Her cheeks flush as she fights back a smile.
I love how a few simple words can have such an effect on her.
“I’ll call you when dinner is ready.” I watch Riley disappear back up the stairs, admiring her soft curves before heading into the kitchen to get started on dinner.
Once the ingredients are laid out, my hands remember what to do, and I get to work, dicing the carrots and onions.
As the beef starts to sizzle in the pan, I’m flooded with happy memories of my mother cooking this dish in this very kitchen.
It’s strange how something so simple as the smell of broth can make you feel so many emotions.
It’s bittersweet as I imagine my mother being the one to make this dish for Riley instead of me, but I hope I will do her recipe justice.
An hour later, the stew is ready, and I ladle it into two bowls and set them on the table.
I’ve clumsily dressed it up with candles scavenged from a drawer and fabric napkins.
It’s not exactly a five-star restaurant, but it’ll do.
“Riley!” I call out.
She walks in a minute later, barefoot and smiling, her auburn hair loose around her shoulders.
The candlelight flickers against her skin and makes her eyes shine. I swear she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Her eyes dart from the table to me. “You did all this?”
I nod, fighting a smile.
“And before you ask, there’s plenty left for Ronan and Ciara to have later if they want. But for right now, this is just for us.”
Her smile softens as she takes the seat across from me. As she lifts the spoon to her lips, I find myself holding my breath.
It’s funny how I can shoot a man between the eyes without so much as a second thought, but making Riley dinner has me overthinking to the point that I feel sick to my stomach.
Riley takes her time savoring a mouthful of beef, and when her eyebrows shoot up, eyes widening, I can’t help but laugh.
“This is actually really good.”
I smirk, leaning back in my chair. “Admit it. You thought you would be ordering pizza by now.”
“I never doubted your cooking skills.” She takes another bite.
“Liar.”
Riley grins, and all the air suddenly leaves my lungs.
No amount of money or power has ever come close to making me feel the way she does when she smiles.
“Okay, maybe I doubted you a little. But I guess this just proves that there are still things we don’t know about each other.”
“I have many more tricks up my sleeve.” I wink.
Riley’s cheeks flood with color, and I laugh as I reach for the bottle of red wine.
“But I think it’s only fair that you share something with me, dove, seeing as I’ve given away that I’m secretly a chef.”
Riley frowns at the wine as I pour us both a glass, and I suddenly wonder if I made the wrong choice.
