Page 65 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

She started to prepare a pork chops recipe. Chops never turned out well if all you did was cook them in the oven. In culinary school she’d learned that the secret was to brine the pork first. Hazel had already done so and now got a pan out to sear the meat.

As she began to do that, Callum joined her in the kitchen. She retrieved the chops from the refrigerator, where they had been soaking in water a

nd salt for three hours. Removing them from the solution, she placed them on a paper towel, flipping them to dry the other side.

Next, she brushed them with olive oil and then sprinkled them with garlic.

Callum joined in with the onion salt and she said, “Good,” when he’d done enough on each chop.

She followed up with pepper, glancing up at him. His playful eyes caught hers. He enjoyed being close to her. The seasoning was just an excuse.

“If I stick with you I could learn how to cook,” he said.

If he stuck with her? As in being girlfriend-boyfriend? She decided not to rein in her temptation to play along. This was too fun.

“I hope you’re a fast learner, then.” She let him interpret that any way he chose. She meant she hoped he’d learn to forgive himself for the deaths of his girlfriend and child and open himself up to new love. And quickly. Before Nate Blurge’s murderer was caught.

“I fear you’re the kind of woman who could make me one,” he said.

He had interpreted what she had said exactly as she meant it. Tickled on the inside, she seared one side of the chops and then the other, feeling as hot as the pan right now.

After placing the chops on a pan, Callum put it into the oven. Then he straightened and faced her, the movement bringing him right before her.

She put her hands up against his chest, a reflexive reaction.

He didn’t step away and she found herself melting into his eyes. The seconds ticked on but she was only aware of him and the heat rising.

“What’s next?” he murmured.

“I...” Dazed by the fire coursing through her, she at first thought he referred to their close proximity.

“With the pork chops,” he said.

“Oh.” She breathed a laugh. “Three minutes on each side and then they’re done. Then I need to make the vegetable. I already have the potatoes and gravy in the freezer.”

Their room phone rang.

Hazel went to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hello,” a man’s voice said. “This is the front desk. We have a delivery here for Ms. Hart.”

“Oh. A delivery?” She glanced at Callum, whose lighthearted expression turned to concern.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Okay. I’ll be right down.” She hung up and turned the stove off before going for the door. “There’s something at the front desk for me.”

Callum headed for the door ahead of her. “I’ll go with you.”

They took the elevator down.

In the lobby she walked with him to the front desk, where she already saw a vase full of flowers and a box of what had to be chocolates next to it.

“I take it you didn’t send me those,” she said, needing to keep the moment light.

“No, but maybe I should.”

At the desk, she told the clerk her name. He slid the vase and box toward her.

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