Page 90 of Recipe for Temptation

“You just saw me, what, five hours ago? We had lunch together at the studio, remember?”

“Not good enough,” he growled. “Way too many other people around.”

Her smile spread wider. “Aren’t you greedy?”

“When it comes to you, sweetheart, I want it all.”

Her heart turned over. She wondered if he knew what he was saying. She was so afraid to hope. “I miss you, too,” she whispered.

“So why are we doing all this missing when there’s a simple remedy?”

“I don’t know.” Struck by a sudden suspicion, she asked, “Where are you, Michael?”

“Standing on your doorstep.”

She was already on her feet, her pulse racing with excitement as she rushed through the living room to reach the front door. Hurriedly she unlocked it and yanked it open.

And there he was.

Dressed in a black T-shirt and black jeans with heavy black boots, his midnight eyes glittering in the soft glow of the porch light.

They stared at each other, still holding their phones.

“Hi,” Reese breathed. She felt as giddy as a teenager in the throes of her first major crush.

Michael tucked his phone into his back pocket. Without a word, he scooped an arm around her waist and sealed his mouth over hers in a deep, drugging kiss that left her weak-kneed and breathless.

“Mmm,” he murmured, gently sucking her lower lip. “That’s an excellent cabernet.”

Reese smiled dreamily. “Wow. You’re good.” Before calling Victor, she’d drank a glass of wine to calm her nerves.

Michael pulled away, his mouth twitching as he took her phone from her ear and handed it to her. She laughed, embarrassed because she’d forgotten she was still holding it.

His gaze slid over her, taking in her red tube top and denim skirt. “Good, you’re still dressed.”

“Why?”

“I thought we could grab a bite to eat.”

“Now? But it’s after eight o’clock.”

He grinned. “And your point is?”

“Well, it’s kind of late to be eating dinner. And after all that food they served us at the studio luncheon, I’m not even sure I have room for anything else.”

“So we’ll eat something light,” Michael proposed.

Reese was skeptical. “Something light, huh? I don’t even want to think about how much weight I’ve gained since meeting you, Michael.”

He gave her another slow, appreciative once-over. “You definitely won’t hear me complaining.”

She laughed. “That’s because you’re not the one gaining weight!”

But he was already turning her by the shoulders and nudging her in the direction of her bedroom. “Go put some shoes on, woman.”

“Okay, okay. Sheesh, you don’t have to be so boss— Ow!” she yelped as he smacked her lightly on the butt.

He grinned at her. “There’s more where that came from if you don’t hurry up.”

---