Page 3 of Baking with Bryan

“Please, make yourself at home.” He says sarcastically, winking playfully.

“I plan to. And you’d better think about what’s for dinner because you’ll owe me for all the work I’m going to put in.”

“If you want me to cook for you, all you have to do is ask, Nor.” He turns, and I admire the fit of his jeans and how his firm ass fills them out. I bite my lip as I run my gaze up his back.

The gray Henley fits him like a second skin. At six foot two, he towers over my five-foot-seven frame. Licking my lips, I wrestle down the urge to climb him like a tree as I unzip my jacket and de-winterize.

Slipping out of my boots, I hang my jacket in the closet and rejoin him in the kitchen. Bryan opened the window behind the sink and disposed of his crime of baking.

“It smells a whole lot better in here.”

“One more joke, and you won’t get any of this tasty lasagna.” He gestures toward the pan waiting to be filled.

“I’ll say no more.” I clamp my lips shut.

“I’ll believe that when I see it for myself, chatty Cathy.” He smirks, and my insides melt. The man has no clue what he does to me.

“You have no shortage of words yourself.”

“That’s part of my charm.”

“Oh, but not mine?” I ask with a laugh.

“You’re portable and optimistic.”

I place my hands on my hips. “Portable?”

“Tiny? Diminutive? Adorable…”

I pinch his side.

“Ow. And mean.” His deep chuckle is rich and smooth, like expensive chocolate.

“Enough with the short jokes, you giant.”

He smiles. “It’s okay, Nor. You’re height challenged. You make up for it in personality.”

“Are you telling me I’m bossy?” I narrow my gaze.

He shakes his head. “Never to your face.”

“Full of piss and vinegar today, aren’t you?” I’ll take him like this over the defeated man I’d walked in on any day.

“What can I say? You work wonders for my mood.”

How about your libido?Using my peripheral vision, I study him as he moves to the kitchen to gather the filling for the lasagna.

“How can I help?”

“By using that beautiful brain of yours.” He taps my temple.

“We’ll figure out a way to display your talents,” I promise.

“Everything always seems possible when I have you at my side.” I wrap my arms around his waist, and he accepts my hug.

He lowers his gaze, and I hold my breath as he moves in and stops millimeters from his lips.

“Thank you, Nor.”

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