Page 113 of Restricted List

“YouthoughtI’d be able to help with it. I can’t help you with spaghetti sauce, man. I only know how to cook Korean food.”

“You grew up in the United States. How can you only cook Korean food?”

“Because Tom Morgan doesn’t cook. I never got a home-cooked meal from him. Learned all of that from my mom.”

“Sounds like I’m on my own with this, then,” I sigh. “The sauce seems fine so far, and I don’t think I can fuck up boxed noodles.”

“No, but you can fuck up the garlic bread,” Ari smirks as I take note of the smoke coming out of the oven.

“Goddammit!”

His laughter is raucous as I grab an oven mitt, pull out the tray of now-burned garlic bread, and fan the smoke away.

“See,” he says, “you wouldn’t need to go through this if you said ‘fuck love’ like I do.”

“You’re going to meet a woman one day that undoes all that shit you tell yourself, and I’m going to be the smuggest bastard when it happens.”

We’re interrupted by a knock at my door, and I smile widely. “Starlight just arrived,” he says.

“She did,” I grin. “I’m hanging up now. I don’t really want to give you a show later.”

“Hey, I’m down for a show. I haven’t had any action in weeks now.”

“That’s what your hand is for, bro. Take care of yourself.”

Ari laughs heartily. “Be safe, Pierce. Don’t forget to use protection.”

I smirk at him. “We get by just fine without it.”

Rory knocks again, so I finally hang up with Ari and walk over to the door. I swing it open, and my breath catches in my throat.

God, she’s so fucking beautiful.

Her black dress is skin-tight, and the thigh-high black boots she paired it with are so sexy. Every curve of hers is accentuated by the fabric, and I have to bite my lip to keep from ravishing her right now.

“Merry Christmas, Sparrow,” she says brightly, her warmth filling up the room.

“Merry Christmas, Starlight,” I reply, taking her bag from her as she shrugs off her coat.

Rory walks into the kitchen, and I follow after her. “Did you make dinner again?” She eyes me curiously.

“I did,” I reply, sheepishly rubbing the back of my neck. “Spaghetti tonight. I did try to make homemade sauce, and I’m hoping it turned out well. But the noodles are boxed, and the garlic bread is burnt.”

She rears her head back and laughs. “I should’ve gotten you cooking lessons for Christmas, apparently.”

I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her in close. “You didn’t need to buy me anything for Christmas, baby. I’ve already got my gift right here.”

“Whoever would have guessed Cole Pierce is such a romantic?” She smiles at me so sweetly, and I melt just a little bit inside.

“Only ever been that way for you, Rory girl,” I admit, stroking my thumb across her cheek. “Let me finish dinner, and then we can get the rest of the night started.”

Dinner tonight turned out much better than I anticipated. I can’t cook much, but apparently, Icancook spaghetti sauce.

Rory puts the last of our dishes into the sink, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her back flush against my chest. I start humming a song, and we sway to the tune before she finally realizes what it is.

“Are you hummingInvisible?”she asks, turning her face up to look at me.

“I am. It’s been stuck in my head since the wedding.”

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