Alphas & Millionaires Starter Set Read online

  usa today bestselling author

  BROOKE CUMBERLAND

  Copyright © 2013 Brooke Cumberland

  Copyright © 2014 Brooke Cumberland

  Copyright © 2015 Brooke Cumberland

  www.brookecumberland.com

  Kitchen Affairs

  Spark

  The Intern, Vol. 1

  Bad Girlfriend

  Alphas & Millionaires Starter Set cover photography by FuriousFotog, Cover design by Perfect Pear Creative Covers,

  Kitchen Affairs cover design by Quirky Bird, Cover photography by Perrywinkle Photography, Models: Alexa Lawrence and Malcolm Peck

  Spark cover photography & designer: Sara Eirew Photography, Cover models: Danys Flamand and Synthia Vignola

  The Intern, Vol. 1 cover photography by K Keeton Designs, Cover design by Perfect Pear Creative Covers, Cover models: Tessi Le’Anne and Matthew H. Samson

  Bad Girlfriend cover photography by Mae I Design and Photography, Cover design by Quirky Bird

  Literary Editor: Kiezha Ferrell of Librum Artis Editorial Services

  All rights reserved. No parts of the book may be used or reproduced in any matter without written permission from the author, except for inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

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

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to another person except when loaned out per Amazon’s lending program. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then it was pirated illegally. Please purchase a copy of your own and respect the hard work of this author.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  DANGEROUS TEMPTATIONS EXCERPT

  PUSHING THE LIMITS EXCERPT

  BOOKS BY BROOKE

  From USA Today Bestselling Author comes a sexy debut novel in the first of The Riverside Trilogy...

  Drake Stagliano is a high maintenance man from a wealthy empire family in Chicago. He managers The Riverside Hotel/Restaurant where he only expects the absolute best. With a past filled with being used and heartbreak, the last thing he expects is to find a woman he can't control himself around—a chef intern.

  Molly Woods is not your typical 23 year old. She's in her last semester of culinary school and interning at Drake's restaurant. She's closed dating off her list—her only priorities are finishing school & her 4 year old daughter. When Molly is pursued by Drake, she does everything she can to deny the chemistry and sexual tension. However, that doesn't last long & she finds herself completely captivated by him.

  When an intimate video goes public, Molly's internship and credibility is threatened. She's lusts for the one man she's been able to connect with after the sudden death of her late fiancé - but can Drake hold on for the emotional ride? Molly will need to let go of her past in order let Drake in, but can she let go of something that meant so much to her in the first place?

  Fall in love with this steamy & romantic story of two people who find each other just when they both need someone the most.

  *For mature adults 18+ for sexual content and language*

  PROLOGUE

  Drake

  From the moment I walked into the conference hall, my eyes were drawn to her. She was wearing a gorgeous, red dress with black stilettos. Simple, but stunning. Her long, dark hair lay beautifully down her back with loose curls at the end. She was standing next to someone, holding a drink in one hand and twirling the straw with the other. She looked bored, at best. I couldn’t blame her. These orientation gatherings typically were. They were the official meet-and-greets for the new interns for the semester.

  I stood on the other side of the hall and stared at her for a moment, memorized by her. She reminded me of a painting, simply stunning but with a mysterious theme behind it. I couldn’t help wanting to figure her out.

  I lost all track of time staring at her and almost didn’t notice it was time for my opening speech. Clearing my throat and adjusting my tie, I made my way to the stage.

  I always started the night off with a welcome speech to all the new interns; I was in charge of the internship program for the restaurant and carefully picked applicants I thought would benefit from working here.

  The more I looked at her, the more I needed to know who she was. I wanted to hear her voice. I wasn’t a man who was easily affected by women, because the sea was filled with a lifetime supply, but there was just something about the way she looked. She stood with confidence and nonchalance, almost as if she could do this in her sleep.

  “Welcome. Thank you all for coming here tonight, celebrating a new stage in your career. Riverside is excited to have you become a part of our family! You will struggle, you will fail, and best of all, you will succeed. If you don’t struggle, and if you don’t learn to fail, you will never know what it feels like to succeed. So, before you get down on yourself, remember that. This program is challenging, time-consuming, and, at times, mentally exhausting, but I promise you that it will all be worth it.” As I was speaking, I tried my hardest to scan the room and make eye contact with the other interns and staff, but it was hard to peel my eyes away from her. Just as I was telling a joke and ending my speech, it happened. She laughed and smiled so big it made her cheeks turn pink. She has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen—carefree and full of life. It made me wonder if she had ever experienced heartbreak in her short life. I certainly hoped she hadn’t.

  “Mr. Moore, I need to know that woman’s name,” I told my assistant, nodding my head in her direction.

  “Yes, sir.” I watched as he walked out of the room, punching keys into his cell.

  I keep my distance from her, but I could find her in a crowded room in a heartbeat. She stood out amongst the rest and she didn’t even know it. She stood with grace, casually chatting with the other interns around her.

