After several seconds, I pulled my stare from hers and picked up the plate of steaks. “How do you like your meat?”
Natalie snorted, and I winced when I realized how that sounded. “Your steak. How do you want it cooked?”
She smirked at me. “Medium rare, please.” She rounded the island and looked down at the two different salads I’d set out on the counter. “Look at you. I never imagined you’d be so domestic.”
I shrugged. “I live alone. It’s either learn to cook or starve.” I picked up a bottle of wine. “It’s steak, so I figured red. Is that okay?”
“Perfect.” She accepted the glass of wine I handed her. As she took her first sip, she closed her eyes to savor the flavor. I rolled my lips between my teeth. I was screwed if even the way she drank wine looked sexy.
“I’m going to put these steaks on,” I mumbled. After pushing open the sliding glass door, I stepped out onto the deck.
Natalie followed me. She leaned against the railing with her glass of wine in her hands. “This view is incredible.”
I never got tired of it. Occasionally the drive was a pain in the ass, but all I had to do was look outside and it made it all worthwhile. It had taken a few years and all of my spare time to build the place, but it was worth it.
Natalie turned around and rested against the railing. I could feel her watching me, but she didn’t say anything.
Finally, I spoke. “What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how you are still single.” She flapped her hands. “Look at you. You’re gorgeous. You know how to cook, you’re organized, obviously good with your hands.”
“You have no idea how good I am with my hands.”
She raised her brow. “I can imagine.”
“Anytime you want me to show you, all you gotta do is ask.”
Her tongue darted out and touched her bottom lip as her gaze swept down my body. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do that,” I growled. This might be playing with fire, but I didn’t care. It had been a long time since I was this attracted to a woman.
Nat sucked in a breath, then stood up, breaking the connection. “Anyway, back to you being single. How is this possible?”
I shrugged.
“Don’t make me ask Beth what your flaws are,” she teased. “How’s it possible no one has scooped you up?”
I hated this question. Why was I single? Because I hadn’t met anyone who made me not want to be. I liked sex as much as the next guy. But commitment? Sharing my home with someone, my life? No thanks.
Natalie was the first woman I’d had in my home that I actually liked having here. Usually, they took one look at my home and suddenly they were planning our future together and talking about throw pillows and shit. It was like being invaded. Nope. Whenever possible I avoided having women over. I always blamed it on my dog, but it wasn’t just him. It was me. I didn’t want people here. I didn’t want anyone rearranging my stuff, wanting to change things.
Hell, even my family was a bit much most of the time, except for Beth’s kids. Apparently, Walter felt the same way if his sitting at Natalie’s feet was anything to go by.
“I don’t know. Why’s a woman like you single?”
She scoffed. “I don’t have time for romance.”
“Everyone has time if they want to.”
“True. But if I’m being honest, most of the time I don’t want to. Dating is exhausting.”
“No shit,” I agreed.
“I want a guy I can just be myself with. Not one who wants the prima ballerina he sees on stage.”
I grabbed the steaks off the grill and set them on plates. “You want to eat inside or out?” I asked.
“Out.”
