Never Ever Satisfied (The Perfect Date Book 4) Read online

  Never Ever Satisfied

  Another Romantic Comedy With Attitude

  Donna McDonald

  THE PERFECT DATE, Book 4

  Copyright © 2017 by Donna McDonald

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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

  This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

  Cover by MYST Partners

  Edited by MYST Partners and Madison Kamer

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  The Perfect Date Series

  Book Description

  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

  Epilogue

  Note From The Author

  Excerpt from Book 5: Never Be Her Hero

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Excerpt: The Wrong Todd

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  Other Books By This Author

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to my partners in writing crime, J.M. Madden and Robyn Peterman. My writing journey would not be the same without you.

  Thanks to Maddie for proofreading and helping me make this a much better book.

  Dedication

  This story is for all the chefs who feed me…

  Thank you!

  The Perfect Date Series

  The essence of all romantic comedy is that falling in love and navigating an unexpected romance is never easy or simple. Instead, it’s messy and emotional, and if you’re lucky, it’s also sexy and fun.

  Some relationship professionals, like my character of Dr. Mariah Bates in this series, sincerely want to help people find their perfect love match. For the feisty heroines I’ve created, many of whom are older, Mariah’s going to need all the help she can get. Or maybe she just needs to step out of the way. You can be the judge.

  NOTE ABOUT THE HEAT LEVEL: Not being a fan of the word “clean” when applied to romance, I will instead say the heat level in this new series is in the 1-2 range, rather than 3-4 like some of my others. The focus is on sensuality and I’ve packed a lot into these stories.

  Book Description

  If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Right?

  That’s easier said than done when Chef Trudy Baker has to cohost the cooking show of a former love, Chef Jack Dozen. Problem is Jack’s a jilted former love who would rather throw Trudy into the fire than share the spotlight with her.

  Sexy Jack has all the right ingredients for the perfect man... except he’s too young for her. He’s also her guilty secret—one she never told anyone about.

  Trudy’s romantically happy friends are insisting she get happy too, which is the only reason she signed up with The Perfect Date. Dating sounds nice in theory, but in practice, the only place Trudy ever gets hot these days is in the kitchen.

  Her saner self knows she's better off dating a mature man closer to her own age than a cocky idiot who’s spent the last decade hating her. The recipe of the network putting them together on TV is one that spells disaster. The only thing she and Jack ever cooked up together was trouble.

  Maybe trouble is the ingredient she’s been missing…

  Chapter One

  “Whether you like Chef Baker or not is moot, Jack. She’s the boost you need to convince the network affiliate to take your show national. The big guys all have guests and they play nice with them.”

  Jack studied Luke’s bland expression. He wondered if his producer thought hiding behind his giant desk would keep him safe. Luke was a hard man to read at times, but Jack had gotten pretty good at it over the years they’d worked together.

  “Why does my show need a boost? The network had enough faith to give me the show when she left. Don’t you think that choice made her angry at me? Chef Baker has no reason on earth to want to help me. ”

  “You’re being unreasonable about this and Trudy’s already said yes,” Luke stated firmly.

  Jack gave a disgusted grunt. “You know me, Luke. You know I need the money this job brings in, and I’ve never questioned anything you’ve asked me to do…”

  Luke barked out a laugh. “Who are you trying to kid, Jack? You questioned everything for years. You’ve only stopped that crap in the last few. I thought you were never going to learn to trust me.”

  “Some would say I’ve grown up in that time. Even you have to admit my temper’s been tamed. I care about different things now and I have a lot at stake here,” Jack argued.

  Luke snorted and held up a hand. “Stop. Let me break out a violin first. You can play your sad song while I work to save your ungrateful ass. Trudy Baker is the best chance we have of getting you what you deserve. The network people loved the idea of her being on your show, even as a guest.”

  Jack glared at his producer. “Why? The woman’s loud, bossy, and obnoxious to work with.”

  “So are you,” Luke said firmly. “The difference is Trudy’s a solid national celebrity whose successful show got picked up during the first year. She only quit the limelight because she wanted to do other things. And if she hadn’t retired, there wouldn’t have been a freaking job for you to get. Like it or not, Jack, you’re following in her famous footsteps. Make the most of it.”

  “Tell me something then—what’s in this for her?” Jack asked.

  Shrugging, Luke shook his head. “Money… and trust me she asked for a very solid amount. Plus, it will make her fans happy to see her on the air again. I don’t know all her reasons. Maybe she was feeling nostalgic when I asked. With Trudy, you never can tell how she’s going to react to a request.”

