Perchance to Dream

By Empress LaBlaque

From the moment he enters her successful café, Professor Porter Briggs is smitten by the essence of owner Audra Talton . Focused on her work, Audra unknowingly ignores him. Porter craves her affections with relentless desire, and in his dreams, leaves his body to steal her soul away.

Plagued with vivid dreams she cannot explain, Audra willingly gives herself over to the passionate encounters in the ethereal arms of a hauntingly familiar man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Jul 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781613330104

Empress LaBlaque

Empress LaBlaque has been writing romance for over ten years. She has published on several levels. She has a Master’s degree and writes human interest stories for a local magazine. Empress is an advocate for Prevention of Family Violence. Visit her website: http://www.empresslablaque.com. She can be reached by email at: [e-mail]

Book preview

Perchance to Dream

By

Empress LaBlaque

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 by Empress LaBlaque

ISBN: 978-1-61333-010-4

Cover art by Dara England

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

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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~DEDICATION~

Loved For Who And What You Are.

Chapter One

With a growing clientele, the Jambalaya Café's lunch runs were becoming pretty typical. Audra’s restaurant was finally making a name for itself. She had spent two years working ten hour days, now her reward was near. Culinary school had been a joke. Nothing could have prepared her for running her own business.

Often, Carvin, her chef, produced substandard meals, and repeatedly, they were returned to the kitchen. Though Audra had trained Carvin to cook for her restaurant, it was obvious his cooking skills were still lacking. Cajun cuisine required a natural talent, of which he had none. Perhaps she should assist him more.

Her servers, Torie and Bethany, were still in high school. To this end, they were young and chatty. A professional but relaxed working environment had been a mistake, as her love-life seemed to concern everyone on staff.

Aside from his terrible cooking, Carvin was constantly sticking his nose in Audra’s affairs. He whipped out orders while Audra stood pensively before the hot stove. Removing the top from a bubbling pot of gumbo, she placed it aside. Picking up a ladle, she sniffed the spicy aroma, then quietly stirred the pot.

Carvin watched her remote actions and shrugged. What’s going on, boss? You don’t seem like yourself today.

Standing in a corner, Bethany rolled silver while waiting for her order. Obviously overhearing their conversation, she chimed in. Yeah, Carvin. Our fearless leader seems preoccupied today. Have you noticed how she keeps looking at her watch? Bethany turned up her pert nose. Really, Audra. You’re just stuffy. You need to get a life.

Using a business-like voice, Audra took a stand for her privacy. What I do with my personal life is none of your business.

Sliding a sub sandwich onto a clean plate, Carvin kidded, "Well, I know she isn’t waiting for a date. Our boss doesn’t know how to juggle a job and a man."

Surprised by his verbal assault, Audra pushed the ladle aside and placed her hands on her rounded hips. "That’s your opinion, Carvin. A man would only gunk up