The Flirtation Game: Castle Ridge Small Town Romance Read online

  The Flirtation Game

  A Castle Ridge Small Town Romance

  Book 3

  by

  ALLIE BURTON

  Love isn’t all that’s cooking.

  After a scandal in Hollywood, celebrity chef Michael Marstrand accepts a position to be head chef at Castle Ridge Lodge and star in a television program about re-opening a five-star restaurant. He believes returning to his hometown to help the struggling restaurant will earn him public relations points and help an old friend. What he doesn’t know is the sous chef expected to be named head chef and the television series is a reality show called Kitchen Catastrophe.

  Sous Chef Isabel O’Donnell returned from vacation to discover the restaurant kitchen remodeled and a new head chef. With contracts already signed, she has no choice but to work for Chef Michael, a man she’d had a crush on since middle school. A man who’d stolen her job.

  With the hidden cameras rolling, Michael tries to make the day-to-day routine boring so Kitchen Catastrophe will never be shown, but an interfering producer introduces a bridezilla and an employee who causes trouble. Add the simmering attraction between Michael and Isabel and the reality show has everything: drama, fights, and sex.

  In this best friend’s brother conflict, will a fake flirtation produce the perfect recipe or enflame desire?

  Dear Reader:

  I hope you enjoy The Flirtation Game! Word of mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoy this novel, please consider leaving a review at your place of purchase, even if it’s only a line or two. Your review will make all the difference and is hugely appreciated.

  You can join my newsletter here http://www.allieburton.com/contact.html I only send out newsletters a few times a year, so it won’t be flooding your inbox on a weekly basis but will keep you aware of what’s upcoming.

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  Thank you so much and happy reading!

  Allie Burton

  Other Books in Castle Ridge Series

  Where small town love takes you higher.

  The Romance Dance

  The Christmas Match

  THE FLIRTATION GAME

  A Castle Ridge Small Town Romance Book 3

  Copyright © 2016 by Alice Fairbanks-Burton

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, downloaded, transmitted, decompiled, reverse engineered, stored in or introduced to any information storage and retrieval system in any form, whether electronic or mechanical without the author’s written permission. Scanning, uploading or distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without permission is prohibited.

  Please purchase only authorized electronic versions, and do not participate in, or encourage pirated electronic versions.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Table of contents

  About the Book

  Dear Reader

  Copyright

  THE FLIRTATION GAME

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Excerpt from THE ROMANCE DANCE

  Excerpt from THE CHRISTMAS MATCH

  Excerpt from ATLANTIS RIPTIDE

  Excerpt from SOUL SLAM

  Other Books by Allie Burton

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  The Flirtation Game

  A Castle Ridge Small Town Romance

  Book 3

  by

  ALLIE BURTON

  Chapter One

  Another New Year’s Eve. Another glittering party. Another night alone surrounded by people.

  The back of Isabel O’Donnell’s throat went dry, and she took a sip of Champagne while scanning the crowd of merrymakers at the Castle Ridge Lodge. Men in tuxedos, and other men in jeans and ski sweaters. Women in short, black dresses, or stylish pants and silky blouses. Some of the people were hotel guests, and some lived in the town of Castle Ridge or worked at the hotel. Men outnumbered women at the party, so she’d have her pick of handsome guys to kiss at midnight. Someone to kick her fabulous new year off right. Someone dashing and daring, and a bit devilish.

  Parker Williamson, the owner of the hotel, shuffled toward her, wearing a rumpled business suit and a stylish, purple tie. “Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure.” Technically, Parker was her boss, but since she’d known him since grammar school, it was hard to think of him in that capacity.

  Not that he hadn’t changed a lot since school. Divorced and a successful businessman, he’d returned home to save the family business. Tall, dark, and emotionally unavailable, she’d practiced her flirty ways with no results.

  “Follow me.” Gripping a manila folder, he marched toward the busy area between the dining room and kitchen. The guy couldn’t even take New Year’s Eve off.

  She liked to work because she loved her job, but she liked to play, too.

  Parker stopped at the dim corner, where waiters hurried in and out of the kitchen. Setting the manila folder on a small table littered with empty glasses, he took out a pen. “I need you to sign this new employment agreement.”

  “Now?”

  “You’re heading out of the country tomorrow.” His perfect diction sounded like the Ivy League. A tone he didn’t use much anymore. “I need to have these signed and verified before you can start work in the remodeled kitchen.”

