Page 78 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘What do you want to know?’

He shrugged as he walked back into the main room. ‘No way, I’ve got a water filter, too. Want some?’ He began opening cupboards to find cups, plates, and other cooking utensils.

‘Sure.’

At the water cooler that stood on the kitchen counter, he poured her a glass. ‘Hey, I’m all grown up now. I’ve got a kitchen full of junk and a couch.’ He chuckled.

‘Can you cook?’

‘Nothing fancy. Lots of steak or spag bol. You should stay for dinner tonight. Mia’s cooking.’

‘That’s Cap’s girlfriend?’

Dex nodded. ‘Mia’s not a bad cook. Her meals remind me of our mother’s cooking.’

‘So, you all work together and eat meals together?’

‘We have a cooking roster at the farmhouse, which has a huge kitchen.’ Inside his own small kitchen, he opened more cupboards and drawers.

‘Do Bree and Charlie go to the farmhouse for meals, too?’

‘No.’ That killed his smile. ‘I wonder if Ryder has seen what Bree has done to this place.’

‘Why would he?’ She tightened up her ponytail, then pointed to the walls. ‘It’s just paint. And a couch, and Bree’s Kombi van, so you’ll remember her forever. It smells like a guilt trip to me.’

Dex arched his eyebrows. ‘What is wrong with you?’

‘All I hear isBree thisandBree that.’

‘Holy crap, Bree was right.’

She flicked her hand at him. ‘See!’

‘You’re jealous of Bree!’

‘Am not.’

‘Oh, sweetheart, you are. Which means you like me.’ His grin was cheesy and evil and sexy all at the same time. How was that possible?

‘No, you’re a patient, and I’m your nurse.’ Desperate to walk away from the man who took her breath away, she fumbled with her car keys that fell to the floor.

She scooped them up, spotting her cat by the front door, but Dex’s hand pressed on the door with his chest pressed to her back, stopping her from leaving.

‘Want to know a secret?’ His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending shivers across her skin. ‘I like you too.’

She closed her eyes at those words, barely breathing.

Dex turned her around, his hooded eyes lingering on her lips, where the world positively sparked, alive with charged electricity. It only worsened when his fingertip tenderly ran down her cheek, then under her chin to lift it as his warm, hard lips found hers.

She was helpless to resist his kiss.

His tongue opened her lips to ignite her passion, turning her desire into a language only her soul understood, in a kiss that was so hot it’d make the stars blush and the sun smile.

Her tongue glided over his, and he unleashed a growl, pulling her body closer. She had to grip onto something warm, almost forgetting about the ribs, but instead gripping his soft, thick hair, as she melted into his lean body.

Then he winced, pushing back with his eyes blacker thanouter space, his breath coming every bit as fast as hers.

‘I’m sorry.’ She pressed her palm against his heart, which was hammering as loudly as hers, but also his lungs were expanding. He was breathing properly. She could feel it. ‘We’re not ready.’

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