Page 40 of Heart Set on You

“What about your family?”

“They went to Whistler for two days. It’ll just be us. Say yes.”

This time, she doesn’t hesitate. She says the only word I want to hear. Yes.

* * *

When I finally walk through the door later that night, I’m exhausted. It was a long day and I couldn’t wait to get home to Rylee. I toss my wallet onto the table in the foyer and toe off one of my shoes.

“Ryls?” I call out. It’s almost 9:30 p.m. but after the day I had on set it feels more like three in the morning. I get my second shoe off and walk into the kitchen, desperate to see my girl.

I find Rylee standing at the sink, wearing a pair of very short shorts and a tank top. My dick takes notice of the fact she’s not wearing a bra. I instantly need to make an adjustment.

“I thought you might be hungry so I’m making you a little something. I hope you don’t mind me messing up your kitchen.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I nuzzle my face into her neck. Good Lord, she smells good. I inhale her then kiss the back of her neck. “Mind? You are spoiling me. I like coming home to you.”

“You’re just excited for my cooking.”

“The cooking is a bonus. It’s you and these legs and this ass and your mouth that I’ve been dying to see.”

She turns in my arms to face me, rising on her toes to kiss me. I kiss her back, hard. I don’t want to stop but she giggles, pulling back.

“Patience, Miles,” she says with a sly smile. “I will feed you and then I will take you upstairs. I figured you’d be hungry, so I made you chicken and dumplings. It’s an old family recipe. As my gran likes to say, you’ll be full as a tick by the time you’re done.”

“Fuck Ryls, when you talk with that sexy drawl of yours, I lose all control.” The thought of skipping dinner and taking her straight upstairs crosses my mind. What I really want to do right now is undress her with my teeth. She must notice the heat in my eyes when she gently pushes me away.

“Go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready in less than 10 minutes.”

She smirks, then turns her attention to the stove. Dinner smells so fucking good. Watching her, I find myself smiling like a madman. I’m used to coming home to an empty house at the end of the day. Coming home to Rylee is so much better.

Fuck me. What did I do to deserve this girl?

She hands me a tumbler of my favorite whiskey and instructs me to sit on a stool.

“You didn’t have to cook. We could have ordered something,” I say, taking a sip of the amber liquid.

“When was the last time you had a home-cooked meal?” Rylee looks at me and my chest tightens. She’s right, I can’t even remember the last time someone cooked for me. We’ve slipped into these intimate moments so easily. I like that she thinks about what I need, that she recognizes what has been missing in my life.

“It’s been a long time,” I admit to her.

She continues to move around the kitchen, finding plates and silverware, setting the table. Her hair is pulled back in a headband, her feet are bare, her toes painted a pale shade of pink. She always looks beautiful, but tonight even more so.

“What are you smiling at?” she asks, catching me staring.

“You.” I get up from my seat and on my way to the sink I kiss her shoulder. I notice her camera on the counter. “What were you taking photos of?”

“Nothing too exciting, I just thought I might feel inspired, being so close to the ocean. I noticed that Japanese Maple when I was cooking dinner, so I took a few shots. It really is beautiful against the blue of the ocean. I couldn’t resist.”

I glance out the kitchen window. I’ve looked at this view countless times and have never even noticed the tree. But somehow, now it’s all I see. “Will you show me the photos that you took? I’d love to see them.”

“Maybe,” she says, blushing. “If you eat all of your dinner, I’ll consider it.” She winks, and it’s cute as hell.

“You’re blushing, you know?”

“I am not,” she says stubbornly.

“Are too. And I love it when you do.”

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