Page 53 of Love, Always and Forever
“How about we have both? I’m willing to share my meatloaf with you, and I’m pretty sure your lasagna counts as a vegetable side dish. We can split the leftovers, too. That way neither of us has to cook for a day or two.”
He looked so hopeful all she could do was laugh. “And I suppose you’ll expect to take home a piece of the pie I baked, too.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You baked a pie and made a lasagna? When did you find time to work?”
“I finished the project I was working on this morning. After that, I got bored. When I get bored”—frazzled, confused, or hot for her handsome next-door neighbor—“I cook. I also have a batch of soup in my slow cooker and chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter.”
“Damn, all I’ve accomplished today was a long nap. You make me feel like a slacker.”
Not true. She hadn’t spent the night fighting a fire and who knew what else. Figuring he wouldn’t want to hear that, she pointed toward her front yard. “You needed that sleep. Don’t think I’ve forgotten you promised to work on my flower beds today.”
She put her hand on his bare chest, doing her best to ignore the shot of heat that touch sent ripping through her. “So get busy, mister. We both have work to do, and time’s a wasting.”
Then she gave him a gentle shove to send him on his way. They both knew she wasn’t strong enough to force him into action. He stared down at her palm on his chest and then caught her wrist in his. “I’m more than willing to make good on my promise.”
She swallowed hard. Which promise was he talking about? Because she couldn’t imagine digging up sod would account for the hunger glittering in his thickly lashed blue eyes. “I’m g-glad to hear that.”
Her small stutter turned his smile from friendly to predatory. “Good, Amy, because I can hardly wait to get started.”
Suddenly, his lips hovered right over hers as he gently pressed her up against the side of the garage, holding her there with his big body, which radiated heat that had nothing to do with the warm afternoon sun.
When he kissed her, it lasted forever and not nearly long enough. When he broke it off, she knew what regret tasted like.
“I’ll go put on my work boots and be right back. Okay?”
She managed to nod. Hopefully her legs would regain enough strength to support her while he was gone.
“One more thing, Amy.”
“What’s that?”
“I plan on working up quite an appetite.”
Then he was gone, leaving her wondering if he was talking about dinner…or her. Not sure which one she hoped was the right answer to that question, she went into full retreat back inside the house with the dogs right behind her.
