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Shore, stop it.
“I love you, okay. Take whatever time it takes to pull it all together and if you need me, I’m here.”
“I know you are and I love you too.”
But there’s no pulling it all together for me.
After I finished the call, I went back to unpacking until both suitcases were empty and stowed in the oversized closet of which I had temporary ownership. It held a few items of men’s clothing, pushed to the one end with a few folded items on the top shelf. I wondered if they belonged to Wilde but exited the closet before I got the insane idea to see if they held the pleasing smell of sage with a hint of cinnamon that I remembered from the ride over.
Instead I decided to go find my host. The minute I hit the end of the hallway I was enticed by the savory smell of grilled meat and spices. My stomach sang its approval as I entered the kitchen fit for a world renowned chef but belonging to a cowboy. I peeked around the massive frame disrupting my view to grab a quick glance at what smelled so good.
“Those look good?”
“Wait ’til you cut into one. They’re gonna taste even better.” Wilde glanced over his bulky shoulder and I nodded in return.
“Can I help with anything?”
“And have Mel ready to chop my head off? No, ma’am. You’re a guest.”
“Well, I mean technically I am, but you weren’t expecting to have a guest. I don’t mind helping out.”
“Would you have jumped in the kitchen at Mel’s?”
I frowned a little, considering the question, and I wouldn’t have. The B&B provided all meals, turndown service, and a few other amenities to make my stay cozy and comfortable. “No, but that was Melvina’s place, which is a B&B. Yours is not. I can’t expect you to offer the same service.”
“You can and you will. It’s what Mel would expect. None of this is my fault or yours. I plan on making your stay here as comfortable as possible. If you wanna help, grab a seat and keep me company. I’m almost done then we can eat.”
He glanced at me over his shoulder again, since I was still standing a few feet behind him, but he quickly turned back to the massive, six-burner, gas stove and flipped the steaks on the striated griddle he’d placed on top of two of those burners.
When I didn’t move, he spoke but kept his eyes on the steaks. “You gonna sit or not? Can’t be much of a view for you back there and I’d feel better seeing your face.”
My eyes traveled over the expanse of his back, watching the way his muscles bunched and flexed beneath the worn, long-sleeved tee he wore. The sleeves were pushed up his forearms, granting a view of smooth brown skin, corded with more muscles.
There was definitely a view from where I was standing. One I was thoroughly enjoying but I managed to pull myself away and found a seat at the small cozy table adjacent to the stove. It was nice and fit the décor but small in comparison to the oversized kitchen.
The size of the space, however, complemented the man who was preparing steaks for me because he fit perfectly.
“That’s much better.” Those beautiful brown eyes of his searched my face and brightened at the same time his lips tilted, granting me a crooked smile.
Have mercy.
It was insanely unfair for this man to be so sexy. Not just sexy butcowboy sexy, in his jeans and boots with that body carved pleasingly well from hard labor and a healthy lifestyle.
“I don’t think this is a fair tradeoff.”
“What’s that?”
“Me sitting here doing nothing, watching you cook?”
He laughed lightly and turned off the burners. “I thought women loved stuff like this.”
“Like what?” I frowned, watching him fork the steaks onto waiting plates on the counter next to the stove.
“You know the whole ‘having a man cater to your every need while you sit and enjoy his labor of love’ thing.”
Cater to your every need?
I sure had some needs I would love him to cater to.
