Sledge and Rocker helped her to her feet while Ty examined the area. “It doesn’t appear to need stitches. Why don’t I take you to the back and get you cleaned up? Sledge, why don’t you grab the usual table against the wall with your friend? I’ll bring Scarlett to you.”
“Sure,” Sledge said, holding the door open for them to pass. Scarlett panicked. She didn’t know her way around. What if she fell again?
“It’s a straight walk back to my kitchen,” Ty said quietly as his hands snaked around her waist and held her arm, which stung. “When we go inside, we’ll take a left, and you can sit at my desk.”
“I’m sorry to put you to this much trouble. If you can point me to the bathroom, I can clean up and join my friends,” she offered, trying to figure out how the heck she’d find them without screaming like a lunatic.
“I finished making a new dessert, and I need someone unbiased to give me their opinion. I’ll bring it to you and fetch the first aid kit. You can try it while I get you fixed up,” he suggested cheerfully.
“I haven’t eaten lunch yet. You’re breaking all the rules,” she teased, knowing she wouldn’t turn down his treat. The kitchen overwhelmed her with all the aromas, yet she smelled Ty above them. His earthy scent mingled with a mixture of leather and spices, making her mouth water.
“Some rules are made to be broken,” he said before disappearing into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he entered the office. Placing a fork in her hand, he guided it to the small plate on his desk. “It’s a chocolate fudge cake with mousse filling.”
Scarlett carefully cut into the spongy texture, took a bite, and moaned. “It’s now my favorite dessert. The cake tastesrich and chocolatey, and the mousse has a nice creamy texture, and it’s not too sweet, balancing it out,” she said, chewing slowly.
“This might sting,” he whispered as he dabbed the cut on her cheek. She hissed, and he blew on it, his warm breath taking the pain away. “Better?”
Scarlett swallowed and nodded, unable to speak. A man had never affected her like this before, and her stomach felt like it contained butterflies.
“I’ll work on your hand now. It might need a bandage. I’m sorry to say, I employ Kassie’s teens, who regularly have cuts, and they fill my kit with amusing bandages. Today, I have sarcastic sayings like ‘Kiss my boo boo,’ or you have your choice of butterflies, a mouse, a heart, or my personal favorite, the sponge man.”
“I’ll take a butterfly, please,” she said, smiling.
“Finish your cake, Scarlett. You’ve ripped your jeans. I can clean up your left knee, and then I’ll take you to your friends,” Ty softly ordered as he placed the butterfly on her hand.
“Do you have any recommendations for lunch?” she asked, trying to make conversation as she took another bite.
“Do you have any allergies?” he asked.
“Nope, I can eat anything,” she said, licking the chocolate around her mouth.
Ty didn’t say anything for a moment as he cleaned her knee. “May I surprise you then? I already know Sledge will want his steak rare with a side of fries, and he’s probably convinced his buddy to have one, too.”
Scarlett giggled. “Yep, you guessed correctly.”
“You got about two more bites left. I gave you a small piece so you won’t ruin your lunch. I take it you love chocolate.”
“Duh. Have you ever met a womanwho doesn’t?” she quipped as he cleaned up the first-aid mess and clasped the lid.
“I never like to assume. I’ll return this to the kitchen and come back for you,” he promised before leaving her alone. She ate her last two bits and sighed dreamily.
Ty returned and took her hand, placing it in the crook of his elbow. “We’re walking straight and taking a right. There will be booths to your right and we’re stopping at the last one, which sits against a wall. Your friends are enjoying their salads. I’ll bring your food out in a minute,” he told her as they walked together. He didn’t make her feel uneasy or clumsy as he described everything they passed, giving her room to walk beside him confidently.
“It’s about time,” Sledge snarked. “I’ve never gotten a tour in the kitchen before, and I’ve visited this place several times.”
“You’re not as beautiful as she is,” Ty said, giving her friend grief, but it made her feel warm inside.
A few minutes later, Ty leaned in close. “You have steak bites and gravy over mashed potatoes. Since you missed the salad course, I brought you a strawberry salad with vinaigrette dressing on your right.”
“It smells divine,” she said, leaning in and savoring the meal’s aroma.
“I didn’t see that on the menu,” Sledge said. “Did you add it?”
“No. I made it for Scarlett. Don’t forget to save room for dessert,” he addressed her.
“But I already ate mine,” she protested.
“Remember what I said about rules?” he murmured near her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