  “Exactly my point,” Jack said, lifting a hand. “I don’t like the idea of this segment and I don’t like her.”

  “In this business not liking someone doesn’t fly as a reason not to use them to help raise your show’s popularity. It’s a segment of twelve one week guest spots. The other four days your show will go on just like it always has. You can deal with her for one day a week.”

  “My life will never be the same if I have to deal with her,” Jack said.

  “Jack… you’re being too dramatic. Maybe this is just you feeling intimidated a little. I agree Trudy’s a force to be reckoned with, but she’s also a pretty nice person.”

  “You don’t know her like I do,” Jack said bitterly.

  “I know her better than you do if you can’t see I’m right about her,” Luke said, rubbing his chin.

  Having reached a stand-off, they just stared at each other. Jack blinked and looked away first, even knowing it was the wrong thing to do. His brain was running through other possible ways to convince Luke not to do this, but he was all out of reasons that didn’t reveal the emotional hell he’
d gone through—hell, still went through—over a woman who couldn’t care less about him or his career.

  “I feel very strongly about this, Luke,” Jack said finally, unwilling to share the details. His preferences should be enough at this point.

  Knowing Trudy was due any moment, Luke decided to play the ace he’d been holding back. “Fine, Jack. Don’t do this segment because it’s right for your career. Do it for St. Christopher’s and the boys. Aren’t they worth putting up with Chef Baker for twelve short weeks? Imagine what you could do with all the extra money you’ll make from the show going national. How do you think Trudy managed to buy her restaurants? She didn’t do it from hosting a local TV show.”

  Jack crossed his arms. There was no argument good enough to refute the massive responsibilities at St. Christopher’s that he would willingly take on again if given the choice. Yes. He wanted to be selfish and refuse because he really, really did not want to interact with the woman who had broken his heart. But he hadn’t been able to have his way in much for the last fifteen years. It was like the universe kept conspiring to keep him from having a peaceful, happy life.

  “Three weeks, Luke… and three shows. Not twelve,” Jack insisted, hoping for a miracle.

  “Nope. Got to be twelve to be effective. Three weeks won’t raise the numbers enough,” Luke insisted back.

  Swearing under his breath over Luke’s unwillingness to flex on the issue, for the first time in years Jack turned his back before temper got the better of him.

  He’d never really bought into the whole bad karma thing, but now he would have to rethink his stance. The emotional hurt Chef Trudy Baker had caused him years ago had continued to affect him for his entire adult life. Maybe this was his chance to get over her. Maybe he could look at it that way.

  “Trudy will be here any minute,” Luke said. “Be nice. We need her.”

  Jack glared at his producer, and sometimes friend.

  Maybe he couldn’t avoid working with the woman who continued to haunt him, but he’d quit before giving her the satisfaction of knowing he still cared.

  They didn’t make money green enough to make him play nice the way Luke was hoping.

  Dressing up was like putting on armor and every female she knew was versed in it by the time she was thirteen.

  Today Trudy was seeing a man who had once considered her attractive enough to kiss. While she held no thoughts of rekindling anything, she didn’t want him having one of those “What was I thinking?” moments when he saw how old she’d gotten.

  She didn’t often admit she had that kind of vanity… but she did.

  She’d carefully air-dried her multi-toned hair into soft waves before pulling on a white, daisy covered summer dress that still fit. She couldn’t bring herself to wear the white three-inch matching heels that would make her legs look longer and thinner. No, she was a couple decades away from a time in her life when causing her feet abject misery seemed necessary. A woman over fifty, or so she told herself these days, would bravely pair the cute dress with beaded white sandals.

  The result had looked pretty good in the mirror and Trudy was grateful now for the pedicure Jellica had insisted she get. The wedge heels on the shoes weren’t too bad to walk in, though they were nothing like the supportive sneakers she wore when cooking. Still, she filed the whole outfit away in her mind, one worthy to be moved from the red room treasures of her former career into her bedroom closet.

  The outfit greatly helped her feel confident as she walked alongside one of the TV station’s poorly paid interns. As tight-fisted with money as the station manager was, the girl was probably working for college credit and nothing more.

  Trudy was proud of herself for not complaining to the girl and asking why the producer hadn’t come to meet her. Her mood worsened though as she neared Luke’s office and heard two male voices raised in argument. It didn’t take much to figure out the problem since she heard Luke calmly repeating her name over and over while Jack kept saying “she” and “her” with venom in his voice.