  With a glow of hope, she bumped her hip into his. “Start work in the remodeled kitchen as…?”

  He screwed up his face in obvious confusion. “As an employee of the Castle Ridge Lodge. All of the employees have to sign them.”

  Was he being deliberately obtuse, or ignoring her real question? She wanted to know before vacation. “What about the head chef position?”

  He glanced around, as though searching for spies. “Do you really want to talk about that tonight?”

  She took another hardy sip from her glass to dislodge the lump of uncertainty in her throat. “What better way to celebrate the New Year than knowing I’ve been promoted?”

  “Do you know how much I’ve got going on right now?” His harried voice pushed off her question as if she was harassing him, yet he was the one asking her to sign documents at a party. He ran fingers through his normally immaculate hair. “There’s the remodel construction, and chasing down employees to get the contracts signed. I’ve got a meeting wit
h my banker and controller to discuss financial forecasts for the coming year. And I’ve got VIP guests arriving at the lodge tomorrow.”

  The Champagne in her stomach flattened. “You need a vacation.”

  “I wish.”

  She took another sip to bolster herself. “Chef Françoise officially retires at midnight. The restaurant closes for three weeks, and when I get back, I want to be ready to start in my new position.”

  Bold. Unflappable. Flirtatious. The Isabel people expected. She didn’t show her insecurities.

  “Before you start anything, you need to sign these papers.” Parker jittered his legs. He acted like a lobster in a tank, waiting to be picked for dinner. Coupled with the Ivy League routine, she wasn’t sure if she should laugh or ask him to seek help. “They’re standard liability contracts and such.”

  His nervous actions caused her own tension to heighten. But she refused to doubt herself. She snatched the pen from him, and twirled it between her fingers. “Have you done a head-chef-position search?”

  She hadn’t seen any evidence on the Internet, or in trade magazines.

  “No, I have not done a search to fill the head chef position.” The stiff answer contradicted his actions of picking up the contract and shaking the papers.

  “Then, I’ll prove to you I’m the woman for the job.” Grabbing the papers, she set them on the wobbly table and signed with a flourish.

  He would never doubt her loyalty or her gumption. She’d get the head chef position and prove to everyone she could be professional. A great head chef.

  After leaving Parker, Isabel marched back into the dining room, determined to celebrate. Groups of two, four, or more gathered together. Toasting, cheering, kissing. She stood alone, surveying the scene. No longer attending in her work capacity, she was free to join friends from town. She wanted to savor the moment, though. In a few weeks, she’d be in charge of the restaurant producing this magnificence.

  The tables had been set with white linen tablecloths and colorful napkins. Crystal glasses filled with Champagne and wine. China plates scattered with the remnants of the finest appetizers and main courses created.

  Created by her and her staff.

  Satisfaction bubbled in her bones. Her passion to create food for people to enjoy had come to fruition. This was the best menu The Heights restaurant had prepared, and even though her title at the moment said sous chef, she’d been the major driving force of the production. A tingle skittered down her spine. Even though the official announcement of her promotion hadn’t been confirmed, she practically ran the kitchen with Chef Françoise at her side. She knew he supported her as head chef.

  She slipped her foot out of the five-inch red stilettos and stretched her toes. Her gaze traveled the plate of desserts a waiter carried into the room. The Crème brûlée, Bread pudding, and Vanilla Custard Framboise tempted. As-soon-to-be head chef, she wanted everything to be perfect. Her reputation—and the restaurant’s—were important.

  The current head chef, Françoise Trianon, stood nearby, and thoughts of her happy future slipped from her mind. Now he was retiring, she’d miss his French accent and his stern instructions, miss his practical and yet passionate approach to cooking. Miss him.

  He wore the white chef’s coat and hat, not having changed like Isabel, who wore a bright-red, shimmery cocktail dress. Her reddish-gold locks had been piled on top of her head, hidden under her chef’s hat until changing for the party.

  Chef’s gray hair peeked from under the puffy hat. His sharp, blue gaze took in everything. Putting her shoe back on, she approached, and his wrinkled face broke into a genial smile.

  Isabel kissed both his weathered cheeks. “Another fabulous display of food, Chef.”

  His shoulders settled into a pleased posture. “Thanks to you and our entire crew. I will miss everyone when I retire.”

  “I’ll miss you.” Her eyes stung. She placed a hand on his upper arm and gave it a squeeze. “The kitchen won’t be the same without you.”

