Page 67 of Sinners' Appetite
“Why?”
“A restaurant I went to under-cooked mine and I got food poisoning. It kinda ruined fish for me.”
“Oh—shit.”
“Maybe I’ll just try it.”
“No pressure, baby girl. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“That was like, thirteen years ago, Nikki,” Sammi points out.
“That’s true. Stuffed salmon does sound pretty damn good.”
In seemingly no time, Malachi slows before approaching a long paved driveway in the middle of thick trees and what looks to be raspberry bushes. I love how private it is out here with not a single house in sight since we pulled onto this particular road.
A minute later, we enter a clearing with a very large cabin in the center.
“We’re here!” Malachi excitedly points out, parking the car not far from the cabin.
A wave of anxiety hits me and I hesitate to get out, while everybody else exits the car.
Malachi makes his way around to my door and opens it for me, holding his hand out to me. “Come on, baby girl.”
Reluctantly, I grab hold of his hand and step out, looking all around me as Malachi leads us toward the cabin.
From here, I can see the beach and the rooftops of the cabins. It’s honestly so damn beautiful. Nothing like the beaches I’ve ever been to.
“Fuck, no wonder he sticks to himself.” Jeremy grins.
As soon as we get to the door, Malachi knocks and opens it, revealing a spacious entryway with cathedral style ceilings.
“Hello?” He calls out as we all slip through the door and take our shoes off.
Just then, Dean walks around the corner and flashes us all a friendly smile. I can’t help but notice how insanely tall he is—and he’s fucking gorgeous.
“You took your beard off!” Malachi exclaims as he walks up to him and embraces him in a hug.
Dean slaps Malachi’s back, his dark brown eyes held on me the entire time. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me slightly nervous.
“It’s itchy during the summer months,” Dean says as he steps back away from Malachi. He then directs his attention to me, with a smile lingering on his face. “So, you must be Nikki.”
“Yep,” I manage to breathe out as he slowly scans my body from head to toe.
“And this is Sammi and Jeremy,” Malachi says.
“Nice to meet you. I hope you’re all hungry,” Dean says as he leads us further into the cabin.
As soon as we enter the kitchen, Dean points to the table in the corner. “Make yourself comfortable.”
We all take a seat and Malachi reaches for the bottle of wine in the center, pouring all of us a good amount in our glasses. Moments later, Dean walks over with a large salmon on a wooden tray.
“That looks amazing,” Sammi chirps as she takes a sip of her wine.
Once Dean brings the rest of the food to the table, we all start to dish out our own. I stare down at the salmon and then decide to take a small portion, just in case I can’t stomach it.
Surprisingly, when I take a bite, my mouth starts to water and I can’t help but reach over and grab a larger piece.
When I glance up from my plate, Dean is staring at me with a look in his eyes that makes me anxious.
