Page 53 of Love and Pancakes (Rockland Falls 1)

That realization is like a kick to the stomach, but it’s true. I do care about her wellbeing, more so than I have with any other woman.

“Dinner is ready,” Meghan announces proudly, bringing over two full plates and silverware to the table for her and her husband. It’s small, but we’ll all fit comfortably.

“I hope you don’t mind I made you a plate,” Marissa says shyly as she hands me a plate.

“I don’t mind at all,” I tell her, accepting the dish. It’s heaped with fresh salad, fresh steamed green beans with bacon and grated Gouda cheese, and a steak with those sautéed mushrooms and onions.

My stomach growls.

“Meghan says you like your steak medium,” she says nervously as she squeezes in the chair beside me. Okay, it’s a little tighter fit with four than anticipated, but I’m not complaining considering I’ve got a beautiful woman pressed against my side like a second skin.

“I do,” I answer, cutting into the steak so tender I could probably use a butter knife. I pop the first bite into my mouth and groan. “Jesus, that’s good.”

Nick takes a bite of his, moaning his own agreement, and turns to the woman at my side. “That’s the most tender steak I’ve ever had.”

“It should be. She beat the hell out of it with a mallet before you guys came down,” Meghan adds, taking a bite of her own food.

“Well, it helps that they were good cuts of steak,” Marissa replies, blowing off the compliment.

“And she marinated them in fruit,” Meghan says between bites.

“Fruit?” I ask, giving her my attention.

“Well, sea salt and a bit of papaya and pineapple. The acids in the fruit actually help break down tough meat and tenderize it.” Again, she blushes as she pokes around at her green beans.

“No shit?” I ask, surprised by this tidbit of information. “I’ve always just thrown the steak on the grill, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, and called it good.”

“And you can do that; grilling helps tenderize meat too, but over the years, I’ve experimented with different ways to grill and bake. One of my old professors in a cooking class told us that certain acidic fruits will help tenderize meat. She wasn’t wrong.” Marissa shrugs and takes a bite of her food. She chews slowly, as if savoring the flavors, and I realize I could watch her eat all day long. It’s sexy.

After dinner is finished, and Nick and I clean up the dishes, we return to the deck above to watch the sunset. We’re closer to the shore than we were earlier today, off the coast of South Carolina, where the waters are calm and peaceful. Nick turns on the radio while I grab us a few more beers, and we settle in to watch the sun dip below the shoreline.

Small talk comes easy, and so do the stories. Each tale of our childhood is a bit more embarrassing than the last. We’ve got the girls in stitches by the time the yawns start. I admit that I really don’t want tonight to end. Marissa is curled into my side, my arm slung over her shoulder and my finger brushing across her sun-kissed skin. She seemed a little hesitant at first, but eventually relented to the cuddle-ability my body promised.

“I’m exhausted,” Meghan says, standing up and reaching for Nick’s hand.

“That’s my cue.” He takes her offered hand, brings it to his lips, and escorts her down the stairs.

“If you could try to be a bit quieter tonight, I’d appreciate it,” I throw at them before they escape below.

“I hope you brought earplugs,” is all he says as he disappears below, a laugh following in his wake.

“Asshole.”

“You love him.”

Chuckling, I reply, “I do. He’s a great guy. I’m lucky to have him as my friend.”

“I really like him and Meghan, well, and everyone else too. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the family.”

“They’re almost overwhelming, but in a good way,” I respond as I stand up, extending my hand. She takes it instantly, her hand fitting so perfectly within mine. I push that thought aside, though, as I bring it up to my own lips. Her skin is so soft, delicate even. It makes me want to run my lips over her entire body.

I make sure the boat is secure before heading downstairs, following Marissa as I go. I shut the door, keeping the outside out for the night, and cutting off the wind noise. We can still hear the waves, still feel the gentle rocking of the boat, and for some reason, I truly hope she finds it as relaxing as I do.

“I don’t think they’re in the bathroom anymore. You can take it first,” I tell her, noticing the bathroom door is open from our side. Thank God. Otherwise, I’d be forced to knock on their door, interrupting whatever is going on in there, and ask them to unlock this side.

Marissa heads over to the drawer I gave her to use and grabs some clothes before closing herself in the bathroom. I use the opportunity to give my dick a pep talk about how to appropriately act when in the presence of a friend. A friend that has agreed to sex, but a friend nonetheless. We haven’t hit that phase in our friendship yet, but my dick doesn’t seem to care. I told her I’d wait, so I wait.

Dammit.

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