  “The kitchen will not be the same because it is being completely remodeled.” His purely-practical tone represented Chef’s personality accurately.

  The remodel would take three weeks. The best appliances, new counters and cabinets, new pots and pans and utensils. A thrill went through her at working with brand new everything. She rubbed her hands together, anticipating whipping up a soufflé or baking a brioche.

  “It’s strange Parker is closing the kitchen during the town’s busiest season.” An uneasiness slithered across her skin, remembering Parker’s nervousness. She tried not to let it dampen her enthusiasm.

  The Castle Ridge Lodge was located at the edge of the slopes. The town of Castle Ridge was known for its skiing, and the hotel rooms were booked solid from Thanksgiving through spring break.

  “Parker made arrangements for local restaurants to fill the gap, although there’s nothing on par with The Heights.” Chef took both her hands in his wrinkled ones. “No need to think about it while you’re on a fabulous three-week vacation.”

  A smile slid onto her face. Three weeks on the beach in Mexico. Sun, sand, and hot guys. So different than Castle Ridge with snow, skiing, and slippery roads. Isabel loved living in Castle Ridge, but she hadn’t taken a vacation in years.

  “I won’t think about it at all.” She forced the words out, hoping they were true.

  “Have fun on your trip.” Chef kissed her fingers and took his leave.

  Danielle Marstrand, her best friend since high school, moved toward her with a handsome, professional skier on her arm. Luke Logan had been Danielle’s high school boyfriend, who’d departed town for a ski career and left her pregnant and alone. Not that he’d known any of it.

  “Happy New Year!” Isabel hugged Danielle.

  Her shoulder-length brown hair had been styled with curls and glitter, yet it was the radiant expression beaming with love for the man beside her making her shine. “Happy New Year to you, too.”

  Happiness for her friend fueled Isabel’s own hopes. If her friend could find her one true love after years and years, maybe she could find hers, eventually. Heaven knew she’d dated enough men, and planned to continue the auditions on this vacation.

  She bussed Luke on the cheek. A gorgeous guy who she’d never flirted with, because he only had feelings for her friend. “You two look so happy.”

  His grin never left his handsome face. His green eyes and blond hair caught the attention of several females in the area. He’d always been a ladies’ magnet.

  “We are.” Luke kissed Danielle longingly on the lips.

  They were so cute together. Their love had lasted through years of separation and hateful miscommunication, until they’d finally found their happy ever after.

  “Look at those shoes.” She squealed, pointing at Isabel’s feet.

  Lifting her foot in the air, she showed off the details. The fire-engine red leather was highlighted with faux diamonds crisscrossing at the toe and heel. The five-inch heel was made of a stenciled metal with a wicked point. “Gorgeous, right?”

  “You and your shoes.”

  “A girl’s gotta have one passion.” Besides, she loved the attention from the males.

  Danielle shook her head in awe. “I wouldn’t make it five minutes in shoes that high.”

  “I wouldn’t want men staring at your legs in heels that high,” Luke teased.

  A short pang traveled through Isabel. She’d never had a man who cherished and protected her. Except her two brothers, and they didn’t count. “You two have a lot to celebrate.”

  “A wedding, my college graduation,” Danielle hugged Luke closer. “And signing contracts for our new bed-and-breakfast.”

  “Life is so exciting for you both right now.”

  “It will be for you too, someday.” Her sympathy brought warmth to Isabel’s chest, and a burning sensation to her eyes.

  She was tired of waiting for someday.

  “Want to dance?” Luke asked his soon-to-b
e wife.

  With a quick goodbye, they were off.

  Couple after couple swayed to the music on the dance floor. They canoodled and kissed.

  Isabel wavered and leaned against a gold balustrade. Envy softened her stance. That’s what she wanted. To find a man where she got lost in his kiss. The past few years, she’d dated plenty. Lots of first dates. Not a lot of relationships. Her friends thought she was an impossible flirt. And she was, but only because she was searching for…something.

  Someone.

  “Ten!” The crowd started counting with the DJ.

  Searching? She shook off the unusual funk. She was going to Mexico tomorrow, and planned to have fun, fun, fun. She didn’t need a man to make her happy.

  “Nine!”

  She’d been distracted, and still had to find her perfect guy for tonight. Couples started getting together. Champagne glasses were topped. The decibel level in the room grew higher. At this point, she’d settle for the not-so-perfect man, as she’d been doing her entire life.