Page 68 of Hers to Marry
His gaze met hers. “Do you really like it?”
Kat enthusiastically nodded. She eyed the stainless steel gas oven and then the refrigerator next to a set of double ovens. “I do. You made some excellent choices on the appliances.”
“I had help from Susie.”
Kat ran her hands along the cool, sleek white marble countertops, grained with strips of grey and gold. “She knows her stuff.”
“You said she was helping you with the bakery?”
Kat nodded. “I won’t be working for her anymore. I…I have my own television show, and I’ll be opening the bakery.”
“Wait, back up. You have your own television show? Susie didn’t mention that. She said you were doing an apprenticeship with Chef LeBooboo.”
Kat bellowed. “LeBleu!”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the kitchen and into a cozy den as she continued to laugh. “How was it?”
Kat closed her eyes, memories of succulent dishes she made coming back to her. “Wonderful. I learned so much. I owe Susie everything.”
“Do more than desserts now, or what?”
Kat nodded. “I do, I do. I can scramble eggs now and microwave bacon.” She squealed when he gave her a bear hug and gently bit into the side of her neck.
“You’re hilarious.” He led her out to the screened-in back porch. “Now you can use my state-of-the-art, high-end kitchen and make me a sandwich.” He grinned devilishly.
“Very funny. It really was the most amazing thing that’s happened to me.” She held his face close to hers. “Outside of you?”
“Is that a question?”
“I’m not sure of the answer,” she whispered. Fear chilled her spine although the porch felt as warm as the house. But she didn’t care. She wanted him and had to risk getting hurt or she’d regret it forever.
He kissed her full on the mouth. “You’ve always had me, Katrina. Just like you have the necklace.” He looped a finger through it. “Always have.” He pulled his own half of the heart from beneath his t-shirt. He grinned.
“You still have yours!”
“Of course I do. I never wore it because, you know, I’m a guy and all.”
Kat snorted.
His eyes looked fearful. “Where are you going next?”
“Nowhere. Not any time soon. I promise.”
He let out a breath. “Good.” He looked up. “Because there’s kind of a place I’d like to take you.”
She slapped him on his deliciously hard left pec. “You are not taking me to bed the second I get back! Andrew!”
His cheeks turned bright red. “No! Not…not right this second.”
“But you looked up! I’m assuming your bedroom is on the second floor.”
“Well, yeah, it is, but I wasn’t thinking about that. You want to see it though?”
Kat laughed.Yes!Yes, she wanted to see where she hoped to spend the rest of her nights in, but she kept that secret wish to herself.
“I was thinking,” he continued, “that we should go to your bakery.”
Her brows came together. “My bakery? Now?”
