created last week? We never got to experience those!”

  Annie cringed, shaking her head at the memory. “That was a wild morning!” she laughed. “I should have anticipated that insanity. I mean…chocolate and peanut butter?”

  Kate hurried over, her eyes wide as she slumped into the chair beside her two friends. “Oh, yes!” she hissed as soon as she took in the donuts sitting on the pretty, dainty plates. “I saw your post this morning and prayed that you’d have some left over!”

  “So?” Amilee asked, pouring the tea from the flowered teapot into the three equally floral cups.

  Annie looked at her cup, desperately needing the boost from the tea. “So…what?” she prompted, even though Annie knew exactly what Amilee was getting at.

  “Don’t even try it,” Kate laughed. “Did he stop by?”

  Amilee leaned forward, her fingers wiggling in eager anticipation. “It’s Friday. He always comes in on Friday. Was he there?”

  Annie hid her blush behind the cup of tea, taking a long, slow sip. When she finally lowered her cup, she nodded. “Yes. He came in.”

  “And?” Kate prompted again.

  “And what?” Annie focused her attention on placing the tea cup carefully onto the saucer.

  Amilee rolled her eyes. “Did you talk to him?!”

  Annie sighed and carefully twisted the handle of the tea cup. “Of course, I spoke to him.”

  It was Kate’s turn to roll her eyes impatiently. “Other than telling him the price of the coffee and donut?”

  Annie cringed, carefully placing her pretty tea cup down on the delicate saucer. “Other than greeting him? No.”

  “Why not?” both Amilee and Kate demanded in unison.

  Annie sighed, her shoulders drooping. “Because my face got all hot and then he looks at me and I just…freeze!” She looked around at her friends. “You don’t understand. This guy, he’s gorgeous! He’s also tall and sophisticated and gorgeous and…!” She shook her head with resignation. “He’s so out of my league!”

  Kate eyed her friend, noting the long, dark hair pulled up into a tight bun on the top of her head. But the coiffure didn’t stop small strands from escaping, curling softly around Annie’s delicate throat and highlighting her emerald green eyes that seemed to stare into one’s soul. Annie had beautiful, pale skin with just a touch of pink on her cheeks. If there was a person who personified the image of a gorgeous “English rose”, it would be Annie. No amount of makeup could create Annie’s kind of beauty!

  “But Annie, you’re gorgeous!”

  “I’m just average,” she sighed, draping her napkin over her lap. “And anyway, he’s…well, he’s…!”

  “Just a man,” Amilee supplied with her usual cynicism towards the male half of the species.

  Annie rolled her eyes. It didn’t matter, she told herself. That guy, he was…well, it just wasn’t going to happen. Nothing was going to happen between her and The Man! Finally, she looked up again, smiling at her friends. She was average compared to them. Now if The Man ever caught a glimpse of either Amilee, with her exotic, dark eyes and her long, shiny hair, not to mention her stunning figure…or Kate with her bohemian-meets-elegant style and her dark, curly hair…well, The Man would be on his knees, begging for her friends to go out with him. Annie…she was about as average as a person could be. She knew that her skin was good. However, since she rushed out of her house before the sun was up, she usually didn’t bother with makeup, so she probably appeared washed out and pale. And her hair was nice enough, but because she had to pull it back while working with food, no one knew anything about her hair. Her figure was okay, but again, it was normally hidden under an apron, practical chef’s pants, and her chef’s white jacket or a black tee-shirt, the uniform she wore while working in the bakery. And her shoes? Well, the non-skid shoes were…again, practical but about as far from sexy and sophisticated as one could get!