  Wren Fields, a business partner of mine, came to stand next to me. He started talking about some project and how the shareholders were complaining about something—I wasn’t paying attention anymore. I was starring at her from across the room, hoping she tilt her head up just enough to lock eyes with me.

  I didn’t even know her name yet, but I was fixated on her. The longer I watched her, the more she reminded me of a young Kate Middleton—classy and elegant, gorgeous and sophisticated. I knew I was being obtuse, but I was rarely wrong about people.

  Fighting the urge to walk over there and sweep her away from the crowd, I kept my distance, but just close enough to hear the sweet sound of her laughter again. It made me smile to myself, but when she brought a hand up to brush the strands of hair out of her face when I saw it.

  The ring on her left hand.

  I was in denial the second I noticed it. She didn’t look like any older than twenty-three, maybe twenty-four. Most interns in the program were not married, and for some reason, I felt like there was no way. Engaged? Perhaps. I was determined to find out.

  “Mr. Stagliano?” My assistant spoke from behind me, grabbing my attention. “I have that information you asked me about.” I could see a manila folder under his arm. Her file.

  Wren finally took the hint and took off, patting a hand on my shoulder as if we were friends outside of work. We weren’t.

  “Let me have it, please.” I reached out and took it from his hand. “Thank you.” Walking away, I opened the file and began search
ing it over.

  “Molly Woods,” I read quietly to myself. “Twenty-three, scholarship applicant, lives in Chicago, graduated high school with honors.” I continued skimming the file, in hopes of finding any information that’d be helpful. As I scanned my eyes lower, I finally found it. At the bottom where it asked for the emergency contact was a man’s name, but it didn’t say spouse, it read roommate.

  So perhaps she wasn’t engaged after all.

  I allowed my mind to run with reasons she’d be wearing a ring on her ring finger, such as it was a family heirloom, maybe it was the only finger it’d fit her, or she was wearing it as a means of professional, in hopes it’d gain her respect from her peers. Whatever the reason, I had to find out.

  After returning the file to my assistant, I walked back in the conference hall and immediately started looking for her again. The orientation mixer was a nice way for the interns to meet each other and get all the information they’d need for that semester.

  I watched as she playfully twirled her hair around her finger and sipped on her drink. I noticed a guy walking up to her and my face tightened as I watched him take a seat next to her. She was giving him the cold shoulder, avoiding his eye contact and presence all together . It was obvious he was making her nervous and uncomfortable, but I forced myself to not get involved. Not here.

  As the orientation ended, she finished her drink and gathered her things. She waved to her friend and as she walked out the door, I felt a pang of loneliness. I was drawn to her, and I didn’t know why. I’d never experienced anything like it before, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it.

  I knew it wasn’t normal to feel like this with someone I hadn’t even met yet. Even if she could end up have the same feelings, it could never turn into anything—at least while she was interning at the Riverside. It’d be breaking so many work policies and ethic codes, but I also knew that deep down I really didn’t care. I would risk it for her.

  If she wanted me to.

  CHAPTER 1

  My mind wondered as I reached for a stainless steel pot on the highest shelf, thinking of all the things I have to do this weekend. I felt cool air from the ceiling vent blow against my cheek and send a shiver down my body. I stood on my tiptoes, reaching higher when an unfamiliar, raspy voice sounds behind me.

  “Are you married?”

  A harsh shiver tingled down my spine again, making me realize it wasn’t the vent that made my body react in the first place.

  I quickly turned around, startled by the misplaced question, and blinked my eyes up to a tall man who screamed power and success.

  It was Mr. Stagliano—the Drake Stagliano.

  He looked intense, his dark brown eyes matching his tousled light brown hair. His lips curled up in a wicked grin, and I had to blink again just to make sure it really was him standing in front of me.

  “No,” I replied in a little more than a whisper, my voice shaky and uneasy.

  He jerked his angular jaw toward my left hand, questioning the diamond on my ring finger. I haven’t taken it off since the day Liam proposed four years ago. Even though we’re no longer getting married, I still wore it as a reminder of the love we once shared.

  I continued staring nervously at him as he stood, looking completely flawless, with both hands in his front pants pockets. He’s dressed in a sleek, black suit and tie.

  His intense stare knocked me out of my trance enough to finally answer him. “I was engaged a long time ago,” was the only explanation I could give him. I swallowed and turned back around, grabbing the pot and utensils I needed to finish my cooking assignment.

  I turned back around, his stance even more rigid than before. “Then why do you still wear it?” he asked, keeping his eyes glued on me as I moved throughout the kitchen.

  “As a reminder,” I said seriously, keeping my eyes down as I avoid his. “And to keep danger away,” I added, grinning to myself as I walked back to my counter.

  “Danger, huh?” I heard him ask as he followed me.

  “Keeps men away.” I shrugged, trying to keep a straight face. “Usually,” I drew out slowly. He wasn’t the first man since Liam to hit on me.

