Page 57 of Unmasking Mr. Crown

“Thanks. I say we celebrate with takeout from that little taqueria around the corner and eat at my place.”

“Done and done.”

Kate gasped when he pulled into the driveway of a gorgeous two-story Greek-revival style house surrounded by beautiful, mature trees.

Kate unfastened her seatbelt. "Okay, this … I wasn’t expecting this. Your home is gorgeous."

"I can’t take credit. This is all Colt’s doing. He handles real estate, the stock market, bartending duties—basically, everything I’m unfit for. He found this place when we wrapped our UK project early."

"Well, he has great taste.”

They got out, Dash juggling bags while Kate let Roscoe explore the front yard. When they stepped inside, he almost tripped over Colt’s gym bag.

“Where is the infamous stepbrother? Should we have brought him something to eat?" she asked.

“He’s playing poker with some of the guys.”

Her bottom lip turned down. “And you weren’t invited?”

“They play for pennies. I prefer bigger stakes,” he said with a cocky grin.

Dash froze when they entered the kitchen. Half a dozen pairs of Colt’s clean underwear and a mountain of socks sat stacked on the island.

Fantastic.

He scooped up the freshly folded stacks and hurled them blindly into the laundry room.

“Don’t worry … I’m gonna disinfect this whole island before we sit down.”

Kate laughed. “It’s fine. I fold laundry on my island too. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Folding’s one thing. Leaving it out for all of God and country to see is another.”

“In the poor man’s defense, he didn’t know I was coming over. Seriously, I don’t care. Natalie’s the neat freak. I’m the slob.”

“No way,” Dash said. “Your house is neat as a pin.”

“Because I shoved all my shit in the closet five minutes before you pulled up,” she whispered conspiratorially.

He chuckled, grabbed cleaning spray, and wiped down the island while she plated their dinner. A few candles later, the kitchen glowed with warm, romantic light.

"You cut that gas line yourself, didn't you, Slick? All part of some grand, elaborate scheme to get me over to your place?"

"Why do women assume it's some grand scheme? Maybe it's just your run-of-the-mill, everyday basic scheme.”

"Grand scheme or not, I texted my neighbor and let her know Roscoe and I are safe and sound here with you. Her husband works for the city. She'll let me know when we're allowed back inside.”

He leaned forward for a kiss. "Well, until then, you're all mine."

She pushed him away. "Dinner first and then dessert."

"You and your practical notions,” he said with a smile.

After dinner, they moved to a poolside chaise, Roscoe curled up at their feet. With a few taps on a tablet, Dash engaged a state-of-the-art outdoor audio system. Soft music drifted through the speakers. Trees glowed under floodlights. With the starry Texas sky overhead, the night wrapped around them like something sacred. Kate rested against him, and his arm drifted naturally around her shoulder.

"I looked for dessert,” Dash said after a while. “Sadly, my refrigerator doesn't spontaneously produce five-star cheesecakes."

"I'd be happy with coffee."