She gazed at her watch and a jolt of surprise shot through her.Time had slipped away far too easily around him.
“Oh, I hadn't realized how late it is.”
How had time gotten away from her?It was already eleven.
“How about I cook?I could make it a supper type of meal.It will be ready within two hours.I’ll make enough for tonight too.”
Her eyebrows shot up before she could stop them and a reluctant smile tugged at her mouth.This man didn’t know how to cook.Cooking was woman's work; he had always joked.
“Where did you put the Axel that I know?”she teased.
Axel laughed, his dark eyes gleaming with obvious pride.
“He evolved.I watched cooking shows in prison.Read up on a bunch of recipe books from the library and I worked in the kitchen at times.Although everything came in pre-cooked there I still learned how to read directions and how to work a recipe and hopefully to cook if you will allow me.You'll have some competition in the kitchen, my fair lady.”
There was a quiet confidence in his voice she didn’t remember.Something steadier, more grounded.
“You speak mighty highly of your culinary abilities.Okay I'll bite.You've got kitchen duty.I'll be there in two hours.This will be a great help.Thank you.”
“It’s why Cyn brought us here.To help you in any way we can,” Axel replied and then continued.
“And Nick should be back any minute and I can put him to work doing his specialty.”
His eyes were warm and caring as he mentioned Nick.
“And what would Nick’s specialty be?”she inquired, wondering why she was feeling…so jealous at Axel’s enthusiasm.
“Baking,” Axel replied.
Her jealousy disintegrated.She was being silly thinking there was something going on between the two men.
“Oh, I see.Well all the baking ingredients are in the cupboard over the stove.And recipe books are on the bookshelf in the smallest bedroom, the spices are in the spice rack and—”
To her surprise, he raised a hand and pressed a calloused finger over her mouth.Her breath caught, the gentle pressure silencing her more effectively than words ever could.
Oh wow, his finger felt so warm and perfect.
She swallowed and felt all tingly in such a beautiful way.
“I'll find everything.No worries.Two hours.”he said softly.
Jenna nodded numbly as he lowered his finger, leaving behind one heck of a heat imprint along with an overwhelming urge for him to pull her into his arms and have his warm lips pressing intimately against hers.
She resisted the urge to lick her lips and see if she could taste him.
His smile widened knowingly and then he turned and walked away.
The knowing curve of his mouth made her want to sink through the ground.Oh, damn.He knew she was aroused.
She pressed a hand to her warm cheek, mortified at how transparent she’d been.
How embarrassing.
* * * * *
“Hey, little girl, aren't you glad I brought you along?”Nick asked the poodle who sat on the truck seat, her front paws on the armrest, her head popped out the wide open window and her ears blasting backwards in the wind.
The dog ignored Nick, totally entranced with the scenery of the towering pine trees that hugged both sides of the dirt road he followed.
