Page 70 of The Sinner's Bargain

Without thinking it through, I leaned in and kissed the spot. The sweet taste of her trickled into my mouth. It was unclear who was more surprised by the gesture, but she didn’t pull away.

At all.

Her eyes, light and dark in the swaying night seemed illuminous against the round contours of her features. Her mouth painted a deep, haunting crimson parted, and God, I wanted to taste it like I’d been dying to for what felt like forever.

“You look beautiful tonight. Don’t know if I said it. My brain fried a little when you opened the door.”

Blue smiled shyly. “Thank you.”

I smoothed a finger against her cheek where my lips had lingered moments before. “Will you take another walk with me tomorrow after dinner?”

The curve of her mouth bowing into a brilliant smile was devastating to my senses. “I would love to.”

I offered her my arm. My insides dancing recklessly to a tempo it had no right to indulge in. It increased when she slid her hand into the crook of my arm and let me lead her the rest of the way across the courtyard.

We stopped at the kitchen where Cooke was packing up leftovers to take to the shelter on his way home. He looked up when we stepped into his domain and lifted an eyebrow.

“Boss?”

Rather than answer his unasked question, I placed a hand on Blue’s lower back and guided her to the stool tucked beneath the preparation table.

“We’re fine,” I told Cooke. “Just making some tea.”

“Can I help—?”

I shook my head. “I think we can manage.”

Cooke inclined his head and went back to sealing three stray pork chops in a container.

“Thank you for supper,” Blue said softly. “It was delicious.”

The other man raised his head, seemingly startled by the gesture. “You’re welcome.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to point out that she hadn’t eaten any of it. Sure, she moved things around on her plate and brought the occasional empty fork to her lips, she hadn’t actually gotten a thing inside her. I knew because I spent a great deal of my time watching her every move when she was in the room.

Regardless, I made no indication that I’d seen her poor eating attempts as I walked to the kettle wedged in a corner between the fridge and stove, and took it to the sink. I filled it.

“Is there anything you would like for breakfast?” Cooke was asking Blue when I set the electric kettle on its base.

She shook her head. “I’m really not picky. Everything you’ve made so far has been wonderful.”

Cooke beamed at the compliment. “Thank you.”

The two fell into a polite conversation about different meals they enjoyed and I listened while putting a tray together of cups, the sugar bowl and creamer. Cooke seemed delighted by her by the time I had boiled water tipped into the cups with the teabags. The sweet scent of roses filled the kitchen.

Cooke stacked his containers into his carry on and tossed the strap over his shoulder.

“It was wonderful to meet you,” he said to Blue. “Let me know if you need anything.”

With a wave, he left, leaving me alone with the beauty at the island.

“That smells lovely,” she said, turning her body on the stool to face me.

“Does it, love?” I teased, reaching for a red apple nestled amongst the other fruit piled inside the ceramic bowl on the counter. “What did you think of supper?”

She looked me dead in the eye. “Delicious.”

I bit down on my smirk by turning my back and rummaging through the drawers for a knife. I cut a thick chunk without peeling the shiny skin.

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