The sauce simmering on the stove picked up to a roaring boil, and Brogan broke away from the kiss to turn down the heat. In that split second of reprieve, I was able to remember my mission for tonight: figure out what the hell this was. As soon as I found the right moment.
I looked around the kitchen, unsure of what to do with my hands…besides manhandle Brogan, obviously. “Can I help you with anything?” I asked. The whole workplace fling was new to me, and I didn’t really know how it worked in terms of hook-up etiquette. Did we just get to the good stuff, or did I help out like a girlfriend would? Shove my hands in the butt pockets of his very well-fitting dress pants? Or remove his collared shirt, one button at a time? Decisions, decisions.
An embarrassingly loud growl erupted from my stomach, and Brogan quirked his brow. “You can be my taste tester for the sauce.”
“I like that idea,” I said. He gently guided the spoon toward my lips, and the flavor exploded on my tongue, a rich mixture of tomatoes and garlic and spices. I groaned, and my eyes fluttered shut. “Oh my God. That’s amazing.” Quite possibly the best thing that I’d eaten in a month.
I opened my eyes, and Brogan stood frozen, his gaze fixed on my mouth. His brown eyes dilated, holding a different type of hunger than the one rolling around in my stomach. That look transported me back to last night—the feel of his fingers running through my hair, the softness of his lips as they devoured mine. The sauce spoon still hovered inches from my lips, shaking ever so slightly in Brogan’s grip. For the first time, he looked unsure of himself. The boardroom persona had been stripped, leaving him open, vulnerable.
He must have realized the shift in his own demeanor, because he quickly deposited the spoon on the counter, clearing his throat. “I’ll make sure to relay the message to Nona.” We stood there in silence for a few moments, both staring at each other. He opened his mouth and closed it, as if he were debating what to say. Maybe, Meet me in my bed in thirty seconds, or, Please, let me help you out of these clothes and take total advantage of you and christen this leather couch.
Instead, he said, “Will you set the table? Plates are over there.” He pointed to a cupboard above the long expanse of granite. Okay, so no clothes would be coming off yet, but dinner was a step in the right direction.
“Sure.” I made my way to the cabinet and grabbed two plates. I set them on the table, along with utensils and napkins. The motions felt so comfortable, like we’d been doing this for years, almost like I belonged here. This was the second time feeling this way at his place…a dangerous thought when I didn’t know what this was between us. I barely knew the guy. He was my boss, and he was cooking me dinner. We’d kissed a whopping two times, and suddenly everything in my world was feeling a little topsy-turvy. Was this a typical occurrence in his household? With Brogan’s good looks and money, I doubted his bed stayed vacant for long.
“Everything okay?” He gave me a sideways glance as he poured the sauce in a bowl and extracted meatballs from the oven.
“Yeah.” Maybe? I didn’t know.
I sat down across from him at the table, tapping my fingers against the edge of the glass.
He cleared his throat again, this time shifting restlessly in his seat. “I don’t do this very often. Usually, it’s just me and Bruce.”
It made sense. Even if he could easily make anyone’s “Most Eligible Bachelor” list, he didn’t make it out of his office enough to even go on a date.
I snorted. “The conversation must be stimulating.”
“Bruce is good company. Excellent table manners.” He reached down and scratched Bruce’s pudgy head.
“My disappearing wardrobe is clear evidence.” I rolled my eyes.
Brogan’s mouth pulled into an attractive smile that set my pulse into an unsteady tailspin. “We’re still working on manners.” He looked down at Bruce and said, “I think we have a long way to go. I’d like to reimburse you for your ruined clothes.”
I thought about saying no to this, but when would be the next time I could afford nice clothes? Plus, I wouldn’t need new clothes if it weren’t for Bruce. “You can add it to my paycheck.”
“I’ll let Tony know first thing in the morning.”
I nodded and bit into the tender meatball with the perfect amount of garlic and seasonings. Juice dripped down my lips, and I quickly blotted the mess with my napkin. “These are amazing balls.” Oh my God, did that really just come out of my mouth? My eyes widened, and if there was a beach nearby, I’d have gladly shoved my head in the sand right about now. “Meatballs. I meant meatballs.”