Page 32 of Heal Me
“Open it.”
She lifted the lid and took out the Macy’s gift card.
“You can buy whatever sheets strike your fancy,” he said.
Kate blushed as she laughed and Ric thought she had the best laugh he’d ever heard. It was a rich, slightly throaty sound that made him happy just hearing it. “I don’t believe you. I thought you were just joking.”
“Oh, no. I never joke about bargains. It’s important to always come through on your end,” Ric said.
Kate leaned down to kiss his cheek and the scent of her vanilla and jasmine perfume hit him. He wanted to pull her down on the couch and have her for a snack instead of the popcorn, but he behaved and resisted that urge.
“I’ll be right back.”
Ric watched her walk from the room and thought that jeans would always be the clothing he liked best on her. Next to her birthday suit, that was. “Down, boy,” he said to his libido.
*****
Kate fixed a tray of snacks and beer as she listened to Ric get acquainted with the dogs. She smiled at the way he kept trying to coax Daisy closer. It amused her that he was so persistent and figured that he must be the same way in his business dealings to have become such a success.
Finished, she carried the tray of popcorn, nachos, and cookies into the living room. “I was hungry for a little more than popcorn.”
“What is all that?” Ric asked as she sat the tray on the coffee table. “Nachos? I love nachos. How’d you know?”
Kate handed him a beer. “I don’t know. You just seem like a nachos kind of guy to me.”
Ric twisted the top off the bottle and took a pull from it. “Well, I am. I’m a junk food nut period, which is why I have to limit myself and go to the gym since I don’t do ranch work anymore.”
“I can see that you take very good care of yourself,” Kate said sitting down by him.
“Thanks. I try. You take good care of yourself, too.”
Their eyes met and Kate’s stomach dropped pleasantly as their evening of passion came back to her. Not that it was ever far from her thoughts. “Thanks. What would you like to watch? An action movie? Horror?”
Ric smiled and she wanted to kiss him so badly that she almost attacked him again. “Actually, I’m going to let in on a little secret that no one knows. I’m trusting you with very sensitive material, here.”
His playful comment made her chuckle. “Okay. I won’t tell a soul. Scout’s honor.”
“All right, but if this gets into the wrong hands, I’m going to have to punish you,” he said.
“I promise.”
Ric looked a trifle bashful as he said, “I’m a secret romantic and my favorite movie of all time isSomeone Like You. I’ve probably watched it a hundred times, but it never gets old.”
Kate couldn’t hide her smile. “Really? A big, tough guy like you is into romantic movies? I had you pegged for Jason Bourne or James Bond. Vin Diesel, maybe.”
“I like all of them, but I’m a sucker for a happy ending.” He laughed. “That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.”
Kate giggled at his poor word choice. “I knew what you meant. I think it’s sweet that you’re in touch with your softer side.”
“But remember, you can’t tell anyone.”
“So you want to watch Someone Like You?”
“Do you like it?”
Kate gave him a sidelong glance as she put the TV on and brought up Netflix. “I don’t think that there are many women who don’t. Hugh Jackman!”
Ric popped a nacho into his mouth and crunched it. “Mmm. Spicy. Love it. We have an audience.”
