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“Famished. I missed lunch. And I had a latte to hold me over. It wore off a couple of hours ago.”
“In that case, I’ll get the steaks going and bring out a snack. Make yourself comfortable.”
He put down his glass, then ignited the flame on the barbecue. “I’ll be right back.” For a moment he looked at her, appreciating the way she enjoyed the evening. Shaking his head, he went back inside to grab the vegetable-and-dip plate.
When he returned, Hope faced him, propping an elbow on the railing. “I just realized you set two tables.”
“I wasn’t sure whether you preferred to dine inside or out.”
“You think of everything.”
“I wish I could take credit for it. It was all Sienna.”
“Everything is perfect.” Hope walked across the patio to select a carrot that she dipped into the dressing. “You’ll have to tell her she did a nice job with the flowers.”
Stupidly relieved, he grinned. “Those were my doing.”
“Yours? Even the tulips?”
He couldn’t tell whether or not approval laced her tone. His answer was cautious. “Yes.”
“They’re my favorite.” She took a bite of the carrot before putting it down and narrowing her eyes. “Did you ask Skyler?”
“I promise. No.” He held up a hand as if under oath. “The color and the stripes of red reminded me of your ass.”
And now, with the way she blushed, her cheeks.
“They’re beautiful. And thank you for thinking of Skyler too.”
“Anyone who worked that hard for me to reject the candidates deserves more than a bouquet.”
“We ended up giving one of the arrangements to a doctor’s office. And Tony is allergic to something, so Skyler and I had to run ours home. Then Skyler went to the drugstore for antihistamines. While we were away, he ate all the doughnuts I’d taken in, and that caused some tension in the office.”
He winced.
“It also turns out the Colonel likes the baby’s breath. In the time that I made a couple of phone calls, she pulled them and dragged them all over the apartment. Kitchen. Laundry room. Bedroom. Under the couch.”
He winced. “Sorry.”
“Will you please stop sending flowers?”
“Certainly. I don’t want to distress your employees.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll send you sex toys instead.”
Her hand trembled, and champagne splashed in the glass. “That’s a joke, right?”
“Would you prefer them delivered to your home or your office?”
“I can’t tell whether or not you’re serious.”
“The grill’s ready.” Whistling, he left her to put the steaks on. “Do you mind grabbing the baked potatoes from the oven? There’s an oven mitt on the counter and a platter to put them on.”
“Rafe… I mean it. No gifts.”
“Vibrating panties are my favorite.”
She fingered one of her pearls. Did she have any idea how perfect a response that was?
He flipped up the lid on the barbecue grill. “We have butter and sour cream in the refrigerator. Will you get those as well? Assuming you want to dine al fresco. If not, you can put them on the dining room table.”
“Outside is fine.” But she didn’t move.
“How would you like your steak?”
After a few seconds, she pursed her lips. “Medium.”
“Baked potatoes,” he prompted.
“You’re impossible.” She put down her champagne, then strode from the patio, her heels thumping the tile in a way that made him think of heart-pounding sex.
Yeah. He definitely enjoyed her company. The thought made him wonder where the line between chemistry and compatibility was drawn.
Over dinner on the patio, he kept the conversation light, asking about her day.
“I got a contract from the gentleman I met with earlier this week.”
He offered a toast with his glass.
“Thanks.” She did a little shimmy on her chair. “It doesn’t get old. I still get the same kind of rush that I did when I signed my first agreement. Skyler’s already planning the mixer for next week.”
“I’m curious how you became a matchmaker.”
