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“Very convenient, Captain. Suspicious if you ask me.”
Jake pointed a finger at Matteo. “Oh hush. Don’t you have a toilet to scrub?”
Matteo and Bryce both laughed, and I shook my head at their interplay. “Maybe I should go,” I said.
“No, no. Stay. We’re just about to have dinner,” Jake said. “It’s my night to cook.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You can cook?”
Even as I asked the question, a handful of memories clicked into place.
He nodded. “Yep. Plus, you were especially fond of my creamy Cajun chicken pasta, if I remember correctly, and it’s on the menu tonight.”
My mouth watered, and I saw a memory of a romantic dinner in my apartment from our secret era.
“Oh, you’re right. That is delicious.”
Jake grinned. “More memories?”
“Yeah, all the time.”
“That’s great,” he said as we walked toward the kitchen.
“How can I help?”
As we worked side by side, Jake nudged me with his hip. While the chicken sizzled in the oil, I turned backward and rested against the counter. He glanced up, spatula in hand. His lips quirked into a crooked smile, making me wonder what he was thinking about.
“What is it?”
“I’m glad you stopped by,” he said simply. “This is nice. I miss you on my shift days, you know.”
I felt the heat creep up my neck, pleasure flooding me at the compliment.
He set the spatula on the spoon rest and stepped in front of me, caging me with his arms by placing his hands on the counter to either side of my waist.
“Do you miss me?” he asked in a low whisper.
I swallowed thickly, nearly overcome by his nearness. It felt like the picnic when he’d tried convincing me that the feelings remained without the memories. But at the same time, this was different–this was so much more. Because I had memories and new feelings to go along with the intimacy his nearness evoked.
I nodded. My words were husky as I forced them out. “Yeah. I miss you when you’re working.”
Victory lit his expression, and he pressed his lips to mine. I let myself get lost in the kiss for a moment, hoping the sheer pleasure and warmth would wash away some of the doubts I still carried about us along with the heaviness from the day. I focused on the way his hand cradled my neck and his lips teased mine gently. If I could just turn my worries and fears off, we could do this every day, forever.
“Dude! Stop making out in the kitchen with my sister!” Bryce’s disgusted call jolted us out of the moment, and I giggled as Jake threatened to dump Bryce’s dinner in the trash can.
“So, what did you do today? Besides miss me, that is.” He winked and flipped the chicken breasts.
I watched his forearms flex with the motions as I answered. “I fixed some meals and went to see Rebecca. Helped her with the boys for a bit. Prayed a lot.”
His lips tightened. “How is she doing?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know how to answer that. She’s a wreck. How could she not be? Her whole world is falling apart, and she doesn’t know why or how to stop it.”
Jake shook his head. “I wish I could say I understood. Nathan wasn’t here this morning, and the A shift guys didn’t know anything either.”
“Any idea where he’s staying?”
Jake shook his head. “No, but when he gets here tomorrow you can bet we’re going to ask. Maybe we can knock some sense into him.”
