Page 30 of Falling for Them

I didn’t know if it was the kiss he’d brought up so nonchalantly or the suggestion that I do work when it wasn’t working hours. I’d spent the last few years working well past working hours and I wasn’t about to start down that path with this job, no matter how invested I was in it.

I yanked open a cupboard and grabbed one of my sparkly wine cups. Might as well try to salvage what was supposed to be a relaxing evening by drinking an entire bottle of wine.

“It can wait until tomorrow.” Leaving the folder where he’d set it on the counter, he came around the island and grabbed the opener from the drawer. He uncorked the bottle of wine and examined the label. “I’ll have to bring home some bottles of wine for you.”

I snatched it away from him. “This wine is perfectly fine.” I poured myself a full glass.

He went to the cupboard and helped himself to one of my tumblers. “Mind if I have a glass with you?”

I shrugged. “Seems I don’t have much of a choice.”

“You’re mad.”

I took a sip of wine and sighed. “I’m not mad, just frustrated.” He raised his eyebrows in question. “You haven’t been around all week and then come home and make things even more strained.”

“Things are strained?” He took a drink of wine and grimaced. “Jesus, this is horrible.”

“Keep drinking it, it will grow on you.” I knew it wasn’t the best wine in the world, but spending over ten bucks on a bottle was insane. “Ethan has been… different.”

He swirled his wine and sniffed it. “Well, princess, it appears he is threatened by me and doesn’t want me anywhere near you. If I hadn’t come home, what would you two be doing right now?”

I leaned against the counter as I drank more of my wine. At the rate I was drinking it, I would be floating on a tipsy cloud very shortly. “Cooking dinner.”

He laughed and moved in front of me, taking my hand and bringing it to his cheek just like I’d been standing with Ethan. “Keep telling yourself that.”

My breath caught in my throat as he trailed his fingertips up my arm until he rested his hand on the side of my neck. There was something possessive about it, and my traitorous pussy clenched.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, unable to step away from him.

“Not entirely sure.” His thumb stroked the pulse point in my neck and his eyes fell to my lips.

The way my body was reacting to him was annoying, but I couldn’t stop it. I wanted him to kiss me again. When he looked at me like he was right then, I felt like the only woman in his world.

With all the willpower I had left, I stepped out from between him and the counter and went to the refrigerator. I’d already gotten carried away with him once, and I wasn’t about to let that happen again.

“Elizabeth.”

God, the way he said my name was like he was stroking me with his damn tongue.

“I’m going to make dinner, so you can either help or go do whatever it is you do.” I took out the groceries that Ethan had put away.

I turned back to Leo, my heart racing as I clutched the ingredients to my chest like a shield. His intense gaze hadn’t wavered, and I felt a flush creeping up my neck.

“Well?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are you going to help or not?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I suppose I could lend a hand. What’s on the menu?”

I explained the recipe as I set out the ingredients, grateful for something to focus on besides the way Leo’s presence seemed to fill the entire kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing tanned forearms that I definitely didn’t stare at.

As we worked side by side, chopping vegetables and preparing the chicken, the tension gradually eased. Leo kept refilling our wine glasses, and I found myself relaxing.

“You know…” I reached around him to grab the salt. “For someone who deals with restaurants, you’re surprisingly bad at mincing garlic.”

He caught my wrist gently, his thumb brushing over the sensitive skin. “I have other talents, I assure you.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how close we were standing. “I’m sure you do,” I murmured, pulling away reluctantly.

The wine was going to my head now, making everything feel warm and slightly fuzzy around the edges. I found myself stealing glances at Leo, admiring the way his forearms flexed and his brows furrowed in concentration.

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