In my book, that was a win.
Chapter Thirteen
Vandal
“What’s all this?” I’d been in the garage for the last few hours with Slate and a couple of prospects, drilling mounts and running wire as we put cameras up around the property. Every angle covered. Front door, back fence, cameras aimed at the stretch of road leading to the house. I wasn’t sure when Halloran or even Ruiz would show up, but if they did, neither of us was getting caught off guard.
Macy turned from the stove, smiling at me with that sexy little half smile that always felt like it was just for me. It was the smile that lit up her violet eyes like something damn near supernatural. “This,” she said sweetly, gesturing at the pots and pans on top of the stove, “is called dinner. It’s an evening meal that people use to sustain and nourish them until morning.”
“Smart ass,” I grumbled, but it only made her laugh. “Smells good as fuck in here.”
“Right?” She laughed again. “All done out there?”
I nodded, not offering more details. Not yet. It was a thin fucking line, telling her enough to make her feel safe without burdening her with the details. “I’m gonna get cleaned up.”
“I’ll be right here.” Her words came easier today than yesterday and that was progress.
I stood there longer than necessary, watching her move around the kitchen like she’d always been there. Like shebelongedthere. Leggings hugged her strong legs, a sleeveless shirt showing off toned arms, and the scars she never bothered to hide.
Tiny but mighty. She always had been.
My cock stirred, pressure built behind my zipper, and I forced myself to look away. To go away. Thoughts of her invaded while I was in the shower, but I shut them down hard. I wasn’t about to stroke my cock to thoughts of her. Not until she came to me and asked for more.
Until then, just friends.
I showered as quick as I could before the urge to jack off got too strong, and pulled on a pair of basketball shorts before heading back downstairs. The smell hit me halfway down the steps. “Fuck,” I groaned out loud, probably too loud but the smell of garlic and wine was thick in the air. “Please tell me that’s almost done.”
She turned to look at me over her shoulder, her eyes swept over my naked torso before a soft gasp escaped. “Almost,” she answered breathlessly.
Look your fill, baby girl.
I smiled to myself. I might have left the shirt off intentionally after seeing how she reacted the other day. “You know you don’t have to cook for me.” She said nothing. “Or do my laundry.” When I’d taken a shower, I’d seen three stacks of laundry on the edge of my bed, folded neatly.
She turned slowly, catching me staring at her ass. “I’m not cooking foryou,” she shot back. “I’m cooking forus.” She fisted her hands at her hips. “Besides, this is what we do, right? We take care of each other.”
She had me there, tossing my words right back at me at the perfect time. I had no argument and even if I did, why the fuck would I argue when my best friend—a gorgeous woman—wanted to do nice things for me?
But something else hit me as she stood there, staring at me with a challenge in her eyes. This right here, dinner on the table, Macy smiling and giving me shit, comfortable and happy. Safe. This was the shit that was worth protecting. “Well, I appreciate it,” I said quietly.
She laughed, shaking her head. “Don’t say that, you haven’t even tasted it yet.”
“I have,” I said, my voice a little lower as I stepped closer. “And I know I want another taste.”
The blush that crept up her cheeks told me she knew damn well I wasn’t talking about the food. The blush spread and she turned back to the stove instead of responding.
“Can I help?” I stood too close and she smelled too damn good, so I needed a reason to put some physical distance between us.
“Sure,” she sighed, instructing me what dishes to pull for the meal, all without looking at me again.
I thought about putting on a shirt but the heat and naked desire in her eyes was too fucking intoxicating to get rid of, at least for a while.
Eventually dinner was ready at we sat at the table that provided just enough space that we weren’t on top of each other, but we were close. Once in a while my knees brushed hers and our gazes locked for a heated moment, and the moment was gone.
The meal was peaceful, if charged, and the food was so goddamn delicious, I could hardly believe it. It was like old times, only better because we weren’t kids and nobody could hit us or tell us what to do. “This is almost exactly how we dreamed back in the day.”
The smile that touched her full lips was so beautiful it stole my breath for a moment. I turned back to the food before I pushed things too fast. “Except way better.”
“Agreed,” I replied around a big bite of food. “You’re a damn good cook, girl.”
