AllFreeNovel
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“Starving. But you’re cooking?”
He shrugs as I drift over. He’s making some sort of pasta dish I can’t identify yet, but it involves multiple pans and absolutely smells incredible.
“I learned over the years,” he admits. “I own a few restaurants and picked up a few dishes.”
“But why?” I stare at him, trying to comprehend but struggling. Why would a guy like Nolan bother to learn how to cook?
He brandishes a spoon at me. “Men can cook. Some of the best chefs are men.”
“It’s not a gender thing, you asshole. It’s arichthing.”
He laughs once at that, stirring the pasta water. “Rich has nothing to do with it. Should I never bother to work if I’m rich? Should I waste all my time sailing a yacht around?”
“Probably,” I mutter.
“No, that’s not me. I’m a curious man. I like to learn things.” He glances at me. “And I like to please the people I care about.”
“If this is your way of pleasing me, go ahead,” I say, sitting down at the island. “Cook away. Although I wish you’d do it shirtless.”
“I feel so objectified.”
“Like it?”
“A little bit, yes. If you want me to cook naked, you’ll have to strip too.”
“Pass.” I lean my chin on my hand. “Seriously, what’s the deal?”
He pauses and turns to face me. His arms cross over his chest, and his face is impassive. “I’ll admit this isn’t entirely altruistic.”
“Figured. Are you trying to wine and dine me? Hoping to get in my pants tonight?”
“Yes… and no.”
“Now I’m intrigued.”
“Iwillbe getting in your panties tonight, but I’m not doing this to make you amenable to getting fucked.” He blows out a slow breath. “I’m cooking because my mother is coming over to meet you.”
I lean back like he slapped me in the face.
Hismother?
I knew the guy had a mother—I remember her from the vow renewal thing, a tall red-haired lady, seemed really nice—but I never dreamed I’d actually meet her.
“You could’ve warned me,” I say, on the edge of panic. “Does she know? About us?”
“She does.”
“How’d you spin that one?”
“I told her that I married you. No spin necessary.”
“Did you include the time limit?”
He touches the spoon to his lips. “You know, I might’ve forgotten that part.”
I shove back from the island. “Okay, I’m out. Good luck tonight.”
“Keely.”
