It was better than my dreams.
I cleared my throat as I led her to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure. I like your Christmas tree.” Aubrey said, as she pointed to my tree in the living room. It was pretty much the extent of my decorations inside, but I went all out, with several strings of lights and lots of ornaments. It was always a fresh balsam pine tree and one of the largest ones the lot had, filling up the bay window in the front.
“Thank you. It’s usually the only decoration I put up.”
Aubrey’s mouth fell open. “Says the guy who challenged me to a contest?”
“Yes, but look how detailed it is. When I go in on something, I focus on one thing and give it my all.”
“Is that so?” Aubrey chugged half her wine, and I watched with amusement. “Then, tell me Nash. What’s the thing you focus on when it comes to relationships?”
Ah, I see the wine was giving my gorgeous girl some liquid courage.
“That’s a good question, Aubrey. To be honest, I don’t know. And I think that’s because I haven’t found the right person yet.”
“Good answer.” She swallowed the rest of her wine in one large gulp before holding her glass out for more.
“Is someone a secret lush?” I teased as I poured her more.
“Just preparing myself for your cooking,” Aubrey teased back, and I wanted to kiss her sexy plump lips. “What’s on the menu besides steak?”
I sipped my beer before moseying over to the stove. It was time to bring it all together and make the magic happen.
“Get ready to find out.”
While Aubrey watched, I seared the steak, drenching it in butter. I mashed my potatoes after adding butter and cream, threw the bread in the toaster, and took out the salad from the fridge.
“Wait until you try my garlic brown butter sauce and my whipped mashed potatoes.”
“It smells delicious, thank you, Nash.”
“It’s the least I can do for waking you up early.” I said as I began plating our food, starting with the salad and bread first.
The steak rested as we chatted and ate. “A man who can cook is always a good thing. Did you teach yourself?”
“No, my mother and grandmother. My mom was a single mom and while she worked a lot, she always made the time to teach me life skills. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who showed me how to cook along with my mom.”
“Aw, that’s amazing. I bet your grandmother knew some good recipes.”
“Yeah, she did. She was Italian and always shared her secret recipes passed on from her mother.”
“You must know how to make a great meatball then. Or lasagna maybe?”
“Both. And an even better eggplant Parmesan.”
“Oh, my God, stop. Can I marry you right now?” Her cheeks turned crimson red as soon as the words slipped from her sexy lips, but it was too late to take them back.
“Would it be crazy if I said yes?” I said merely for shock value, but a risky daredevil part of me didn’t care. I wanted this woman so fucking bad. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold back.
“Yes, kind of.”
We both laughed and clinked glasses in a cheer.
Over the steak and potatoes, we learned about the other, how she grew up with two parents and a younger brother she talks to occasionally. She talked about her best friend Pip and how long they’ve been friends. She told me how she’d always loved Christmas ever since she was a little girl and she loved classic movies and books.
And then when we ended up on the couch together, half drunk and stuffed full of food, we moved onto our decorating competition.
