had.
Knowing to shut up once he’d made his pitch, Krux simply leaned forward to kiss her good night. Her lips softened and parted beneath the pressure of his, but he kept the caress light before breaking it. At the same moment, her driver pulled up and opened the door for her. With a parting smile, he walked away. Krux knew in that moment that she was going to take the bait.
Chapter Three
A Hard Man to Resist
Late the next afternoon, Katra added the last dash of spice to the measuring bowl and mixed it in. Gathered around her in the food lab of Ti Sala Spices, Inc., the leading brand of packaged spice mixes for the home cook, was the rest of her taster team. They each dipped a tiny tester spoon into her new concoction, gave it a careful sniff to gauge the olfactory appeal, and then tried a concentrated dollop on their tongues. Later, they’d experiment with various meals using the blend, but this was stage one.
“I like it,” one of the men announced. “It’s exotic, but I think it will appeal to a variety of palates.”
The rest of the tasters, Katra’s employees, nodded in agreement and studied her reaction. She’d founded Ti Sala Spices when she was in her mid twenties and had worked hard to build her company into the name brand it was today. Her workers’ opinions mattered a great deal to her, but she ultimately had the last word on any new blend.
Rolling the potent mix on her tongue, she closed her eyes and tried to compare it to the marvelous dumplings she’d had last night. The flavor was close, if not spot on. She couldn’t wait to try it with various meats and vegetables to see how the spices interacted with different pairings.
She returned a satisfied smile. “I like it too. Dumplings are too complicated for the casual cook—too hard to get the right texture—but I’m thinking we should run some trials on the stuffing.”
“With the right thickness, the stuffing could be a topper for bread or pasta,” one of the women chimed in.
“Or it could be a cracker spread!” Another taster clapped her hands excitedly.
Pleased with their zeal, Katra nodded in approval. “Let’s get started on that right away. I’d like to begin a trial production and get this new package on the shelves for our busy season. Legal is already drawing up a contract with the owners of the dumpling restaurant. I’m offering them a percentage of the profits and hope to arrange a cross-promotion effort. They can sell our spices through the restaurant, and in return, their food will tempt those who might not have tried the blend otherwise.”
Everyone looked pleased.
Glancing at the clock, she realized it was just past quitting time. With a shooing motion, she sent her workers on their way before removing her apron and sanitary gloves. She often lost track of time when she was absorbed in the flavor universe, but her mind switched gears quickly as she headed out the door.
Throughout the day, Katra had reversed her decision more than once concerning whether or not she’d go out with Krux. The man was an overbearing, arrogant brute. He was obviously used to commanding others, especially women. She’d never been one to bow to anyone, and she didn’t plan to start now. On the flip side, though, his controlling demeanor and fierce sexuality might make him the perfect lover for a Duosien female, especially one who’d gone as long without release as she had.
A one-night stand. That’s all it would be. She’d scratch an itch and save her sanity from her rioting hormones. And if he couldn’t sate her like he promised? Well, then she’d have the pleasure of teasing him mercilessly about his ineptitude and chipping away at his inflated ego.
Katra greeted her driver and hopped into her vehicle. Once she got home, she’d have just enough time to shower, dress, and do her makeup before her stubborn Brachoi showed up. Although she was half tempted to mock him by wearing sloppy workout wear and a plain face, she decided