Page 48 of Tasting Fire
“Felt like forty hours. I don’t know if it’s better when it’s slow and I can actually keep up with charting or when we’re so slammed I have no idea what time it is.”
“Been there.”
Once she was inside, he secured the locks.
Emmy hung her bag on a hook near the door, but it didn’t take her long to spot the setup in her living room. “You… You made a picnic?”
It had about gutted him when he looked through her strategic plan for fun andHave a picnicwas one of the entries. What woman hadn’t been taken on a picnic? Hell, he’d wanted to kick his own ass for not taking her on one when they were in high school.
“This one’s like a practice picnic,” he said. “Simple food and no wine this time. I didn’t figure you could handle more than this.”
Her smile was tired, but it was so genuine that it warmed Cash from his toes all the way up to his head. “It’s perfect.” She gestured down at her scrubs. “Mind if I get out of these?”
“Nope.” In fact, he was starting to realize that getting her out of them and naked was something he wanted, but tonight wasn’t the night for that.
Cash settled onto a pillow and kicked off his shoes. Before long, Emmy was back, and the sight of her was like a mule kick to his chest.
She wore a faded Duke Blue Devils T-shirt and pajama shorts printed with colorfully masked turtles. Her feet were bare, and her face was freshly scrubbed. But what took his breath completely away was her hair. She’d released it from the failing braid.
God, he’d always loved her hair. Dark and soft and long. Longer than had been fashionable when they were younger. So long now that it hung to her hips.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re thinking something.”
“Men do that occasionally,” he said, “even though there’s tons of evidence to the contrary.”
“No, you’re thinking something dirty.”
He took her hand and pulled her down to the quilt. “I hadn’t gotten quite that far yet, but I’ll be sure and tuck it away for later.” Still, he couldn’t resist brushing his fingers through her loose hair. “I haven’t seen this in years.” Too many years.
“Mom’s been nagging me to cut it.”
“All of it?” His fingers reflexively tightened. The thought of Emmy with short hair actually caused him physical pain.
“No.” She laughed. “Just a good trim.”
“Thank God.” Cash breathed easier and released his grip. He piled salad on a plate and handed it to her. “Eat.”
“From your dad’s garden?”
“Most of it.”
Without another word, she dug in and shoveled a big bite into her mouth. It should’ve been totally unsexy, but the way Emmy groaned around the mouthful of organic lettuce, tomatoes, and radishes made it pretty much a sex show.
Sexy radishes. There was a new marketing angle for Kingston Farms. Something else for Riley to add to the website.
Emmy chewed and swallowed. “I want to marry your dad.”
“All the ladies say that, but my mom’s sort of against it.”
“I could make polygamy worth his while.”
“Really?” Cash filled his own plate. “In what kind of currency?”
“Free medical care for the rest of his life.”
“Between Evie and me, we already have him covered.”
“Damn.” She grinned. “Sexual favors?”
