Page 9 of Wolfish Hunger
"Nah, it's just business crap. The others can deal with it."
Grinning, I lift the phone and thumb the dictation button. "I have a date. I’m sure you losers can figure this out on your own." I hit send, then turn the volume right down since I know there will be a slew of follow-up questions.
"So, what shall we make for dinner?" I ask. "Sorry – maybe I should've looked up some recipes first."
Sammie shrugs. "I think I remember a great dish well enough."
"You memorize recipes?" I lift my chin to address the fluorescent lights above us. "She's beautifulandbrilliant, plus, she can cook."
Sammie laughs, choosing a few tomatoes and placing them in our basket. "Mom had a cookbook calledThe Urban Peasant. I think the guy who wrote it had a TV show that she liked…think he might have been Canadian, maybe? Anyway, his theory was that if you put a bunch of fresh food together and cook it simply, it's going to taste wonderful."
"I like that. Wholesome and fresh." I hold the basket aside, wrapping my free arm around her. "I've now had a chance to check these jeans out properly, and I like them a lot.”
My hand wanders all around the small of her back before grabbing her hip. Her palms land on my chest, and I dip my head to whisper in her ear. "I don't think I've ever kissed anyone right beside the onion bin. Have you?"
"No. Is it tacky?"
My eyebrow quirks up. "Do you care?"
"Nope."
Since we're in public, my intent is to give her a quick, light kiss. Just a tease of what's to come. But it only takes three seconds for our lips to part as we breathe each other in, thebasket balanced on her hip as I clutch her with both hands and hold her body to mine. A tiny purring moan escapes her throat and sends my blood rushing south.
Good lord, this gorgeous woman makes me incredibly hard, incredibly fast. The least gentlemanly part of my brain is screaming at me to just lift her and take her to the back of my truck right now.
Our kiss goes on for far too long, until I manage to tear myself away.
Her lovely caramel eyes are slightly glazed as she blinks up at me. "That was?—"
"Amazing, but terribly inappropriate behavior in front of the innocent garlic? I know."
We manage to grab the rest of the groceries and make it back to my house with only two more searing hot kisses.
When we reach my place, a strange shadow flickers in her eyes. "Something wrong?" I ask.
"Your house. It’s… How many people live here?"
"Just me."
"It's huge. Like a hotel or something."
"Really?" I laugh. "I think I have the smallest house out of the crew."
We go inside and head straight for the kitchen, where Sammie enthuses at great length over the appliances, the size of the space, and all the cooking gear I have. Then she puts me to work.
As I slice and dice, watching her every movement from out the corner of my eye, I find myself smiling. I love the way she’s shy in certain situations, but has no problem telling me exactly what to do. I love the way she can make the most mundane tasks seem fun and light.
I love…oh wow…
I love Sammie.
6
SAMMIE
I’ve always loved cooking but never knew that everything is even more delicious when you stop for a quick kiss break every few minutes.
With Kane’s attentive help, we make a simple chicken and vegetable stir fry over noodles – and yet cook up much more than that.
