Page 74 of Hit the Ground
When we were face to face, she grinned. I leaned in and kissed her curved lips.
“You’re right. I was talking to Jesse. He was surprised you had said yes to another date with me. According to him, I hide my charm really well. So well, he’s never seen it.”
Laughing, she cupped my face and wrapped her legs around my waist, her heat seeping through the fabric between us. “He might not have seen it, but I have.” She touched her lips to mine,lingering long enough to give me a heady dose of her sweetness. “How’s Jesse doing, by the way?”
“Too smart for his own good. Mine too. Otherwise, he’s fine. Ready for school to be out, but that’ll be here soon enough.” I put her back on her feet and followed her into her kitchen. “It smells incredible in here.”
She smiled over her shoulder. “Yeah? I can’t say I’m a gourmet cook, but I have a few dishes I’ve perfected. I figured you’re a meat guy, so I made my world-renowned pot roast.”
Laughing, I patted my stomach. “What gave you that impression?”
Her smile was wistful. “Caleb, I’ve been serving you dinner for four years.”
“You got me there.” I looked around her kitchen to see if there was something I could do. The timer on her oven was counting down. There was a bowl of salad on the counter and a basket covered with a cloth napkin. “I’d eat anything you make. If you don’t usually eat—”
She held up her hand. “I’ve only perfected meals I enjoy. Otherwise, it would have been a waste.”
I nodded. “You got me again. Now tell me what I can do to help.”
She closed the space between us, leaning her full weight against my front. “Grab yourself a drink, then sit down and talk to me while I get our food plated.”
“I think I can manage that without too much difficulty.”
Alice had grossly undersold her cooking skills. She claimed to have made nothing more than basic meat and potatoes, but that was like calling the ocean a pond.
I caught her grinning as I shoved my last bite of pot roast into my mouth and cocked my head. “What’s that look for?”
“Nothing.” She waved me off. “It’s just the way you eat. I like that you don’t hide how much you’re enjoying yourself.”
I wipe my mouth roughly with my napkin. “Why would I? You made a hell of a meal.”
“Thank you. I don’t cook for other people often. Sometimes I bring leftovers to Joy, and on occasion, I can twist her arm and convince her to come over for a meal, but that’s pretty much it. I like having you at my table.”
I reached for her hand, taking it in mine. “I like being at your table. And if my siblings hear about the meal you made me, I guarantee they’ll be angling for an invitation.”
Her eyes lit. “I’d love that, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to entertain the whole Kelly clan. Maybe next week, you and Jesse could come over.”
I chuckled. “Absolutely. Count on Jess being a snoop, though. He can’t help himself.”
“I’ll be sure to pack away anything incriminating.”
Placing her hand on my knee, I leaned closer. “I find it hard to believe you have anything incriminating. What are you hiding?”
The pink in her cheeks deepened. “Well, nothing really…”
My brows shot up. “That blush has got me intrigued. Am I gonna have to go hunting and uncover your secrets myself?”
Her eyes gave her away, sliding in the direction of the hall leading to her bedroom.
“Caleb,” she whispered, a little desperate.
I shook my head. “I’m teasing you, darlin’. You don’t have to reveal your secrets to me unless you want to.”
Her fingers flexed inside mine. “I was just joking, for the most part. I’m as boring as they come.”
“I wholeheartedly disagree with you there.”
She blew out a light breath. “Thank you. I mean, I don’t have any secrets, unless you count the contents of my nightstand—and I doubt Jesse isthatnosy.”
