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“What’s for dinner?” she asked.
“My specialty—chicken Alfredo.”
“Mmm. What can I do to help?” She shrugged off her jacket and laid it over the back of the chair.
“You can slice the chicken while I start the sauce. Pasta water is already heating up.” He pointed to the cutting board and knife he’d laid out. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He held an apron up for her to slip her head inside.
She smiled and bowed her head. His hands slid down her arms to her waist as he turned her around. She swallowed back the shot of lust that blossomed within her. The fabric tightened around her hips as he tied the knot.
“All set.” The deep timbre of his voice made her inner walls clench. Maybe dinner alone wasn’t such a good idea after all.
They got to work, side by side. Bently strained broccoli and poured heavy cream into another pan with butter. He added spices and cheese as he stirred. The timer for the pasta went off.
“Can you keep stirring this and I’ll take care of the noodles?” he asked. Her hand swept under his to take the whisk, lightly brushing against him.
“Do you want some coffee? I got that creamer you like.” He dumped the pasta in the colander.
He had? The small gesture brought warmth to her chest. “Sure.”
After all the ingredients were ready, Bently shooed her away to prepare the coffee while he made their plates.
She sat at the table and sipped her java while he set the steaming plate of savory creamy pasta in front of her.
“This smells divine,” she said.
“The noodles are gluten-free—it’s all I had on hand. Lyra and Remy have celiac disease.”
“Oh, I had no idea. Now it makes sense that her bakery is all gluten-free.”
She twisted the pasta on her fork and took a bite. She moaned. The food was so good. Licking her lips, she glanced at Bently. His jaw was set and his brow furrowed.
“What’s wrong? Is your injury bothering you?” she asked, worried.
“Oh, I’m definitely aching.” He smirked.
She rolled her eyes. They continued eating their dinner and making small talk.
“That was delicious. No man has ever cooked me dinner before.”
“I’m glad I could be your first,” he teased.
She drained the last of her coffee as he cleared his throat.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said . . . I thought maybe . . . I could try to open up with you. You get my kind of past . . . and I trust you.”
She took a deep breath, the weight of his words staggering her. He trusted her?
“Plus, we’d have doctor-patient confidentiality.” He smiled.
She chuckled. “I’m honored.”
“My mother killed herself.”
Whoa. He was diving straight in.
“Mikel was almost beaten to death by our father because I wasn’t there. Jasmine . . .” He ground his teeth, his eyes clouding over. “I failed to protect her too.” His eyelids fluttered before he locked eyes with her and continued. “You got TJ out. You were able to make a difference in his life. I waited too long. I should have gotten them out faster. I failed them. That’s my secret. That’s what kind of man I am.”
Was he trying to scare her away? She reached out and took his hand in hers. “How old were you when these things happened?”
