Page 49 of Protecting What Is Mine

“I stand corrected. Definitely, one of a kind,” Mollie says as she snuggles in a little more.

The weight of her body shifting on mine awakens my appetite. But chicken is not what I’m hungry for.

I feel myself stirring to life, and apparently Mollie does as well.

“What’s that? Is someone happy to see me?” she asks, tracing her hand down my abdomen toward my zipper.

“Pretty much always. And, for the record, that goes for the both of us.” I slide my hands under her knees and lift her off me as I stand. “But if I don’t go check on that chicken, Diesel’s going to be the only one with dinner.” I smile and adjust the growing erection in my jeans.

Pouty faced, Mollie asks, “Can I at least fix the salad while you tend to the grill?”

I nod. “I suppose that would be alright.” I grab a clean plate from the cabinet and some tongs from the drawer and head outside. The chicken looks good. I flip it over and spread a fresh coat of sauce, taking as much time as I can outside, hopeful the heat from the day—and the grill—are enough to calm my growing hunger. This girl has got enough on her plate right now, the last thing she needs is some dumb cowboy trying to get her into bed. She needs support, not sex.

Damn, is this a sign that I’m maturing?

I’m dripping with sweat by the time I shut off the gas and load the chicken onto the plate, but things down there are back under control—at least for now.

When I enter the kitchen, I find a properly set table, complete with silverware, plates loaded with salad, and two glasses of wine. And the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, smiling up at me.

“Hey, this is way more than fixing a salad.”

“What can I say, the faster we eat, the faster we can get to dessert.”

“Uh.” I glance around the kitchen, trying to think of what else is in the house. “Mol, I might have a couple of cookies hidden somewhere, but I’m afraid I don’t have much else to offer.”

Her eyes hungrily look me up and down. “Oh, I’m confident you’ve got everything I’m in the mood for.”

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