  Trudy couldn’t bring herself to smile at the nervous girl, but she did nod and whisper thanks. The barely twenty-something spun and sprinted back the way they’d come like the building was on fire. So much for the kid’s career in TV if two men arguing managed to intimidate her.

  Did she really have any right to judge though? Trudy stared at the partially open door and suddenly felt too bone weary to face the challenge inside. Why was she here again? Oh, yes… her old producer, and the station, had offered her gobs of money and something creatively interesting to do for three months.

  And the boost could get Jack’s show picked up by the national affiliate.

  Of course, the two of them trying to talk after all this time was potentially explosive. Was she looking for the kind of drama Jack Dozen seemed to bring to her life? No, she certainly wasn’t, but she wasn’t one to back down from it either, especially not when the chance to clear her conscience once and for all beckoned.

  Plus, her best friend Georgia’s snarky comments about her lackluster breakfast eggs hadn’t helped. That failed experiment had been enough to keep her out of both her restaurants for a couple weeks now. She’d perfected the food they served years ago. Her well-paid chefs just needed to rotate the entrées more so customers didn’t get bored.

  Sometimes her involvement in the restaurants only made things worse, which made her feel useless. That feeling always irritated her and left her at loose ends about how to fix it, which was why she’d accepted this current ridiculous offer.

  In the bigger picture, working together was going to resurrect old feelings between her and Jack that were probably better left buried alongside their other youthful indiscretions. After fifteen years, the dead horse of their rivalry needed burying instead of kicking. Wasn’t it kismet that the Baker’s Dozen segment might lead to something mutually rewarding for both of them?

  Not bothering to knock, Trudy pushed on the already cracked door until it was wide enough for her to enter. The older, bearded man behind the desk looked vastly relieved to see her appear. The handsome younger man standing with his arms crossed looked like he’d shoot her if someone handed him a loaded gun.

  That realization brought a real, albeit evil smile to her face for the first time since she’d helped Georgia get ready for her date with Brent. She tossed her head to send her hair swinging a bit around her face. If she were being brutally honest with herself, apathy from the handsome man in front of her would have been much worse to face after all this time. Seeing hate was actually a relief… or the dress had worked. It was hard to tell. Whatever the cause of his extreme reaction, Jack Dozen’s obvious resentment of her appearing on his show at least cranked the entertainment value up by a factor of ten.

  They just had to settle a bit of old business first.

  She gave Luke a big smile. “Hello, Luke. It’s been a while.”

  “Yes, it has. It’s been too long. I was getting tired of only talking on the phone,” Luke said gruffly, getting up to come around and give her a hug. “Thanks for coming by today so we can chat about the details.”

  Trudy hugged back, grunting as Luke squeezed her hard. She ignored the glare Jack was giving her over Luke’s shoulder, mostly because she didn’t care about the younger chef’s opinion of her hugging a friend.

  In her fifteen years on the air, she’d suffered frequently from the venomous attitudes of co-hosts, guests, and even audience members. Jack’s frown over her hugging Luke? It didn’t even phase her. A big part of her was still—and would always be—the local celebrity, Chef Trudy Baker, who was well known for the size of her ego about her work.

  Ignoring Jack for a moment, she focused on Luke, keeping one hand on his arm. “The contract’s out to my lawyer, but Rodney will have it back to me in a couple days. I didn’t see any big problems with it when I looked over it. That’s why I came in when you asked.”

  “Good. Good,” Luke said, rubbing his beard. He lifted a hand and poin
ted. “You remember Jack Dozen, don’t you?”

  Trudy turned, lifted an eyebrow. “Of course, I do. Hello, Jack. Good to see you again.” She smiled, knowing he couldn’t ignore her pleasantries without looking like the eccentric ass he was well known to be.

  Jack’s mouth twisted into a grimace before he spoke. “Chef Baker,” he said tightly.

  Trudy smiled at hearing him say her title instead of her name. She liked Jack using it because it meant this wasn’t going to be personal for him, even if it had been said with a very sarcastic tone.

  “What’s wrong, Chef Dozen? Afraid to share the limelight with me?” she asked, going straight for Jack’s celebrity balls. Guesting was never going to work if the star of the show was resentful. “I thought every student dreamed of getting a chance to show up their old teacher. This is yours. You should embrace it.”

  Jack snorted. “My teacher? That’s a rather subtle dig.”

  “Is it?” Trudy asked, giving Jack a wide-eyed look. “I didn’t mean for it to be subtle. I meant for it to be blunt.”

  “Right. I forgot who I was talking to for a moment,” Jack said dryly.

  Trudy grinned at the insult, earning herself another glare.