Adam’s eyes widened and his lips curved up in a disbelieving smile.
“What?” I asked, grinning at him as I pulled through the circular driveway. “My mother taught all three of us how to cook when we were in middle school.”
He shifted to face me, and a bright smile spread across his face. “What’s your specialty?”
I glanced over to find his not-so-tired-anymore eyes blinking happily at me. His green irises seemed to sparkle in the light when he was in a good mood. It was the first thing I’d noticed about him. People say the eyes are the window to the soul, and I hoped Adam was starting to open his to me.
“Well, steak is probably my favorite, or salmon. I cook them in a cast iron frying pan with butter and herbs. That with a salad and asparagus is heavenly.”
I glanced over at Adam as he sat staring at me, but not seeing me. He almost looked like he was remembering something.
“What’ll it be, Rockstar? Take out or a home-cooked meal?”
A soft, barely there smile inched up his lips. “I don’t remember the last time I had a home cooked meal. Probably the last time Claire was here. So steak it is. But I need a baked potato, not any smelly asparagus.”
I laughed as he mimicked throwing up from my favorite vegetable.
“Fine,” I conceded. “We’ll get potatoes too. But that means you have to agree to work out with me tomorrow.”
Adam groaned. “I don’t need to workout. Look at my body.”
God, don’t ask me to do that. I was already struggling.
“It’s not about that, Rockstar. It’s about being healthy. I can train you to take on anyone and win the fight.”
Except me, of course.
He released a caged breath and shifted in his seat. “If I have to work out, then we’re getting garlic bread, too. Pull in at Safeway, and let’s go shopping.”
I smiled to myself and followed his directions. “Yes, sir, Mr. Spencer. Let’s buy some groceries.”
* * *
Forty minutes later,we walked into his apartment with six bags each. It looked like we’d bought a lot, but we didn’t. I’d picked out two Angus steaks with perfect marbling and everything we needed for a basic salad. I’d even picked up a cast iron frying pan because something told me Adam didn’t have one of those.
He looked at me sheepishly as he pushed aside empty containers and items that needed to be in the dishwasher so we could unload the groceries. Before long, I was going to clean the place up and make it presentable. But tonight, I’d let it slide.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked after we’d unpacked everything.
I allowed myself to look at him for only a brief moment. “What can you do in the kitchen?”
“Not much,” he said, looking around. “My foster mom didn’t have a chance to teach us how to cook. We were too busy running around trying to scrape together a band.”
My heart snagged on the thought of this beautiful man as a child in the foster care system. I hadn’t done my deep dive into his past yet, but that was next.
“Well, it’s a good thing you have me, then. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
I could see Adam pause in my periphery, but I couldn’t look at him yet. My eyes would give me away.
“Yeah, okay,” he said quietly, moving around the items we’d just purchased to no place in particular. He needed something to do with his hands. “I think I’ll grab a shower, then I’ll be back.”
I nodded. “Okay, sounds good. I’ll be right here, slaving away for you, Rockstar.” I had to lighten the moment.
The sound of his faint chuckle made me smile as I heard him retreat down the hallway to his bedroom. His queen-size bed was filled with pillows and, keeping with Adam’s style, shit was everywhere. I’d looked around when I did my first security sweep this afternoon.
My job was to protect Adam, but more than that, it felt like he needed a friend. We had undeniable chemistry, and I really wanted to get to know the real him, not the one he portrayed on stage. The Adam who’d been in foster care, and who made my heart beat a little faster.
I opened the cabinets and found a bowl for our salad, then washed the potatoes and wrapped them in a paper towel to microwave. Evidently, I’d left the cast iron pan in the truck, so I grabbed my keys and headed out to get it.
