Page 26 of Erik's Salvation
She scoffed. “I’m not a bad cook, but I doubt I’d be able to pull this off.”
He swallowed a mouthful of soup, even though his appetite was nonexistent. Appetite for food, that was. “I got your keys while you were in the shower.”
“You went out there?”
“Yes. It wasn’t that bad. My car handles the weather well.”
She grinned. “Trying to get rid of me?”
Actually, his head battled with his body between wanting to stay as close as fucking possible and running far and fast.
“No.” A half lie. “I want you to know, I may not be a builder, but I’m happy to help with any small issues that arise.”
“Thank you.” She tilted her head. “Whatdoyou do?”
He paused, spoon halfway to his mouth. Shit, he should have seen that coming. “I’m a government contractor.”
Her brows rose. “Doing what?”
“That’s classified.” He fucking hated saying that to people, but he wasn’t a damn liar so it was the best he could do.
Intrigue shaded her eyes a deeper blue. “Why do I feel like I live next door to James Bond?”
“I’m no James Bond.” The guy may be fictional, but he was still a better man than Erik.
She tilted her head. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-six.”
Too. Damn. Old. Something he clearly needed to keep reminding himself.
“Interesting. And what did you do before you became a secret government contractor, Erik?”
“I joined the Marines after high school. After that, I entered the professional boxing world for a few years.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. You reallyaredangerous. You probably know a hundred and one ways to kill me.”
And then some.
Hannah continued to ask questions throughout the meal, and when she wasn’t asking questions, she was still talking. He learned about a relationship between her friend Brigid and coworker James, about Henry’s love for fitness models, her coworker Taylor’s strong work ethic, and her boss Reuben’s love for waffles. All things he cared nothing about. But for some fucking reason, he could listen to this woman talk all night. Her voice was melodic and soothing and calm…everything he wasn’t.
Once their bowls were empty, he grabbed them and took them to the sink. Hannah stood too, and the second she did, he got an eyeful of those legs again.
She lifted the bread plate.
“You don’t need to help,” he said in a voice that was too deep and raspy.
“I want to.”
She moved beside him. Even though she’d showered in his home, she still smelled like herself. That sweet fruit and flowers scent.
She touched his arm, and he couldn’t stop the muscles beneath her fingers from tensing. “Thank you. You’ve been such a huge help tonight.”
He turned, and she was right fucking there. So close he could reach out and—
He shoved away from the counter and headed to the door. “You should go.”
“What?”
