Amelia disappeared into the kitchen a couple of hours ago, claiming she was going to make dinner, even after I told her I could use her help with the cat gym.
She’s pulling away from me, and I know it’s not because the sex was bad. No woman could fake those orgasms.
I’ve been letting her hide while I work, but her time’s up.
She’s too amazing for me to give up on easily.
I find her in the kitchen cleaning the front of her stainless steel fridge. “Wow, dinner looks delicious.”
She glances over her shoulder at me, her smile tight. Something’s definitely off with her. She gives the fridge one final wipe and walks over to me. “Moment of truth?”
I nod. “I’m here for it all.”
She smiles, but somehow winces with her eyes. She didn’t like that answer. “I can’t cook. Not even a little. I’ve ordered us a pizza, but I can send that to my brother and get us something—”
“A pizza’s great.” I take her hands in mine and lean forward to kiss her cheek. What I want to do is ask why she’s pulling away, but I’m afraid of the answer. So, I do what I always do. I deflect. “I hope you ordered extra anchovies and pineapple.”
Her eyes go wide. “No, but I can—”
I kiss her forehead. “I’m joking. Whatever you got will be great.”
“Good,” she says, her smile finally looking genuine. “Because I ordered a veggie lovers and a meat lovers to cover all the bases.”
“That’s perfect. How about we eat outside and give Marmalade a chance to check out his new gym without supervision?”
“Sure,” she says, already heading toward the oven, cleaning rag in hand.
I grab her arm and pull her in the other direction. “Your kitchen looks amazing. Come sit with me until the pizza gets here.”
The doorbell rings, and Amelia drops the rag on the counter and reaches for the pile of cash she left on the counter.
Letting go of her arm, I spin and race through the kitchen, nearly tripping over Marmalade, who’s stretched out on the floor. Amelia yells my name, but I keep going. I skid to a stop at her front door and throw it open while she’s still a good foot behind me.
Elbows wide, so she can’t get around me, I take the pizzas and pay the driver.
“Deacon,” she says, as I carry the pizzas inside and close the door. “I was buying you dinner as a thank you for the cat gym.”
“Not necessary. Let’s go out back.”
She glances toward the backyard. Daylight is already fading, but I saw tiki torches out there earlier.
“Thank you for dinner,” she says, her expression concerned. “Let me just put on some more clothes so I don’t freeze.”
She hurries back to her bedroom, and I regret not suggesting we have dinner in bed. More clothes are not what I want to see her in right now.
I take the pizzas to the picnic table outside. Amelia’s backyard is tiny and closed in by shrubbery, making it a cozy spot for dinner.
Back inside, I find a lighter for her tiki torches on a top cabinet shelf. It takes me nearly ten minutes to find it, but Amelia still hasn’t emerged from her room. Is she hiding from me?
I’ve lit all the tiki torches and have brought out plates and glasses of water by the time Amelia finally joins me. The only additions she’s made to her outfit are an oversized sweater and a knit hat.
She was definitely hiding from me.
I extricate myself from the picnic table, my heart sinking. I can definitely take a hint, and I’m not going to stay somewhere I’m not wanted. “It’s getting late. I should head home.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, but I can’t read her expression. “Do you want to take some pizza with you?”
Yep, she definitely wants me to leave. Clearly, a cat gym and good sex were all she wanted from me.
