Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 43856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43856 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
But then he lifted a single finger. "Please, do not tell anyone here that is my name."
I blinked. "Why not?"
"It is a secret."
I frowned. "A secret?”
“Yes. As far as this restaurant knows. . .my name is Hugo Lyon."
“But. . .it’s not?”
“It’s not.”
What the fuck?
I set the glass down. "So. . .what’s your real last name?"
"LaCrocq."
The pronunciation rolled off his tongue with a lazy, velvety richness—Lah-KROH.
My pulse jumped.
That sounded very old-money French.
But. . .why does he have a fake name?
And suddenly, something in my gut twisted.
I had no idea who I was actually sitting with.
My heart thumped as I leaned back just slightly, the realization washing over me like ice water.
Was this man crazy?
Or worse. . .
Was he married?
Because it was all too good to be true.
A devastatingly gorgeous Frenchman, alone on Valentine’s Day in the most exclusive restaurant in New York, choosing to spend his time with me?
My inner alarms started buzzing.
And Fabien must have sensed it because he smiled—a slow, knowing, devastatingly amused smile.
I swallowed. "So then. . .why did you give the restaurant a different name?"
He leaned my way, coming too dangerously close in a way that set my body on fire. And that lush cologne of his wrapped around my senses. "Rae.”
The way he said my name. . .well. . .it freaking made my pussy jump for the third time tonight.
Girl, you need to calm down. This man might be crazy.
I kept my gaze on him, even though he was so close I could fucking kiss him. In fact. . .I desperately wanted to kiss him. “Yes, Fabien?”
“Do you promise to keep a secret?"
I hesitated.
Then, slowly, I nodded. "Yes."
A flicker of mischief passed through his gaze.
And then, without another word, he slipped a hand into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and slowly opened it.
My stomach twisted, and anticipation crackled through my body.
And all I could think was. . .
What the hell is he about to show me?
Chapter five
Top Secret and Tempting
Rae
What could he be hiding?
I tried not to let my anticipation show, but my fingers curled subtly into my lap as I watched him pull the wallet open.
My nerves buzzed with an unexplainable energy.
And then—I saw it.
A sleek black ID card, crisp white lettering at the top and his sexy picture.
Then, I read the words.
Stellar Star Inspector.
My jaw damn near unhinged.
“No way.” My voice wasn’t a whisper, but it wasn’t loud either.
Still, my shock was palpable.
He didn’t move, didn’t react—just let me stare, let me process, let me marinate in this revelation.
My knowledge of the Stellar Star process wasn’t vast, but it was enough.
Enough to know that no one ever knew who these inspectors were—not the restaurant owners, not the chefs, not the staff, not even the guests who unknowingly sat around them.
And that secrecy was everything.
Because Stellar stars weren’t just awards. They were golden fucking tickets in the culinary world.
One Stellar star?
You had an absolutely great restaurant that was better than the rest in your area and definitely worth stopping by.
Two Stellar stars?
Exceptional.
A place worth altering all travel plans to experience this once in a lifetime dining adventure.
Three Stellar stars?
A masterpiece.
The kind of dining that made grown men and women cry.
The kind of place where reservations were booked years in advance and chefs became legends.
I looked at Fabien again, this man who had effortlessly made my body betray me multiple times tonight.
“You—” I blinked. “You’re a Stellar Star inspector.”
He nodded.
Then, with the same smoothness that had been testing my self-control all night, he slid the wallet back into his pocket.
I sat there, stunned.
I had known he was wealthy—that much was obvious. The suit, the watch, the entire aura of someone who was used to being catered to.
But this?
This was power.
Real power.
A serious wealth flex.
Because a single review from him could change the entire fate of this restaurant. A good one would mean sold-out tables, worldwide recognition, and a seat at the industry’s most coveted table.
A bad one?
Could be a death sentence.
I swallowed, leaned in slightly, and kept my voice low. “So. . .Alchemy already has one Stellar star. Is this like a yearly review to see if they keep it? Or. . .are you about to give them a new one?”
His lips twitched. “You know this is classified information?”
I smirked. “Yet, you’re going to tell me.”
His green eyes flickered with amusement. “And why is that?”
“Because. . .” I leaned in even closer. His naughty gaze went to my breasts then lifted back to my eyes.
I winked. “Because, I’m nosy and awesome.”
And then he smiled.
Not the smirk, not the polite curl of lips he had been teasing me with all night.
A real smile.
A knee-weakening, gut-punching, full-on heartbreaker of a smile.
I almost reached for my drink just to cool the hell down.
“Yes. I will tell you because you’re awesome for sure.” He let out a peaceful sigh like he was absolutely enjoying himself. “And yes, Alchemy has one Stellar star. But the prior inspector believes it should now be at two. Under Stellar policy, a second inspector must confirm if the change is deserved.”