Page 65 of Justified Fear
“I wasn’t sure if you could drink tonight or if you even drank.I have some wine chilling in the refrigerator for me.I also have beer.”
“Since I’m on call, I’ll stick to water.”
Plus, he wanted to keep his wits about him.This woman had left him a little dizzy from the moment she fell on top of him.
“You don’t mind if I drink, do you?I’m not a big drinker, but I love a crisp Pino when I’m eating seafood.”
“Not at all.It’s in the fridge?”
She nodded as she turned to reach for a wine glass.His eyes almost rolled back in his head.The dark purple fabric clung to her perfect heart-shaped ass.Ryan needed to get his eyes off that ass, so he turned toward the fridge.He had noticed it the day before.It was one of those retro-looking fridges in avocado.He remembered his grandmother had one when he was little.Or maybe he had seen it in pictures.Other than a few updates, he knew the house was pretty close to the original.
“There’s filtered water in the fridge.”
He saw it sitting there, so he grabbed it and the wine bottle.
He opened the Pino.
“I just need about half a glass.”
He did as she requested and handed it to her.“Thank you.”
After taking a sip, she set it down.“I hope you’re okay with lobster rolls.I didn’t want a big dinner, and I could poach the lobster meat ahead of time.”
She took two hoagie rolls and split them open.Damn, she was good with a knife.
“I didn’t have a lobster roll until I went up to the Northeast.They weren’t that big in Texas.The first time I went to Maine with some classmates, we stopped at this food truck, and I fell in love.It’s one of the things I included at my restaurant, but with a little flair.”
“It must have been hard moving away and giving that up.”
“It was.But in the long run, I think it was for the best.I had never thought of opening a brick-and-mortar kind of restaurant.I think I’m more of a food truck kind of gal.”
He chuckled.“I could see that you would rather be out and about.”
She slathered butter onto each side of the roll.“I hope you like garlic.Oh…I guess that’s not the right thing to be doing on a date.”
Seeing her worry made his own ease.He thought he was the only one who was nervous.“If we’re both having garlic, I don’t think it matters.”
Her expression eased.“Oh, good.”
She opened the oven and popped the two halves in.Opening a cabinet to the left of the range, she grabbed two plates.She set them on the island.
“I hope?—”
He stopped her by taking her hand.“I will love anything you make.Don’t worry about me.”
She sighed.“Sorry.I’m still trying to move away from those things I learned in my last relationship.”She closed her eyes.“Sorry.I haven’t dated much at all, and I’m sure you can tell.”
He didn’t like hearing that she had any kind of relationship, especially one that sounded like that.He still had hold of her hand, so he gently tugged her closer.Her eyes opened as he slipped his arm around her waist.
“There are no rules here, other than stop saying you’re sorry.”
She blinked up at him, and the worry seemed to dissolve from her expression.“I think I can try to do that.”
“Good.”
She stepped away from him, and he had to fight the urge to pull her back.After pulling out two containers, she set them on the counter, then got the rolls out of the oven.
“Oh, Maya,” she called out.Then she looked at Ryan.“It’s okay if I give her a bone, right?”
