Instead, I decided to reply in kind. “What about ideas that I might have for payback?”
His brows rose and the heat in his expression intensified. “I could be convinced to listen.”
This time I did laugh because we were bickering over who got to decide what sexual favors were appropriate payment for meals. It was a ridiculous conversation, but sexy too.
He smiled and went back to measuring and mixing up the batter for pancakes. As I watched him, it was clear that he’d done this many times before and I wondered idly how many women had eaten a breakfast cooked by Landen Weber.
I believed him when he said that he hadn’t had a woman in his bed since he bought the new one, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t making breakfast in someone else’s kitchen on a regular basis.
I sipped my coffee and wondered if I should broach the subject of past relationships. Then I made the decision to let it go for now. Though it was cloudy and pouring rain outside, we were having an awesome morning and I didn’t want to cast a pall over it.
It was the morning after our first night together and Landen didn’t seem to be in any hurry for me to leave. I didn’t want to start a conversation that might change his attitude.
And watching him move around the kitchen in nothing but a pair of cotton pants was plenty to keep my mind occupied. His motions were controlled and efficient. The muscles in his torso shifted as he reached for his coffee cup to sip while he flipped bacon. After the bacon was done and set on a paper towel-covered plate to drain, I had to bite my lip to prevent drooling when he lifted the bowl of pancake batter and his bicep flexed.
Landen wasn’t bulky, his muscles were lean, and he didn’t have the insanely cut abs that graced the covers of so many of my romance novels, but he also didn’t have a lot of fat on his abdomen. He looked fit and oh-so-touchable.
By the time he finished cooking breakfast, I was definitely feeling hot and bothered. So much so that the emptiness in my stomach was overshadowed by the hunger for something that was in no way related to food.
I smiled when he brought the plates over and set one in front of me. With his muscled torso, messy hair, sleepy eyes, and cooking skills, I was certain there were hundreds, maybe even thousands, of women who would pay good money to sit right where I was sitting.
Trying to distract myself from the desire spiraling in my belly, I picked up my fork and watched as he rounded the island to sit next to me. “So what’s the plan for today? Do you need me to get out of your hair?”
He stared at me, his face hard. “Are you eager to leave?”
I shook my head as I picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. After I chewed and swallowed, I answered, “No, just want to make sure I’m not wearing out my welcome.”
Landen reached out and snagged the back of my neck, pulling me closer. “I told you I wanted you here this weekend.”
I shook my head. “Uh, no. You’re telling me thatnowbut this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “Well, it’s true either way. Feel like hanging out with me this weekend?”
I pretended to consider this even though my stomach was turning somersaults at the idea of spending an entire weekend with this man. “Maybe, but I don’t have anything to wear.”
His lips touched mine lightly. “Why would you need clothes?”
When he leaned back, I opened eyes that I hadn’t realized I closed. “Well, I saw what’s in your fridge this morning and it isn’t a lot. At some point you’re going to have to feed me again. I imagine most restaurants would frown on naked patrons.”
He grinned. “Good point. But you forgot that we could always order take-out.”
“True.”
Landen gave my neck a gentle squeeze. “Spend the weekend with me.”
“I’ll think about it,” I hedged. I wanted to spend time with him, but my heart was getting involved and I knew that two more days together would have me firmly moving into relationship territory. At least in my mind. I didn’t want to risk getting in too deep if we weren’t on the same page, emotionally speaking.
“I have a pool,” he murmured, his lips brushing my cheek. “And a sauna.”
“Well, that certainly changes things,” I muttered.
He laughed softly. “Just be with me for a couple of days, Chelsea.”
His quiet request broke through my hesitancy. Even though I knew it was probably a mistake in the long run, I relented. “I’ll stay.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled wider. “Good.”
As I ate the delicious pancakes, crispy bacon, and fluffy scrambled eggs that Landen cooked, I thought that it didn’t feel like a mistake at all.
