The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Sweet Taste of Sin

In my opinion, there's no greater pleasure in the world than the buttery, slightly nutty flavor of a classic caramel sauce. The secret is, of course, to add a pinch of salt - just enough to stimulate the taste buds but not so much that you overpower the sauce's warm, buttery sweetness. For such a simple recipe, even the smallest change can make a huge difference - using brown sugar instead of white, for example - and after hours of experimenting, I think I've gotten my version just right. I've finally created a mouthwatering, toe-curling, devilishly perfect caramel sauce.Who needs sex when the world holds pleasures like this?I'm still licking bits of it off my spoon when I hear the jingle of the bell hanging on my bakery's front door."I'm coming!" I call around my mouthful of caramel. I toss my spoon aside and wipe my hands on my apron as I jog out of the kitchen.Jack Teegan, my best friend, is standing at the counter with a large to-go bag in his hand. His eyes are roaming ove

I have to admit - it's one of the most impressive cakes I've ever made. I started with a classic tiered cake, then used the Cataclysm: Earth movie poster for inspiration as I decorated the layers, creating an apocalyptic scene in sugar and icing. There aren't many bakers in this world who can make a cake that's both elegant and captures the essence of a disaster film, but I'm pretty sure I've managed it. This cake could get me work for months - maybe even years.For luck, I wear my favorite dress - a knee-length plum garment that sets off my red hair to perfection - and I pay one of my pastry assistants overtime to help me transport the cake to the events facility where they're holding the after-party. I don't have enough money to have a full-time driver, and so usually I end up doing the deliveries myself.Which is why there's absolutely no excuse when I end up getting caught in traffic and showing up at the facility almost forty-five minutes after our designated delivery time.I'm

No matter how much I drink that night, or how much I pour myself into my work the next day, I can't get him out of my mind. Get them out of my mind. For Emilia is every bit a part of the images that haunt me as he is. Waking or sleeping, I can't close my eyes without seeing the pair of them writhing together. Without their groans of pleasure ringing in my ears. Without the heat of humiliation flooding my skin yet again.It's wrong, how much this hurts. How much it stings like betrayal - but that's unfair, because it's not like I expected him to be celibate all this time, even if I've been more or less a nun. But it brings up feelings that are a little too familiar, feelings that crept in slowly during those last few weeks of our relationship. Very pathetic feelings, I'll be the first to admit. But I loved him so deeply, so intensely, and I always wondered why a huge celebrity like Dante Fontaine - a guy who could have any woman in the world - would choose me instead of some starlet or

It's so shocking to hear my name on Dante's lips after all this time that it takes a moment for his words to sink in. "What's a sham?""Their engagement. Their whole relationship. It isn't real and it never was. It's just for the cameras." He throws another quick glance over his shoulder. "Frankly, I shouldn't even be talking about it. I'd appreciate it if you kept this bit of information between us."I don't know why this news is so shocking, but it is. Luca was the first of the Fontaine brothers to get engaged, but it never occurred to me that the whole thing might be a lie."It's done wonders for the publicity of Cataclysm: Earth," he continues casually. "And it's helped both Luca and Emilia tremendously.""And you," I point out. It's his movie too, after all. He wrote the damn thing.But he takes my words a different way."Emilia and I, we - ""I don't need to know," I say quickly. "That's your business." I pull my pen away from the paper. "Now, about this cake - how large w

"We have to go," Jack says."Why?" I'm working on a batch of lemon tarts, but my cell is jammed beneath my ear. I've spent the last ten minutes going over every last detail of the Dante encounter with Jack, including the invitation to his house on Sunday."Because how often do we get invited to the home of one of the Fontaines? Or any celebrity, for that matter?"I don't bother pointing out that I've been to Dante's place before. Attending Dante's little get-together means continuing to engage him, and I refuse to do that."You work for Brockman now," I remind Jack. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to hang out with celebrities.""Not at their homes. Or at their private parties. Come on, Ash, how bad could it be?""Very bad. Very, very bad. I don't think he believed me when I told him I had a boyfriend.""All the more reason you should show up with me and we should rub it in his face.""I'm not sure we could pull that off.""Are you kidding? People always think we're a c