Page 22 of Dirty Desires
“What do you call that thing?” I wanted to know because I was going to buy him one the next time there was a reason to give presents. If it wasn’t out of my price range.
“I don’t know,” he said as he looked at it. “A bacon rack maybe.”
Taking a quick picture of it with my cell, I gave my excuse, “I’ll ask social media. Someone out there will know.”
Ashton went on to his next task of finding a bowl to mix the eggs in. He came out with three different kinds of syrups. “You can put these out with your waffles.”
“Did you see any whipped cream in the fridge?” I found a measuring cup and put some flour in it. “I’d like to have that available for the waffles too. Oh, and fresh fruit too. Was there any of that in there?”
“There were some strawberries. But I didn’t see any whipped cream.” He looked at the pint of cream he’d put on the countertop. “I can make some sweet cream out of that, though.”
He was a good cook. “Can you really?”
With a nod, he smiled. “I can. So, you get those strawberries and cut them up, and I’ll make the cream.”
“We’re a pretty good team, I think.” I moved past him to get to the fridge to find him briefly blocking my way while he gave me a peck on the cheek.
“I agree.”
All I could do was smile like an idiot as I kept on moving, not wanting our first kiss to be interrupted by the sound of the oven dinging or people coming to eat.
But he had me in a whirlwind of emotions and feelings.
My hands trembled as I took the strawberries out and placed them on the counter. “The knives,” I said as I looked around the room.
Ashton turned around then came right toward me. He stopped right in front of me, putting one hand around me. Our faces were so close, I could feel his warm breath on my lips. Then he brought his hand back with a small knife in it. “Here ya go.”
As quick as he came to me, he was gone. And I was breathless and damp in some very interesting places.
I tried to think of some way I could return the favor. I spied an outlet near him where I could plug in the waffle maker. Picking it up, I walked over to the outlet. The oven dinged. Ashton grabbed the rack of bacon and walked away.
Quickly, I abandoned that idea, plugging the waffle maker in where it made more sense. Near where I was working.
“Did you happen to see a mixer when you were back there?” he asked me as he walked toward the pantry.
“The only one I saw was that huge red thing that had its own table back there.” I tried to think of the name I’d seen on it. “The Kitchen something or other.”
“Oh, yeah,” he called out. “I see it. Damn, that’s going to be a bitch to clean.”
“Not to worry, Ashton. We won’t be the ones cleaning up. Their maid will.”
He popped his head out to look at me. “No way. We get to cook, and there’s no cleaning involved?” He looked positively stoked. “What a win for us! I’d cook way more often and try a lot of different things if I didn’t have to clean up afterward.”
A little smile moved over my lips. I could just imagine us in the future, him doing the cooking, me doing the cleaning. An even trade that he and I could both live with, if we were ever able to move things further. “I don’t mind cleaning. It’s the cooking that’s the real chore to me. I actually find it relaxing to wash dishes in hot soapy water.”
“Shut up!” He looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “I swear you can read my mind. Come clean with me already, Nina. This is too much.”
“Don’t be silly. I know you’re exaggerating.” I pulled open a drawer and found a wire whisk. “Here, you can use this to stir those eggs.” I tossed it to him.
He caught it and winked at me. “We really do make a great team, don’t we?”
“I think so.” With a skip in my step, I thought everything was going so well. I headed to the pantry to get some cooking spray and tripped over my own feet. “Shit!” I was headed to the floor, face first.
A pair of strong hands grabbed me by the waist. “Whoa.” Ashton pulled me back up as he chuckled with his deep voice. “Getting a little tangled up in yourself there, aren’t ya?”
I couldn’t take in any air. His hands on my waist, his body right behind mine, it was all too much. My senses were on overload. My mouth began to water, my lips tingled. This was it.
He was going to turn me in his arms, and we were going to have our first kiss.
I just knew it!
His lips brushed against my neck. “Nina …”
Laughter came trickling into the kitchen. The others were up and just about to walk in.
Well, damn!
