Page 24 of Recipe for Romance

“Excuse me.” Aiden broke the kiss at the sound of a gruff voice, turning to see a large man’s irritated expression as he maneuvered around them. “Get a room,” he muttered before entering the restroom.

Aiden scowled at the man’s retreating form, but he softened his expression as he turned back to Nicole. She was gazing up at him with wonder, a blissful smile on her face. “That’s actually not a bad idea,” she told him, licking her lips. “Maybe we should get a room.”

Sleeping together wasn’t a good idea.Or is it the best idea ever?His under stimulated libido and bloodless brain were not helping matters. Their relationship was messy, complicated not only by his position as her pseudo mentor, but by her father being involved, albeit marginally, in the backing of his restaurant. Still, as Aiden continued to look at Nicole, her eyes hungry for him and only him, he couldn’t help but give into the devil whispering at him from his shoulder.

“Maybe,” he said. Turning, he offered her his hand, his mouth ticking up as she took it. “Let’s get your things.”

They walked back to the table, every one of the occupants gazing at them knowingly after taking one look at their slightly disheveled appearance and kiss-swollen lips. Autumn handed Nicole her purse with a wink. “Have a good night. Call me and we can hang out sometime.”

Nicole blushed as she took her bag. “Will do, and thanks for the awesome time everyone.” After some quick goodbyes with Aiden pointedly ignoring the deliberate smirks of his brothers, he placed his hand on her lower back and steered her towards the front door. The cool night air felt good against his overheated skin, but it did little to calm his need.

Aiden walked Nicole to her car, kissing her briefly on the lips. “See you at home?” he asked. Nicole nodded, sliding into her vehicle. As he walked back to his own, a real, genuine smile pulled across his face. Aiden was heading home, the word holding much more weight and meaning now that she would be there with him.

Chapter Twelve

~Nicole~

In reality, the drive back to the house was a short one, no more than fifteen minutes, but it felt like an eternity. After that earth shattering kiss back at the brewery, Nicole couldn’t wait to get home and explore whatever was happening between her and Aiden. They were obviously attracted to each other, but beyond that, he had actually apologized for how he’d pushed her away, even when she had done the same thing. It was hearing his dismissive words that prompted the distance between them, but Nicole wasn’t innocent in the rebuilding of that wall.

With a few words of amends and a kiss that melted her knees like ice cream on a hot day, that wall came tumbling down and she was glad of it. The space and tension that wall created had been driving her crazy, but she needed him to be the one to dislodge that first brick. Nicole was strong, but she couldn’t have handled the disappointment of trying and failing again, not with Aiden. She’d had enough disappointment in her life already.

Mercifully, before she could fall down a rabbit hole of past failings, her headlights lit up the outside of Aiden’s craftsman style home. When he’d told her it was a rental, it had made sense because it was so warm and inviting, not much like the man himself at all. Now that she had been staying there for a while, she actually saw more of him in the house than even he probably did.

The bookcases filled with texts related to anything with cooking, the organization and labeling system of his kitchen that would astonish even Marie Kondo, and the family photos here and there were all indicative of the type of person he was. Organized and passionate about cooking as well as his family. Yes, he was grumpy and didn’t participate in the fun as much as his brothers did, but he had his own way of taking care of them. Food could be a wonderful expression of love, and the fact that he came back to Applewood to open his restaurant was just one indication of how much he cared for his family. Would he care for her that way eventually? Nicole wasn’t sure, but as she spied him waiting for her on the front porch, she was excited to find out.

Smiling, she left her car and took the few steps up to Aiden, smiling when she saw the same hungry and determined look in his eyes that had existed back at the bar. “Hi.” She spoke quietly, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze. That shyness was quickly replaced by awe when Aiden smiled.

It wasn’t big or bright necessarily like his younger brother’s had been, but more understated with his lips pulled back, showing just a hint of teeth. More than his mouth, Aiden’s eyes were where his smile lay. The teal color was darker than usual, but there seemed to be a light shining from behind it, the lines at the corners looking like rays emanating from the sun as it peaked out from the back of a storm cloud. It was a beautiful smile, and Nicole felt herself tumble into feelings of love for a moment before she remembered herself.This wasn’t that, was it?

Aiden didn’t speak, merely holding his hand out to her. When she slipped hers over his, their palms warming each other’s as they stepped into the house, she felt a flutter of nerves in her chest. Sex was easy for her. She’d had more than enough partners in the past to know what she was doing, but somehow this felt different, like more than just two people scratching an itch. It felt like this had been building since the moment they met, and now it would finally culminate. It would be amazing, but what would happen going forward? Her mind started to pick up and dart from one possibility to the next, but it went silent when Aiden pulled her down onto the couch next to him, pressing their mouths together.

At the touch of his soft lips to hers, all thoughts vanished. What did tomorrow matter when everything about tonight felt so right? His tongue slipped into her mouth, further obliterating any doubts she’d been having. As their tongues danced, Nicole slid down onto the couch, pulling Aiden along with her. Her hands gripped onto the hard muscles of his arms before sliding down his back and slipping into his pants.

His ass was big and firm, and she suddenly had the strongest urge to sink her teeth into the meaty flesh. Maybe once they made it up to the bedroom and stripped down, she would get her chance. Aiden’s heavy body pressed her further into the couch, but she enjoyed the weight of him on top of her. He was nearly twice her size, and she sort of loved the idea of being manhandled by him. As his hand slid up her stomach and cupped her breast, he pressed his hardness into her inner thigh and a contented sigh left both their mouths at the wonderful friction it created.

Just when Nicole thought her need couldn’t get any greater, her mind started playing tricks on her. Abruptly, her father’s voice filled the room, and any ache she’d had, any feelings of want evaporated in an instant. Her body stiffened. What had she been thinking? Aiden was meant to help her in the kitchen, not in the bedroom. As much fun as that would be, it would change things between them and he was her only shot at becoming the chef she wanted to be.

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