Page 16 of Dump Tackle My Heart
I swallow.
“Nah,” I rasp. “Only when you’re around.”
CHAPTER 5-DANIELA
“You always thisgood at starting fires?”
“Nah. Only when you’re around.”
Holy. Hotness.
Of course, Tank knows exactly what to say to get a girl’s panties in a twist.
And what’s my genius reply, did you ask?
“Oh, um.”
My mouth’s dry.
My brain’s worse.
I don’t know how to react to his voice, all low and gravelly and way too loaded for a man crouched in front of a fire like he was born to set the whole damn world ablaze.
So, I take the coward’s way out.
I stand up and step away from the fire, and the source of the only heat in this cabin that is actually getting to me—him.
“Okay, so the turkey is pretty small,” I say, pivoting toward the counter like it’s the holy land of professionalism.
“Only fourteen pounds, but it’ll be enough for us for a few days. There’s other food, too, of course. I mean, we’ve got a pizza to throw in the oven tonight, and some things for breakfast,sandwich fixings, and I’m assuming plenty of leftovers before we head back down the mountain tomorrow or Saturday.”
“Okay,” Tank murmurs, but his gaze says he knows exactly why I’m running my mouth a mile per second.
“Anyway, um, my grandma always said you should brine the turkey overnight before the big day.”
I walk to the kitchen and busy myself with unpacking the ingredients, willing the heat in my cheeks to cool down.
“Brine it?” he asks, still crouched by the fire. “Like with salt water?”
“Sort of.”
I grab the bag of herbs and a jug of apple cider.
“McNally family secret reveal,” I start, and he raises an eyebrow.
“I’m honored.”
“You should be, and just so you know you are sworn to secrecy, sir.”
“I promise to never divulge what I learn here, Sweetheart,” he whispers, hand over heart.
Total swoon-worthy moment.
“Anyway, we use a mix of cider, water, pink salt, garlic, rosemary, sage, and honey. You let it soak overnight, and it gets super juicy. If I set everything up on the counter and show you what to do, would you maybe put it together in the brining bag? It’ll make for some great pre-Thanksgiving footage.”
I try to make it sound casual.
Breezy.
