Page 25 of Covert Temptation

His attention shifted to her face. “You requested extra for midnight snacks.Anddessert.”

She leaned back, patting her stomach. “That turnover really hit the spot too. It tasted better than it looked.”

She felt his gaze roaming over her, but he said nothing. After he scraped out the last of the cannoli and stuffed it in his mouth, he twitched his head toward the TV.

“Cooking shows?”

“I was hungry.”

“So you tortured yourself by watching food you couldn’t eat.” He picked up the remote and held it out to her like a peace offering. “Look, let’s stop fighting.”

She blinked at him.

He waved the remote. “Your call.”

She took it. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

Smiling inwardly, she began flipping through the options and finally landed on a channel. Not a drama or reality show.

This really was her lucky day—pizzaandhockey.

With a happy sigh, she settled back in the corner of the sofa.

She felt his gaze snap to her. “You’re into hockey?”

“Big-time.”

“Thought you were more… I don’t know, jewelry commercials and cooking competitions.”

She turned her head to face him, arching a brow. “Because I carry a crocodile purse?”

He looked momentarily smug. “Exactly.”

“It’s ostrich, you heathen. And stop trying to profile me—you’re terrible at it.”

He huffed a laugh, leaning back on the couch. “All right, couture queen. I see you now. Surprise me.”

She knew she already had. And the way he was studying her now made her skin prickle. Not with discomfort, but with awareness.

As the puck dropped on the ice, she settled into the cushions, careful to retain a few inches between them. He radiated heat and quiet confidence and something else—something unreadable that kept her on edge in ways she wasn’t used to.

She didn’t belong in any neat little box, and she didn’t want him trying to shove her into one just because she used designer bags and could wield a datebook like a weapon.

He didn’t say much, but he stayed through the first two periods. When he finally stood and stretched, she tilted her head up to look at him.

“I’ll be up by five,” he said casually, like it was a perfectly normal time to wake up.

Her eyes widened. “Seriously? Party animal.”

He gave her an exasperated look.

“Aren’t most military men masochists?” she added with a sly grin.

“This body’s a machine.” He ran a hand down his torso, echoing her thoughts. “I have to take care of it.”

Her mouth went a little dry.

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