“Worked,” Rook said, lips twitching before he coughed, the sound rough and reminding her of his fragility. “Seriously, he’s never been with a woman as long as I’ve known him. That last thing was to bait you.” Rook winced and moved into a more comfortable position.
Elise reached across the table and put her hand on his. Her irritation melted into concern. “I have no doubt, and what happened in the past stays in the past as far as I’m concerned. Eat. Please. You need to get well.”
He looked at her hand for a beat, then shifted, removing her hand as he dug into the food with more determination. “Fine. But only because you asked nicely.” His gaze flicked between her and Blake, the grin returning faintly. “I think I like her. She’sgot patience and common sense. God knows someone needs it if they’re going to be with you.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed, but the corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Eat, Rook. Or I’ll shove you in the car and push it into the lake.”
Rook pushed his empty plate away with a groan. “Ha, not your specialty. That was decent food. Not good enough to keep me awake, though.” He braced his hands on the table and levered himself up, pale and unsteady.
Blake started to rise, but Rook waved him off. “Save the hovering, mother hen. I can manage a shower, and then I’m crashing. Don’t burn the place down while I’m asleep.”
Elise rolled her eyes, and Blake growled, “Go. Before I decide to help you back up those stairs by dragging you.”
His faint chuckle followed him out of the kitchen, his uneven footsteps echoing until they faded.
Silence settled in his absence, broken only by the low hiss of the kettle on the stovetop. Elise glanced at Blake, who was leaning back in his chair, watching her, one arm hooked lazily over the back of her chair. The intensity in his gaze made her pulse jump.
“What?” she asked, heat creeping to her cheeks.
He reached over, brushing his thumb across her lower lip as if he couldn’t resist. “Just looking at you. Trying to figure out how the hell I got so lucky.”
Her laugh was soft, nervous. “Lucky? You’ve got a wounded man upstairs who thinks our love life is a spectator sport.”
Blake’s mouth curved, slow and dangerous. “I don’t care if half of Budapest was listening. I wanted you. I still do.”
The words sent a shiver racing through her. She lowered her voice instinctively, even though Rook was nowhere nearby. “You’re insatiable.”
“Only with you.” His hand trailed to her neck, warm and possessive, urging her closer.
She leaned in, the faint scrape of his stubble grazing her cheek as his lips brushed hers—gentle this time, not the breath-stealing claim from earlier. Intimate. Personal.
“Blake,” she whispered, her hand curling over his chest. “We’re supposed to be eating breakfast.”
He kissed her again, deeper, stealing the rest of her protest. “Breakfast can wait.”
Her laugh broke against his mouth, muffled and breathless. “You’re impossible.”
“True.” He pulled her into his lap, settling her there as if she belonged. “But tell me you don’t love it.”
She pressed her forehead to his, her smile answering for her. “I can’t do that because I really do love it.”
“I can still hear you,” Rook shouted from upstairs.
Blake rolled his eyes and growled toward the stairs, “I can take you out and will if you don’t go to sleep.”
“I may be tired and a bit sore, but I’m still good enough to take care of your woman tonight while you do your thing.”
“Dead. You are dead,” Blake growled and stood up.
“Whoops,” Rook said. “Let the cat out of the bag, didn’t I?”
“What bag? What are you talking about?” She stood up and put her hand on Blake’s arm. “Tell me what’s going on, please?”
“I will. Let’s go for a walk so the asshole can’t screw anything else up.” Blake shouted the words up the stairwell as he grabbed a quilt from the back of the couch. After wrapping her shoulders in the blanket, he opened the door.
“Remember when I first bumped into you?” He draped his arm around her as they headed to the pier.
“Actually, I bumped into you.” She nudged him with her shoulder.
