“We don’t have to do that,” she said, bringing him back to the real world and not his hot fantasies about her. “I can make us something quick, if you want to stay for dinner.”
“Just try to get rid of me, baby.” He gave her a lingering kiss, then released her. “What else do we have to do here?”
She looked around. “Things seem to be under control.”
They walked out to the hall as Colin came downstairs carrying a big laundry basket heaped with clothes. “Okay, what do I do with these?”
Gina called from the living room. “Bring them in here. We’ll separate them.”
“We’re going now,” Hayden said. “But call me if you need anything, okay?”
“We’ll be fine,” Colin said. “You have a nice dinner with your young man.”
Beck’s eyebrows lifted and he exchanged an amused glance with Hayden.
“I will,” she said. “I’ll talk to you soon. Good luck with the laundry!”
“You’re so patient with them,” Beck murmured, setting his hand just above her ass as they walked down the driveway.
“Yes, I am.” She blew out a breath. “But I admit there’ve been times I wanted to yell at Uncle Colin. I love him, and he’s a great husband and father, but come on, man, this is the twenty-first century. Learn to load the dishwasher!”
“I agree.”
“You do your own laundry?”
“Who else would do it?” He opened her door for her and she slid in.
“I’m sure there are many women who’d offer.”
“I notice you haven’t jumped up wanting to do it.”
“We hardly know each other.” She smirked. “Doing someone’s laundry is pretty intimate.”
“Do we have everything we need for dinner?”
“I think so. Why?”
“Do we have time to make a stop somewhere?”
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
He caught the way her lips pressed together. Then she let out a breath. “Okay, fine.”
He repressed his smile.
“Dinner won’t be anything fancy. A quick stir-fry.”
“I’m not a picky eater. And I do try to eat healthy. As a SEAL, we had a pretty strict diet.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. Limiting processed foods, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains. Lots of carbs and protein, low fat. Our physical activities were pretty intense and we needed to fuel our bodies. Maintain and rebuild muscle.”
“Hmm. I guess that’s true. For some reason I thought you were a burgers-and-fries kind of guy.”
“Because I took you to Benny’s that day at the beach?”
“I guess so.”
“Shame on you, forming an impression on that one time.”
“You’re right.”
“Nothing wrong with a good burger once in a while. Emphasis on the ‘good.’ If you’re going to eat junk food, it better taste damn good so you can enjoy the hell out of it.”
She relaxed back into the leather seat, the wind tossing her hair around, a smile beneath her sunglasses. “I’m enjoying the hell out of this ride.”
“Oh, baby. Saying things like that will get you ridden hard. Later.”
Her cheeks turned pink.
“I was thinking about you last night. Were you thinking about me?”
Her hesitation was barely obvious. “Yes.”
“Excellent.”
He pulled into a parking lot in the Gaslamp District. Hayden sent him a questioning look as they each opened their doors and climbed out. He took her hand and led her to the sidewalk and then down 5th Avenue to Bisou.
“What is this?” she slanted him a look as he held the door open for her.
“Bisou. A lingerie store. It’s where I bought those panties.”
She lowered her sunglasses and gave him a look up through her eyelashes. “And we’re here…why?”
“To pick out some matching bras.”
Her mouth fell open. “I don’t need bras.”
“Of course you do.” He nudged her inside. She pushed back, but then entered the store. The captivating smell of expensive perfume enveloped them.
He watched her check out the boutique, gazing around at the antique tables piled with goodies, and bras hanging on pink satin hangers that matched the wallpaper. She moved over to one bra and plucked at the tag hanging from it. Her head whipped around to glare at him. “Shut up!” she whispered. “I can’t afford this place!”
“I can. Let’s see…I really like those black-and-white panties…I mean, ivory, they called it…” He perused a rack.
A woman dressed all in black approached them with a smile. “Hello. I’m Claire. Can I help you find something today?”