Page 80 of Fresh Canvas
My breath caught as Val’s lips replaced my hand on myneck, his arms wrapping around my middle. I slowly reached up to toy with Val’s curls, but he stopped me.
“Not the hair," he mumbled against my neck.
I laughed and shouldered him back a few steps. “Time’s up. What’s your third point?”
Val groaned. “You’re no fun.” He received a light slap on the arm. “Fine. I’m going to try to access the keycard logs for the storage archives. If we can find who scanned their keycard by the archives around the time Lake Attersee was put in storage, it may give us some direction.”
“Do the keycard logs show employee names?”
“Yes, but I’m going to have to download a different database, so it might take some time.”
“It’s a start. Keep up the good work, detective.” I kissed Val swiftly on the cheek, smackedhisbutt, and left the closet.
Before the door closed, I heard his surprised laugh.
As I scurried away, I saw Rick’s blue jumpsuit across the Vanderbilt hall, a broom and dustpan in his hands. He gave a comical wink and cheeky salute.
I chuckled and waved back.
By the end of the work day, I had finished my tasks. Val’s closet kisses had inspired me, making Stirling’s biography and sculpture descriptions flow from my fingertips. My phone lit up.
VAL: Dinner tonight? My place at six?
AMANTHA: Sounds perfect.
The outside door unlatched after Val buzzed me into his apartment building.
“152… 152…” The horde of butterflies in my stomach wasn’t behaving as I searched for his apartment. I was beyond excited to see into Val’s world, the way he had into mine. I fiddled with the hem of my oversized pink t-shirt and picked a teeny ball of lint off the black leggings I had changed into after work.
The butterflies swarmed faster as I knocked, and the door instantly swung open.
Val rested a brawny forearm against the doorframe and lifted an eyebrow. “Fancy seeing you here, Adams.” The crinkly smile he gave me felt like a cashmere blanket wrapping around my heart.
I forced an eye roll, though I couldn’t help beaming. “Shut up, Russo.”
He hooked an arm around me, pulled me inside, and gave me a peck on the cheek. “Give me a sec and I’ll show you around.”
Val walked away down the narrow hallway, which gave me ample time to check him out. Although he wore a simple white t-shirt and gray sweats, he could have worn a trash bag with those glutes and I’d still be drooling.
The scent of garlic and spices guided me into the kitchen after him. Val stood in front of the stove, stirring a thick, red bolognese sauce. The open concept kitchen, dining, and living room were sleek and modern but somehow felt cozy. Although the rooms had a masculine touch, the two throw pillows I spotted on his couch made me want to tease him the way he had about mine.
“Val, this smells incredible. I would never have guessed you could cook.” I walked into the kitchen and leaned my backside against the six-foot marble island.
Val laughed as he stirred. “What? You think a handsome bachelor can’t throw a few ingredients together? You know that’s sexist, right?”
“Handsome? You know that’s cocky, right?” My eyes widened as he turned, wrapped his hands around my waist, and lifted me onto the kitchen island. His arms bracketed my hips as he gripped the counter.
I flatlined.All systems down.
“Why must you always insist on calling me cocky, Adams?”
It took every ounce of willpower not to glance at the perfect arch of his lips. Instead, I stared back into his chestnut eyes only inches from mine. “Because you are.”
Val pushed off the counter and feigned a sigh. “Impossible.” He turned back to the stove, adding over his shoulder, “You’ll regret ever saying that once you taste it.”
He dipped a fresh spoon into the sauce and brought it to his mouth in a borderline seductive way. “Mmm.” He hummed in satisfaction, completely unaware that I was practically drooling behind him, and it wasn’t remotely for the food.
Apparently, a man cooking really did it for me.
