I don’t think I’ve ever seen Storm blush and now I definitely want to know what he was going to say.
“Where do you want these?”He nods to the vegetables.
“Let me get a bowl.”Hopping off the stool, I make my way around the island and begin searching for a bowl big enough to fit them.I’ll need to divide everything into multiple slow cookers, but for now they can be mixed up.
As soon as I locate three bowls, I begin gathering handfuls of carrots, onions, potatoes, and green beans into my hands and drop them into the various bowls.It only takes me a few minutes to finish, then I set them aside.
“Thank you for your help,” I murmur as I turn around to face Storm.I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and stare up at him.
“You’re welcome.I'm happy to help whenever you’d like me to.”He washes his hands and once they’re dry, he tucks them in his back pockets.“I guess I’ll get out of here and let you finish prepping dinner.”
He takes four steps before I can't stop myself and his name tumbles from my lips.“Storm, wait.”
He spins around and closes the distance between us.He’s so close I can feel his breaths fan across my skin and I have to lean back against the counter to meet his gaze.
“What do you need, Little Fox?”
“Before… What were you going to ask me?You said ‘will you’, then you stopped.Please tell me.”I place my hand on his chest, right over his heart.It beats wildly beneath my palm, reminding me of how peaceful it felt to sleep in his arms last night.
I lied to him.I remember almost everything that happened last night, but I didn’t want him to know.There were things said that I thought were better to leave behind.Things I don’t want to admit I said or heard from Storm.It’s easier to pretend it never happened, yet now I wish he knew.
“I want to know if you’d cook for me,” his voice comes out deeper and raspier than normal.He thrusts a hand through his hair and messes it up a bit.
“I cook for you five nights a week, Storm,” I tease him.
“Yeah, but it’s different.When you cook for the club, you’re cooking for everyone.I want you to cook just for me.I want to try those three dishes you want to make most.”
“Why?”I whisper.
“Because I want to see what the amazing Dixie Reeves can create.I don’t want the stuff you’re forced to make for the club.”
He plants his hand on my hip and I suck in a sharp breath.His fingertips slip under the hem of my shirt and brush back and forth over my bare skin.
“You want me to make multiple meals just so you can try something different?I don’t have time for that.I don’t even have space to cook extra food.”
“No.I want you to come to my place every Saturday for the next four weeks and let me watch you cook.Then, I'm going to enjoy a meal with you and experience the talent you don’t get to share with the world.”
“Four weeks?But I only told you three meals.”
“I know.The last week I want to cook for you.”
He stares deep into my eyes for a moment longer, then he leans down and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.He squeezes my hip, then takes a step back.
“Have a good day, Little Fox.I’ll see you at dinner.”
He exits the kitchen and I collapse against the counter.What just happened?It almost felt like Storm was flirting with me.But there’s no way.
Right?
I want to call Roxy and Oakley.Beg them to come to the kitchen and talk this out with me.Force them to help me work through what is going on so I can get a handle on this.
But Oakley should be at the shop by now.She can't leave work just to talk to me.Dad would ask questions.He’d want to know why I needed to talk to her and he’d try to get involved.I don’t need that.
Roxy would be free, but I don’t think I want to talk to her alone about this.She’ll tell me the same thing she did last night… Storm isn't someone I can have a future with.I need to move on from him by finding someone else.
Oakley’s a little more of a dreamer.She’d help me think of different ways we could be together.Because after today, I feel like Storm wants there to be more too.
Chapter 9