  “That’s quite misleading, Miss Woods.” I brought my eyes up to his finally, his face as tense and serious as his tone. How’d he know my name? “Why not wear it on your right hand then?”

  God, he’s intrusive.

  “Molly,” I corrected. “I haven’t taken it off since—” My mind flashed to the moment Liam bent down on his knee, his palms sweaty and clammy, asking me to marry him. Of course, I cried and immediately agreed. We were expecting our first child together, and I was four months along already but only eighteen years old. We were young and in love and just starting our family. It was everything I had dreamed it would be. Until he died. “—the day it was put on,” I managed to finish.

  “What happened?” he asked with a look of concern. It was nice of him to sound sympathetic, but I don’t know him, and I don’t open up to just anyone.

  This was also the last place I wanted to talk about Liam. The kitchen was my safe place and cooking kept my mind free of pain. I could lose myself with detailed tasks and creating new ideas. I loved cooking in high school, and after I had Stella, I immediately started looking into culinary schools. I wanted to be a chef and make food appealing and desirable. Being in the kitchen was the one place where my mind felt free.

  “I have to get back to my work if you don’t mind, Mr. Stagliano. I’m quite busy today,” I remarked, stammering over my own words. Heat rose up my neck and cheeks as he studied me longer. Mr. Stagliano wasn’t just Chicago’s most eligible and richest bachelor, he was my boss at the Riverside Hotel and Restaurant where I was currently doing my chef internship.

  Today was the first day of my last semester, and the home stretch to graduation was in only four months.

  I moved here almost three years ago, when Stella was only one year old. Chicago offered the best culinary schools in the country and when Kendall College granted me a scholarship, I jumped at the opportunity.

  In addition to interning three times a week, I also attend classes twice a week. My best friend, Michael, moved here with me to help with Stella while he focused on his writing career.

  On campus, we worked in professional-grade kitchens, learning different techniques about the science of food. In our last semester, we were given a choice of where to complete our internship. The Riverside Restaurant was one of the options this year, and since I’d hoped to work there someday, I applied for their program immediately.

  “Sure, sorry to have imposed.” He nodded and flashed a genuine smile. “Have a pleasant day.” I felt my cheeks redden by the unexpected attention from him. I’d done my research before I accepted the internship and knew of the Stagliano family. I also knew Drake was a womanizer and a well-known name in Chicago.

  But also, he was incredibly intimidating. And sexy-as-sin.

  I wasn’t one to get this nervous around attractive guys, but Drake was so much more than that. He’s not just any guy off the street with good looks and charm. He’s every women’s wet fantasy and dangerously tempting rolled into one recipe for disaster.

  I was lost in my thoughts until the pot dropped from my hand with a loud clatter to the floor. I realized I was watching him walk away, appreciating his solid body. A few of the other students glared over at me, annoyed that I disrupted them. I offered a small smile in a silent apology as I grabbed the pot off the floor and placed it back on the counter as quietly as I could.

  I’m relieved that Mr. Cooper gave us an easy assignment for our first lesson. We were to create a new sauce for a dish the restaurant developed—Shrimp Pesto Fettuccini.

  For the next three hours, I focused on my sauce. We had to follow the standard restaurant recipe but add in our own ingredients to taste.

  Happy with my new creation, I packed up and headed to the freezer. I placed the containers of my sauce on the shelf toward the back when I heard the door slam sh
ut behind me. Startled, I jumped and quickly spun around. My heart slammed into my chest as I saw who was in the freezer with me.

  Drake.

  “Hello…” I drew out softly, holding his intense stare.

  Why is he even in the kitchen? Doesn’t he work in the finance and business offices? Better yet, why is he in the freezer? I think to myself as I continue staring blankly at him.

  “Miss Woods, pleasant seeing you again.” He stood tall and confident, towering over me.

  “Molly,” I corrected him once again. It was all I could think of to say, before I cleared my throat and took a step toward him. “Excuse me,” I pressed, hoping he would move out of my way. He didn’t get the hint, so I shifted my body to walk around him, but he stepped right into me. His body was so close to mine, I could inhale his fresh and musky scent

  “Wait…” He grabbed my attention, my feet stalling in front of him. “I was wondering if you would have dinner with me?” His angular jaw relaxed and once I didn’t respond, he added, “Tonight.”

  I blinked up at him, wondering if I’d heard him correctly. “I’m sorry, what?” My body shivered as I tried processing what he just asked me.

  “Dinner. I’d like to have dinner with you.”

  Is he asking me out on a date? I thought to myself, my heart pounding faster. No way. He isn’t. He can’t be. Why would he be asking me on a date?

  I was drowning in my thoughts before I realized he was still waiting for my answer. “Sorry, I can’t.”

  He took another step closer, giving me absolutely no way to dodge him. “That’s a shame. Another time then.” He finally shifted his body, giving me room to maneuver around him and push the door open. I glanced over my shoulder at him with a straight expression, making sure I hadn’t just imagined the entire conversation happened. The corner of his lips tilted up in amusement as he followed me out the door and back into the kitchen.