“They’re here.” Bandit stalked to her side. “Take a deep breath, darlin’. Now, smile. Your tasting menu’s delicious, eclectic, and a complete winner. If this idiot can’t recognize you’re a five star chef, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

Tania shot him a grateful glance. “I can’t thank you enough.”

She swept a glance around the other Prymal members. “All of you. I couldn’t have finished all this without you. I owe you each and every one of you. Big time.”

“Did we tell you our newly adopted motto? All for one and one for all.” The Kydd smiled at her.

Jurango studied the ceiling for a brief second and shook his head.

The back door eased open.

“That’s quite the tale, Sidonie.” Axe’s deep voice resonated through the kitchen.

Tania held her breath, her gaze glued to the widening space between the door and the kitchen wall. She blinked. Knuckled her eyes and re-focused.

A walking sex bomb pranced into the room.

The curvaceous woman had to be no more than five feet, but the six inch stilettos she wore thrust an alluring décolletage forward, and gave her the illusion of height.

She shot Axe what could only be described as a come-f**k-me, sex-kitten smile. “Querido call me Sid. Everyone does. Hmmm, this kitchen smells so delish, I’m about to have a foodie-orgasm.”

Tania bit her tongue. Fisted her hands. She had just so lost the job of chef at The Grape Escape. If ‘Sid’ so much as touched Axe the woman would have two black eyes and be thrown down the deck stairs.

Wild strawberry blonde curls danced around tanned, muscle-defined bare shoulders when Sid did a half pirouette. Her piercing blue eyes honed onto Jurango, slouched in his usual corner between the fridge and the counter. She waved slender fingers with oval-shaped lilac-painted nails. Her focus never wavered from Jurango. “Introduce me, Axe.”

Tania worked her jaw when the sleaze planted one hand on her hip and assumed a perfect red-carpet-pose.

Eva sidled closer to Tania. “What the heck is she not wearing?”

‘Sid’ almost wore a jeans skirt, a mauve spaghetti-strapped tank top with a short unzipped denim jacket. The pastel purple tank should’ve clashed with her hair, but instead somehow made her perfect ringlet curls glow. The skirt’s hem just, just brushed the apex of Sid’s shapely and toned thighs.

Tania barely managed to jerk her thoughts from murderous mayhem when Axe said, “Sid, this is my fiancée, Tania. Tania, meet Sidonie, the owner of The Grape Escape. Sid, in order, meet Eva, Jurango, The Kydd, Bandit, and Lycus.”

Tania spread her lips. Snarled, “Hello Sid. You’re late, Axe.”

Axe quirked a brow.

“Oh, dahling, don’t blame your hunky man. It was all my fault. I had to clean up a little ‘situation’ at the wine bar.” Sid beamed and ringed a finger around the tank’s neckline.

Not once had Sid looked Tania’s way.

The woman couldn’t haul her stare from Jurango’s scowling face. “Jurango, was it? Such an unusual name. Are you part of Tania’s cooking retinue?”

Jurango straightened. “No ma’am. I’m a simple ranch hand. With work to do. Later.”

Sid flinched as if struck physically. She recovered her aplomb in a millisecond and flashed a flawless, dimpled smile. Bright pink washed over her cheeks, but she firmed her chin, and traced Jurango’s rapid exit. Inspected the floor for a mere half a heartbeat. Took a deep inhale. “Not one for words, your Jurango.”

“Don’t take it personally, darlin’. He’s like that with everyone.” Bandit’s pleasant tone belied the anger glistening in his blue-black eyes.

Thumb hooked in a belt loop, the Kydd ambled over to Sidonie, and flashed her the smile that had won the retired UFC fighter turned actor a million followers on Facebook. He tipped his Stetson back to a rakish angle and drawled, “An absolute pleasure to meet you, sugah. The Grape Escape’s just become my favorite watering hole. I’ll round up my Hollywood buddies for the grand opening. Anything else you need, sugah, just whistle. I’ll get your cell from Tania later. Expect my call. It pains me to have to leave, but I’ve a prior commitment.”

Stunned, Tania couldn’t do anything but stare at The Kydd. She missed Sidonie’s reply to The Kydd’s declaration, and traced him as he strolled out the kitchen doorway.

Axe, looking prickle-pear cactus irritated, engaged Sidonie in a low conversation.

“Is it me, or did Kydd Kolton just announce Sidonie’s his newest f**k target?” Eva whispered.

Tania managed to retrieve her jaw from the floor. “Wow. I do believe that we just witnessed the formation of a sexual triangle inferno.”

“The static electricity in this room could fuel half of San Diego.” Eva did a mock-swipe of her forehead. “Whew.”

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