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“You didn’t know me then. But you know me now.” His gaze and tone became more seductive as he came closer to her until there were just a few inches between them. He turned her so she was facing him and put one arm around her waist. “And I know you.”
Breathless because of how close he was, she asked, “Is that a good thing?”
“It’s a very good thing.” He dragged her even closer until their bodies brushed.
Their closeness and how his breath whispered against her nose lit up her senses. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to kiss him so badly that the need felt desperate. She even rose on tiptoes.
But just before their lips touched, he released her and stepped back. “I should check on our lunch.”
Smirking, he moved from her and toward the kitchen.
Bastard! He was deliberately tempting her.
Xolani took a minute to catch her breath and gather herself. Once she was good, she forced a smile and made her way to the kitchen. “What are we having for lunch?”
“I’m going all out.” Barry took the lid off one pot and the smell of potatoes filled the room. “Never say I don’t care about you.”
She sat on the other side of the island and peered to see what was in the pot. She was thoroughly disappointed. Not even bothering to hide it, she asked, “We’re having boiled potatoes?”
Barry laughed. “Of course not.”
“Those look like boiled potatoes.” she insisted.
“They do, but that’s not the end product.” He drained the boiling water into the sink, then transferred the potatoes to a tray. He quickly peeled the potatoes, put them back into the pot, and tossed in butter with them. It was only when he grabbed a potato masher that she realized what he was making.
“Mashed potatoes,” she gushed with glee.
“Ding, ding, ding.” Grinning, he began to mash the potatoes. “One point for Clever Miss Moore.”
“I love mashed potatoes.” She leaned over to see what was in the other pots. “What are we having it with?”
With one finger, he pushed her forehead, forcing her to sit back down on the barstool. “Just watch and see.”
Watching him cook was awe-inspiring. The man hadn’t been kidding when he’d said that he knew his way around the kitchen. The way he cut, stirred, turned, cooked, and seasoned his food made it clear that this wasn’t his first rodeo.
When he unleashed the bacon-wrapped chicken that he’d hidden in the oven, her stomach growled. The intoxicating smell of chicken, bacon and cheese had her salivating. If she was a puppy, her tongue would be out and her tail would be wagging.
Someone must’ve given this man a manual of her weaknesses. Just when she thought he was done with the delightful surprises, he pulled out premade gravy from his fridge and poured it into a saucepan.
This she couldn’t resist.
“Do you need a taster for that?” She stared at the simmering gravy with unabashed greed. “I can be your taster.”
Barry’s eyes twinkled with amusement as they met hers. “Is that your way of saying you want a taste?”
“Mm hm.” She nodded eagerly. “Pretty please!”
He opened a drawer on his side of the island and brought out a spoon. “Come over.”
Xolani hopped off the barstool and rushed to his side. She watched hungrily as he scooped some of the liquid with the spoon. His amused eyes were on her as he blew on the gravy to cool it.
“It’s cool already.” She begged, “Gimme, gimme, gimme.”
“Wait.” He blew a little more before bringing the spoon closer to her mouth. Xolani was so eager to taste the gravy that she moved too.
There must’ve been a timing or direction mismatch in their movements because somehow the spoon ended up below her lips rather than between them.
“Sorry.” Barry quickly pulled back, but the damaged was done. The gravy dribbled from her chin down to her top… her very white top. It left blobs of light-brown stains on its way down.
