“We cook the meat up now, prep the veggies, and I’ll store it in the fridge at the pub. Then we’ll deliver it on Saturday to the wedding. Ask the caterers to bring extra warming dishes, and we’re set.”
“I can’t thank you enough for this.”
“Oh…I don’t know about that. Sit there and think of all the naughty ways you might repay me.”
I didn’t trust his smile, but it warmed me up like I sat on the burner. He pre-warmed the pan for the ground meat and rummaged through my drawers for a spatula.
“You can cook?” I asked.
“Cook. Brew. Bake. I’m a one-man kitchen machine.”
“That’s good to know.”
His arms tensed as he hauled the meat to the counter. His muscles flexed, and I wanted nothing more than to touch his ink. “Why’s that?”
“Because now I know you can make me dinner.”
“Anytime you want, baby.”
He was serious. My heart thudded a bit too hard. I turned to distract myself with the veggies and other prep work, but Nate thought ahead. He bought shredded lettuce and refried beans, taco sauce, shells. Everything we needed.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that Nate would have done everything in his power to help me.
But it did.
And it meant so much more to me than he realized. Maybe it was time for him to know it.
“Nate…” I had no idea what to say that didn’t sound idiotic. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“You asked me for help.”
“I probably overstepped my bounds—”
“If you ask me for help…I’ll help. Anytime, baby.” His smile faded, but his voice warmed. “And I like that you asked me.”
“I liked that you came.”
He grinned, “You always do.”
I smacked his arm. “You know what I mean.”
My fingers teased over his shoulder and bicep. He tensed under my touch, but it was a good tense. A shiver rolled from me into him. Every instinct screamed at me to pull away, apologize, and hide behind the box of dozens of tomatoes for chopping. Instead, I traced the ink on his arm.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “I feel…calmer now.”
“As soon as I’m done, I’ll make sure you’re very relaxed.”
I smirked. “Oh, I see how it is. This project isn’t from the goodness of your heart. You want something in return.”
Nate winked. “Baby, you don’t have to bribe me with tacos to sex you up.”
“Sex me up?”
“Well, either I sex you up or I go down…lady’s choice.”
“How magnanimous.”
Nate gave the pan a shake. “One thing about me you might not know…I’m a giver. I live to serve.”
I laughed. “Your reputation begs to differ.”
“And your experiences?”
I bit my lip. “Those are a different story.”
“Until you, I hadn’t found a woman who deserved my undivided attention.”
“What’s so special about me that I get that honor?”
“Because you’re so goddamned beautiful I can’t help staring at you.” He graced me with another sidelong glance that lingered over my curves. “Say the word, and I’m fucking yours baby. I’ve got twenty-five pounds of ground beef in that cooler to prove it.”
My heart beat too fast to hear over the rushing blood coursing through my body. I swallowed. Nate didn’t expect me to answer. His sweet smile soothed the raging blitz of emotions and hormones that stole my voice.
I had no idea what to say. I knew which words he wanted to hear.
And those were the ones I couldn’t say yet.
Not if I kept the secret.
Nate nudged me to prep the ingredients, and I helped to organize once we cooked the meat and chopped the onions and diced the tomatoes. I shoved as much as I could in the fridge. It took a few hours, but we prepared everything and stashed it away without me combusting from standing too near the stove or straying too near the man who owned my heart, my body, and was slowly wearing down the only defense I had against him.
He turned off the light over the stove and stared at me.
“All done.” His voice was a low, gravelly rumble. It hummed through me, and I couldn’t breathe. “The wedding is saved.”
“I…I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Yes, you do.” He leaned in, but he didn’t kiss me. “I should get going. Need a shower to get all the grease off me.”
I licked my lips. “You could shower here.”
“Only if I get some company.”
The thought thrilled me. I bit my lip and took his hand, tugging him towards the bathroom. He grinned.