Page 24 of Her Chocolate His Bar

The truth was, I still wanted her. And I could not bear the thought of leaving her just yet.

I lived in a newly renovated monster of a house, a big old Victorian on a cul de sac not twenty minutes from where both our stores sat.

It had everything I never had growing up. A three-car garage, indoor swimming pool, dining room, custom kitchen, expensive furniture some interior designer picked out for me—but it was missing something.

Looking at Delani, I knew exactly what that was, too.

She offered me a smile, eyes widening as I pulled into the garage I’d just opened with a click of my remote.

Goddamn.

She was so fucking beautiful.

I bought my house because it was something I always wanted, but I wasn’t counting on how lonely I would feel inside the big place by myself. Bringing Delani here felt right.

Being with her felt right. And I didn’t want to spend the night alone. Away from her.

With the promise of a meal and some real talk, Delani agreed to come home with me. I was so fucking happy I could have danced the whole way there.

I didn’t, of course.

But I could have.

And that made all the fucking difference in the world.

She looked perfect sitting in the front seat of my suped up SUV. Her hair was deliciously mussed, and her cheeks flushed. Her sparkling eyes teased as she asked questions and hummed along with the radio.

She was fantastic. Perfect. And my heart squeezed inside my chest as I looked at her.

I didn’t drive sports cars anymore. Living on the East Coast, I felt big and sturdy was the way to go when I bought the SUV. Plus, it came in handy when I had to make special trips to the distillery.

February was cold as fuck in New Jersey. I turned on the heat and the seat warmer for the trip to my house so Del would be comfy and cozy.

Except for the uncomfortable bar inside my jeans, I was fine.

Fuck.

I just came not a half hour ago, and I was already raring to go. The woman was a goddamn seductress. I never felt that way about anyone.

Never before. Never like this.

Delani was the only woman who ever made me out of control. At my age, I thought I was over that sort of foolishness.

But this didn’t feel foolish. This felt right. I took her hand in my mine and walked her inside.

“Your house is beautiful, Sonny,” she said, and I could tell I’d impressed her.

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it, Baby.”

She was the first woman I ever brought back there, but I didn’t tell her that. I didn’t want her to feel any pressure to stay, though I was praying like hell she would.

Once seated at the counter, I started taking out the makings of a nice meal. Steaks, some pasta on the side, and a nice tomato salad.

“Can I help?”

“Sure. You want to do the salad?” I asked, leading her to a cutting board and showing her the tomatoes and fresh basil I had in mind.

“Yes, chef,” she replied with a wink, and my heart stuttered inside my chest.

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