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There’s a pang in my chest when I imagine a teenage Lee left to fend for himself.
“Well, it smells incredible. Can I do anything to help?”
“Pork and pepper pasta. One of my faves.” He nods toward the island where a bottle of wine is already uncorked. “Do you mind carrying that into the dining room?”
“Can do.” I pick up the bottle and follow him to the dining room where he sets the plates down across from each other.
I sit in the closest chair, and Lee sits directly across from me.
“Wine?” He lifts the open bottle near my wineglass, and I nod. He pours for me then pours himself a glass. He sits back down and lifts his glass. “I’d like to make a toast.”
I lift my glass.
“To you, for helping me reach my full potential again.”
I clink my glass with his. “To us, because we each had our part to play.”
He smiles. “We do make a good team.”
I should let that comment go, although I agree, so I bring my glass to my lips and sip. “That’s good wine.”
“Let me know what you think of the meal.”
I pick up my fork and stab a piece of pasta and pork. Lee watches while I chew, waiting for my reaction. Flavors burst on my tongue and I make a “mmm” sound.
“Oh my gosh, that’s so good,” I say when I’m done chewing and swallowing.
Relief fills his eyes, and it warms my heart that he is concerned about my reaction.
“So is this the dish you break out when you want to impress one of your dates?” I spear another piece of pasta, then realize how what I said sounds. “Not that this is a date or you want to impress me.”
He chuckles. “No need for the disclaimer. Actually, I’ve never made this for anyone except my mom and my brother.”
“Really?” I reach for my wineglass.
“Really. Don’t you know by now?”
I lose myself in his hazel eyes.
“You’re special, shy pie.” He winks.
I hate the thrill that rushes through me at his words. “Careful, all this praise might go to my head.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. You still have no idea how fucking amazing you are, Shayna.”
My cheeks heat and I look at my plate. If this were a regular… relationship… I’d bask in the warm glow of his comments, but it’s not. I’m here for physical pleasure and to get him out of my system. I cannot afford to fall for this man.
I meet his gaze. “Lee, you can’t say things like that. That’s not what this is.”
His shoulders slump and he sets down his knife and fork. “You’re right. I’m sorry. But you can’t blame me if you’re my favorite person in the moment. You helped me get back on the field.”
I laugh. I guess he’s viewing me as the reason he got what he wanted even though in truth, it was him. But he’s on a high and I’m not going to ruin tonight by putting disclaimer stickers on every comment. “All right. You’re forgiven.”
We eat in silence until I can’t take the awkwardness any longer.
I ask the first thing that comes to my head. “Are you close with your brother?”
He finishes chewing. “Yeah, we’re pretty close. Honestly, that didn’t come until we were both out of my parents’ house and away from our mom.”
