Page 36 of A Soldier's Destiny
Chapter 13
Rori hated to admit it but the pizza was delicious and nothing like she’d remembered. It had to be almost ten years at least. Jasper ordered the salad for her, but she’d barely touched it. Instead, she gobbled two of the overloaded slices.
“I take back everything I said about it not being real food. That was amazing.”
“Yes, it was. You can thank Chase. He recommended this place. The coal-fired makes all the difference.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Thank you for buying me dinner.”
“I’m glad you liked it and now we have leftovers for tomorrow. Bonus.”
“Unless you eat it later. I’ve noticed that someone likes to raid the refrigerator after I’ve gone to bed.”
“Who me?” His feigned innocence cracked her up. He was a piece of work. It was surprising how quickly she got used to having him around. She’d really expected it to be much more awkward than it had been.
“Yeah. Don’t try to deny it. I don’t sleepwalk and eat so that leaves you. Unless we’ve got some really big mice that can open the refrigerator.”
“Maybe.”
“Go take a shower. I’ll clean this up. Maybe we can watch a movie before bed.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be back in a few.”
As she cleared the table and brought everything into the kitchen, she could hear Jasper singing in the shower but couldn’t make out the words. Slipping down the hall she listened outside the door and cracked up as he bellowed the song out loud and proud. Covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter, she hurried back to the kitchen. Who’d have expected Mr. Stud Muffin to be singingGirls Just Want to Have Fun? Seriously?
“What’s so funny?” He asked from behind her. He must have been at the end of his shower since it wasn’t five minutes since she’d been giggling outside the door.
“Nothing,” she answered with the trace of laughter still in her voice.
“Something wrong with my singing?”
“No, not at all. I was just a little surprised at your song choice.”
As she answered, she turned to look at him and he took her breath away. He was barefoot, in faded blue jeans and an old Navy t-shirt that looked more like a second skin. It accentuated every curve of his six-pack. Her gaze traveled up his body taking in every glorious inch until she finally met his hazel eyes which were dancing with laughter. Blushing, she finished her inspection with his hair. It was just long enough to stick straight out from his head like some kind of a mad scientist. And her insides melted a little more. Head to toe he was the sexiest man she’d ever seen, and she prayed she wasn’t drooling.
“What’s wrong withGirls Just Want to Have Fun? You have something against Cyndi Lauper?”
“Nope, it’s a great song just not one I expected to hear coming from my bathroom in baritone.”
“What? Don’t men usually sing in your shower? Anyway, I was just trying to get a reaction, preferably laughter.”
“You were messing with me?”
“Maybe, just a little. It worked. Right?”
“Yeah, it did. But I’m not sure that’s the truth. I think you’re trying to protect your macho image and hoping I don’t share your love of Cyndi Lauper with Lily. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me laughing.”
“I can hear a mouse fart a hundred yards away. So yeah, I heard you loud and clear,” Jasper said as he puffed out his chest. How the shirt wasn’t busting at the seams she had no idea.
“You know, payback is a bitch. One of these days when you least expect it…”
“Don’t worry, Angel, I will always expect it.”
“We’ll see.”
“Yes, we will. Now, how about that movie? And what did you pick for dessert? More of those little square thingies?”
“Nope, no petit fours tonight. I grabbed something different. What do you think of these?” She handed him a coffee macaron and watched as he popped the whole thing in his mouth.
