At some point, Tanner had folded the sleeves of his shirt, giving off some serious arm porn, and I was mesmerized by the way the veins in his forearms bulged and his tendons flexed as he got to work. Every single inch of him looked like it could be carved from stone and deserved to be displayed in a museum. And right at that very moment, he was cooking dinner forme.
“Okay, I’ll ask one more time. Are you sure I can’t help? I mean, making your own pasta is an impressive trick, but I can only imagine a dinner like this is a pretty involved process.”
He shook his head, sending a lock of dark brown hair into his eyes before he lifted his arm to brush it aside with the back of his wrist. “You know, it’s not really as hard as people might think. It’s only flour and eggs. I’ll start on the shrimp first, and while that’s cooking, I’ll get the pasta ready.”
Well, if he was sure. Who was I to argue with the man when, instead, I could sit back and enjoy the show. A show entitledEvery Woman’s Ultimate Fantasy.
The pan he’d been heating on a low flame on the stovetop hissed as he dropped a few pats of butter into it. Then he got to work mincing garlic, his knife skills were like something I’d only seen on those reality television cooking shows. Watching him was as entertaining as all those professional chefs vying for the trophy... or cash prize, or whatever it was they won. I was so enraptured that his voice caused me to jolt when he broke the silence to ask, “So you own One More Chapter?”
I felt my face light up at the mention of my pride and joy. “I do, yeah. I opened it about four years ago.”
Using the flat of his knife, he dumped the perfectly minced garlic in with the butter before turning his amber gaze on me with a tender smile. “And is owning a bookstore what you always wanted to do?”
I took a sip of my wine and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “It took me a while to figure it out. I’ve been obsessed with books since I was a little girl. I always knew I wanted to do something involving them, I just wasn’t sure how to make it a career. Having to learn proper comma placement insured that becoming an editor was out of the question, and even though I love stories, I never felt the pull to create any of my own. I’m perfectly content to leave that job to the professionals.”
“So a bookstore it was.”
“Exactly,” I said with a soft smile of my own. “As soon as the idea hit, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. One More Chapter is my dream. It took a lot of time, a lot of trial and error, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears—literally—but it’s finally exactly how I’ve always wanted it to be.”
The kitchen started to fill with the most delicious fragrances as Tanner seasoned the shrimp and added them to the panwith everything else. “You created something really magical, Sunshine.” That was the third time he’d called me sunshine, and each time made my stomach swoop in the most pleasant way.
He got to work making the pasta. I’d seen it done before in Instagram reels, but witnessing the process in person was something else. Watching Tanner’s large, strong hands form and roll the dough was downright erotic, and as the seconds ticked by, Naomi’s suggestion to have a quick, fun fling was starting to sound brilliant.
“Thank you,” I said, his compliment making the contents of my chest flip. I would never get tired of hearing people talk about their love for my store. “What about you? Did you always know you wanted to be a hockey player?”
Something moved over his features just then. The light in his eyes dimmed and the humor faded away from his expression.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly stated. “You don’t have to tell me. If I said anything wrong or overstepped?—”
“No, it’s fine.” He shook off whatever thought had cast a cloud over him and curled a corner of his mouth upward. “I’ve always loved hockey. My mom used to joke that I learned to skate before I learned to walk.” His features softened as he continued to talk about his years in youth hockey. As he went on to tell me about playing in high school and college, I felt a familiar bond forming between us. He was as passionate about playing hockey as I was about my shop, and seeing that in him as he spoke only made him that much sexier. Something I hadn’t thought was even possible.
I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. He’d already managed to knock this date out of the park, making it the best first date I’d ever had simply by paying attention and being thoughtful in his planning of it. Add in the cooking and the enthusiasm he wasn’t afraid to show for his career, and I wasdangerously close to melting into a puddle on the floor of this insanely gorgeous kitchen.
“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, and I consider the guys I play with my brothers. But there are downsides to it, like with anything.”
Curiosity had me leaned in closer. “Oh?”
“Yeah, it can be incredibly hard on your body. I mean, that’s why I’m here right now instead of finishing out the rest of the season. An injury took me out.”
My face fell. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
He waved away my concern. “It’s all good now. Well, at least that part is. But I still wake up feeling like a seventy-year-old with arthritis, and my joints crackle like pop rocks in soda.”
My eyes went wide and I slapped my hand over my mouth to try and catch the rest of my laugh that accidentally burst free. “I’m sorry,” I croaked, fighting the tremble in my lips. “I didn’t mean to laugh.”
He joined me with a chuckle. “No, I get it. Trust me. Most mornings I’m awake at least five minutes before I’m able to climb out of bed.”
And just like that, I was thinking about Tanner Fine in bed. Images of him dressed in nothing but boxer briefs as he slid out from beneath warm, silky sheets and stretched his long limbs played through my head in slow motion like that scene inFast Timeswhen Phoebe Cates climbed out of the pool. I pushed my wine glass away, knowing if I had much more the few inhibitions I still had would be gone in no time.
Along with my bra.
The conversation continued to flow with surprising ease as he finished cooking our meal and we finally sat down to eat. I laughed more through dinner than I had in a really long time. In fact, as I thought back, I realized I’d never laughed with Blaneduring our entire relationship as much as I had in a few short hours with a man I’d only just met.
“Oh my god,” I moaned around my final bite. I placed my fork on my empty plate and pushed it away before I could do something embarrassing, like lick the damn thing clean. “Tanner, that was incredible.”
I lifted my gaze to meet his, and my breath caught in my lungs at the heat in his eyes. He stared at my mouth like he wanted to devour something other than food. “Really glad you liked it, Sunshine.” His voice was rougher, like he’d gargled with gravel.
I licked my lips and pulled in a shaky breath. “Like? Oh, I more than liked it. That was restaurant-level impressive.” I managed to say, forcing the words past my Sahara-like throat.
