Page 24 of Dining for Love

“I can see you through the curtains, you know.”

“You mean the kitchen curtains, where you leer at me like some pervert when all I want to do is get the diner smell off me? Do you have any idea what it’s like to be the walking embodiment of beef and cheese?”

He snorts a laugh. “Did you just referenceElf?”

“Best holiday movie there is,” I state.

“Untrue. Great movie, but not the best.”

“Don’t come at me with your lies, Reid.Elfis the best, and I won’t hear otherwise.”

“It’sDie Hard.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course you’d think that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a cop, Reid. Isn’t it your sacred duty to thinkDie Hardis the better holiday movie—despite literally nothing happening in it that’s holiday-related other than it happens to take place during the holidays? I mean, listen, Alan Rickman is the superiorvillain, don’t get me wrong, but that is no more a holiday movie than the sun is blue.”

A beat passes. “We’re getting off track.”

“I really shouldn’t be trusted with a kitten. I can’t even be trusted with a conversation.”

Another soft snicker comes from Reid’s side of the door. “How about…Willa, seriously. Will you open the damn door?”

“Fine.” I fling it open and nearly lose my breath. Because he’s standing there, all Hottie McHotFace bit of him, with a tiny baby kitten cradled in his arms, and it hits a deep part of me I do not want to think about.

He smiles. “Thank you.”

I cross my arms. “You’re not welcome.”

His gaze flits down to my breasts before meeting my eyes again. And honestly, I should be all righteous about it and demand he keep his ogling to himself, but apparently my feminism has packed its bags because I could not be happier about him looking at my tits.

I might push my shoulders back a little.

Might.

I’m neither confirming nor denying.

“Tell you what,” Reid says. “Let’s do what Matty said.”

“Co-parent?” I squeak, then wince. Christ on a cracker with the freaking squeaks.

He grimaces, and eventhatlooks attractive on him. “Co-parent is a strong word. How about we simply both take care of the little girl until we can sort something else out?”

“And how do you propose we…share responsibility?”

“I’ll take care of her when you’re working, and you’ll take care of her the rest of the time.”

I sniff. “Doesn’t sound like it’s very fifty-fifty.”

Reid fights a smile. “Good thing it’s not a real kid we’re worried about.”

“Ugh,fine.” I stomp past him and grab all the supplies thatMatty left unceremoniously on the ground in front of my cottage and bring them inside. Then I return and hold my hands out for the kitten.

Reid hesitates. “Are we going to talk about —”

“Kitten,” I cut him off.

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