Page 19 of Found Forever

School was out for the summer, so from nine in the morning until seven at night, she was teaching. Every age and skill-level, too. Preschoolers to teenagers. Those without an ounce of rhythm and those who could do a better grand jeté than she could.

Mieka had the schedule well organized, but PACKED.

Joanna was positively knackered but also elated by the time she schlepped her way into the farmhouse that night.

She expected to find it empty and dark, but it wasn’t.

Food sat on the table, soft music played in the background and someone puttered in the kitchen making noise.

Triss and Asher had the ranch dog Bruno with them, but Bruno obviously couldn’t make dinner, so was it one of the ranch hands?

Nope. She’d recognized that broad back and fine ass anywhere. Even if she only just started ogling it a few days ago.

Decker spun around, a tea towel thrown over one shoulder as he carried a cast iron pan of sautéed green beans over to the table that was set for two. A roast chicken sat already carved on the table, along with a green salad and roasted potatoes.

“How was your first day of teaching dance?” he asked, setting the frying pan down onto a hot pad.

She blinked at him, unable to speak.

He blanched. “Did you lose your voice having to talk all day?”

She shook her head. “What is all this?”

“Dinner?” he replied, adding an upward inflection of his own since it was clear as day what it was.

“Yes, but—”

He rolled his eyes. “Go wash your hands, Joanna. I made you dinner because you worked hard all day. We’re also staying in this house together, so what kind of a roommate would I be if you came home, and I was eating and didn’t make enough for you?”

“I—” but she was speechless. So she just did as she was told and went to the bathroom to wash her hands, returning a moment later.

“Sit,” he ordered. “Wine?”

“Uh, sure.”

He poured her a glass of the same rosé that she and Mieka enjoyed the night before. Then he ditched the tea towel and pulled out a seat for himself. “I asked Mieka if you were allergic to anything and she said you weren’t. That you like food as long as you’re not the one cooking it.”

Mieka was right about that. Joanna didn’t like cooking and she wasn’t very good at it.

Everything on the table looked and smelled delicious.

“Well, dig in,” he said, spearing a couple of roast potatoes and putting them on his plate.

Still very bewildered, but famished, she dished up her plate, taking a little bit of everything. Then she added more of everything because she could.

“Tell me about the first day,” he prompted, bringing a shiny green bean to his lips and taking a bite. He wasn’t even using a fork. He was like some kind of sexy savage and she was here for it.

“It went rather well, I think. Great kids. All eager. All excited.”

He nodded, and she could tell that he was really listening to her. Really absorbing what she was saying.

“The preschoolers were wild, but they had great energy. I just played a lot of games with them and they seemed to like it. The older ones are very serious and dedicated. I remember what it was like to be so focused. To live and breathe dance.”

He nodded andchewed.

“What did you get up to today?” she asked, cutting into a potato, which steamed when she opened it up.

“Helped Asher fix some holes in the fence near the back corner of the field. Cleaned out some stalls. Had to catch a chicken that got injured before the others pecked it to death. That idiot goat Fumble got out, so we had to chase that bastard almost down the entire driveway before we caught him. Took six of us. Fucker just needs to be shot. He’s more trouble than he’s worth.”

---