Page 44 of Worth the Rush
“Got it.”
“You’ll add that to the sauce, whisk it until it’s thicker, and then take it off theheat.”
“Perfect. I can do that. What about the chicken?”
“You’re going to dip the little pieces into the egg and then the flour mixture. Once they’re coated, fry them in the oil for two or three minutes.”
“Okay, I think I’ve got it now. Thanks, big brother,” I say, and I mean it. He’s a busy guy, and his taking the time to help me cook is appreciated.
“So this is something then,” Knox surmises.
I sigh. “I don’t know. I want it to be,” I admit.
“Huh. Well. Hazey likes her.” At this, I smile.
“High praise.”
“The highest,” he corrects.
“The highest,” I agree. “Well, I better get this all cooked and cleaned up if I expect to impress her,” I say.
“I saw the way she looked at you at Christmas. I don’t think it will take much, little brother.”
“You’re getting soft in your old age, Knox.”
“Bye, idiot,” he says, to prove he isn’t before hanging up, and I chuckle as I take the chicken out of the frying pan and onto a plate to drain. I taste the orange sauce, and honestly, it’s really good. I crushed this. I have just enough time to do a quick clean-up of the countertops and the few scattered bowls. Ivy should be here soon, and I think I’m nervous. I need to tell her about my part in the resort tonight. I just hope she doesn’t cut me off because of it. It’s this train of thought that’s interrupted by headlights flashing into the living room. I wait for her to knock before leaving the island, not wanting her to think I’m as eager as I actually am.
At her knock, I cross the room and open the door. Thoughts of trying to come off as casual forgotten.
“Hi,” she rasps.
“Hi,” I say, staring at her appearance. She’s changed her clothes. Her earlier preppy jeans and button-down have been exchanged for a matching sweatshirt and sweatpants. Light green. Her shoes are the same little boots from the other night, and she has her sweats tucked into a pair of thick socks. She looks adorable. She looks cozy and warm and like I want to wrap my arms around her and pull her into me.
“It smells really good in there,” she comments, and I realize I’ve just been standing in the open doorway staring at her.
“Come in,” I say, and she walks by me into my home, and if I thought she looked like mine before—seeing her in my home, my space. Now, I don’t want her to ever leave.
“So this is your place, action hero?” she asks with an arched brow.
I incline my head and give her a nod. “It is.”
She looks around my cabin, taking in the space and art and pictures I have up on the wall. “It’s very…you,” she surmises, and I snort.
“I have no idea if that's a good thing.”
“I like to keep you guessing. Ya know, keep the mystery alive.” She winks, and the action sends warmth spreading from my chest out toward my limbs. It makes my hands tingly, adding to the already painful need to touch her.
I clear my throat. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” she tells me, taking off her coat and throwing it over the back of my couch like she’s done it a hundred times before. I like looking at her things mixed with mine. “And before you tell me that I should be making sure I’m eating enough or watching my sugar levels.” She looks at me pointedly. “I checked my levels before I came over, and they’re good.I’m just hungry,” she finishes, still looking at me, and my lips twitch at the sassy expression she wears.
“Thanks for the report, Ivy.” I smile at her. “Do you want to eat at the island or the table?”
She looks thoughtfully at both the wooden barstools and the small dining table I have. “Let’s go with the island.” She decides, and I nod and hold a hand out.
“Alright. You can have a seat, and I’ll get out some plates.”
“Yes, Chef,” she replies in a breathy voice, and it doesn’t matter that I’ve never wanted to cook professionally. New kink acquired.
