“I got carried away,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
With his jeans back on, he reached for her, helping her to her feet. “I’m not. That was…” Nico leaned down and kissed her, cupping her head so he could stroke her mouth with his tongue. “I’m a big fan of spontaneity.”
She smiled, peering up at him. “Me, too. I’m also a big fan of spankings,” she said, her words followed by a giggle as she backed away from him.
“Noted.”
Nico was still smiling as she left his office to get back to work.
In fact, the smile remained firmly affixed to his face for the rest of the day.
Twenty-Six
Stone brought wine, just as he’d promisedto do. He also wore his belt, but that wasn’t unusual. He always wore his belt, but now that he knew Stevie was so fond of them, he was going to have to remember it had multiple uses.
“Stevie showed me the proposal,” Nico said as they sat together on the back porch, sharing dinner and wine while Jäger hopped and sniffed around the yard. “Quite impressive.”
That was Texas for you. One minute, it’s sleeting, and the roads are closed; the next, it’s warm enough to sit outside and share a meal.
“Thanks.” Stone was trying to pay attention but was having a hard time because this dinner—what Nico referred to as a classic quick meal—was one of the best things he’d ever tasted.
He pointed his fork toward the meat and potatoes on his plate. “What’sinthis?”
“Flank steak, potatoes, and carrots,” Nico told him. “I add a garlic mustard butter sauce. It’s quick and easy. Some people make it in a skillet. I roast the potatoes and carrots on a baking sheet in the oven while I fry the steak in the skillet. The key is to ensure you sear the steak, not steam it, so you’ve got to make it in batches.”
“You need to teach my mother how to make this,” he told Nico. “She can make this instead of tuna casserole.”
“It’s Stevie’s favorite.”
Stone looked at the woman who’d been quiet since he arrived at the house. He wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed about what happened earlier or simply anticipating what was to come. Whatever the reason, she’d kept herself busy entertaining Jäger while Stone had kept Nico company in the kitchen.
He reached for his wine. “Somethin’ on your mind?”
Her brown eyes darted to his face. “What?” She was still chewing as her gaze moved to Nico and then back.
In that moment, she looked so much like the young girl he’d first fallen in love with. Sweet, innocent. God, he’d fallen for her so fast. It was strange that a decade and a half stood between then and now, yet Stone felt as though not a minute had passed. He still felt the same ache in his chest when he looked at her. That longing to be with her at all times, to see her smile, to feel her smooth, baby-soft skin.
“You’ve been quiet. Just wonderin’ what you’re thinkin’ about?”
She shook her head and speared another potato. “Nothin’.”
Stone nodded, contemplating his next move as he sipped his wine. He opted for the casual route. “What happened earlier in Nico’s office … does that happen all the time?”
Stevie didn’t hide her reaction in time because Stone saw the flash of heat that made her eyes glitter. She sat up, wiping her mouth with her napkin before grabbing her wineglass.
“Why? Jealous?”
She was being catty, which meant she was nervous.
“A little bit, yeah,” he said honestly.
Her expression fell. “That makes no sense.”
“No?” Stone glanced at Nico to see if he was paying attention. He was. “You get jealous when I’m touchin’ her?”
Nico’s gaze shifted to Stevie, and Stone was positive they had a silent conversation before he said, “Yeah. What man wouldn’t?”
“Exactly.”
