Page 37 of King of Pain

That’s when I hear a scratching right outside the door.

“Fuck,” I’m on my feet in a second, Kate freezes at the stove.

Grabbing a knife from the block, I start toward the front door.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Kate

I turn off the stove,not wanting to burn the place down. Mark would be devastated…

My breath catches as Luke turns off the lights and then creeps to the front door.

The woods are full of all kinds of interesting creaks and groans, but this was definitely scratching, and it was definitely on the porch.

Luke slides the door open, the wood only making the slightest squeak as he pokes his head out.

“Argh,” he growls out and then I hear it, the skittering of little feet.

“What was it?” I gasp, my hand coming to my throat.

He closes the door, flipping the light back on. “Raccoon looking for a handout.”

I give the smallest laugh on a long breath of air. I should have known.

Flipping the stove back on, I finish dinner, just a simple stir fry. Our diet has been short of vegetables, though, and I could use some.

“Things to know about the cabin,” I say as I plate. “It has a very small well for water, so we have a running toilet and fresh, drinkable water in the sinks, but there isn’t enough pressure for a shower so…”

“So?”

“We bathe in the creek.”

I set the plates down in front of him. He lifts his fork but waits for me to sit too. “Fine by me as long as we’re bathing together.”

I sit down, picking up my fork too. For a guy that told me he doesn’t do relationships, he sure does do intimacy. From that little show for the waitress, to the way he’s always touching me, I’ve never felt more… wanted.

“You know,” I lean forward, nipping at my lip. “The best time for a bath is at night.”

He leans forward too. “I like where your head’s at.”

I grin, my chin dipping as I look down at my plate. Dropping my fork, I scoop up some stir fry, taking a bite. Glancing up at Luke through my lashes, I try to keep my heart from racing.

He’s just so much man. He sits at the table, eating the dinner I made for him, arms flexing. “This is delicious, Kate. Thank you.”

I don’t mean to, but in my head, we start playing house.

Like me cooking for him, spending every night wrapped up in his arms. But I’m in med school. I have this whole plan for a career, and it was never supposed to involve a guy.

But right about now…

“You know, I’m not a bad cook either. I’ll cook for you tomorrow night.”

Even better.

We finish eating, and Luke gets up, clearing my plate and washing the dishes. No dishwasher here.

I lean back in my chair, just watching him work. I swear, I could fall for this guy. Fall hard.

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