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“I grabbed a few IPAs and wine—which would you prefer? Come have a seat at the table. I just have to finish cutting the salad stuff and then we can grill.”
“Sounds great. I’ll have a beer,” Jackson says. I hand him a chilled bottle and a clean pint glass and pour myself white wine. I put the salad veggies on the small island so I can chop while focusing on him.
“So, what do your Fourth of July’s usually entail around these parts?” I ask, chopping a red onion. Jackson stands, leans against the wooden post across from me, and crosses one foot over the other. He watches me slice, and I swear he’s undressing me while he assesses my body.
“My buddy, Tyler, one of the guys you met the other day, usually has an enormous party on the Fourth. It’s a lot of fun, but sometimes it gets out of hand. Everyone ends up at the fireworks together and then heads back to Tyler’s. It’s kind of a tradition.”
I put the knife on the counter and turn my attention to Jackson. “I hope you didn’t skip the party because of me. They might miss you.”
“I asked you out, remember?”
“True. So, Jackson from Meriden, tell me everything about yourself.” Even though I’m obsessed with his body, it wouldn’t hurt to learn what makes him tick, so I test out my sarcasm. Cucumber in hand, I wait to see how he’ll answer.
Jackson clears his throat and laughs, evidence he seems to appreciate the joke. “Wow, shit. Let’s get right into it. Well, I enjoy working hard, playing harder. Family is super important to me. And eventually, I want to get married to the right person. I don’t know, maybe start a family. Sorry.” Beer in hand, he paces into the living room. He has his back toward me as he looks at a framed picture of the mountains hanging on the wall behind the woodstove.
“Why are you apologizing? Those things are goals many of us long for.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. I don’t think I’ve ever said that aloud, and I’m not exactly sure why it came flying out of my mouth.”
My cheeks warm. I’m flattered he’s comfortable enough to tell me what he’s looking for in life. It makes me smile, convincing me not all guys suck.
“Shit! Ouch!” As I’m paying too much attention to Jackson and not enough to the knife, I nick my finger while chopping the cucumber. Jackson places his half-empty pint glass on the island and reaches across for my finger, and our faces are pulled closer together.
“You got lucky. I don’t think you cut the skin. Let’s run it under the faucet.” He walks around the island and leads me to the sink. I love his attentiveness over a silly cut. He takes my hand so naturally and gently spins me around so my waist is against the kitchen counter. I sense him moving closer and closer until his body presses against mine. He turns on the faucet, pumps a bit of soap from the dispenser, and lathers my skin. “Does it sting?”
“No, not at all. Amazing.”Did I actually just say that out loud? The man is washing my hands, for god’s sake.I should seriously smack myself. How is it possible I am so turned on by this?
“Amazing, you say?” Jackson smirks.
I muster a gentle “mm-hmm.” That sound gives him permission to position my hands on the edge of the counter. He trails his warm, wet fingertips along my chilled arms, then dips his mouth close to my ear and kisses my neck with his lips and tongue. I grip the counter firmly, growing weak in the knees. I am well aware of Jackson’s excitement, his hardness pressing into me.
To stay vertical, I tilt my head back, and Jackson’s mouth moves slightly below my neckline. I want to be bent over the sink so Jackson can have his way with me from behind.
I try to hold back my urge to bend over for this man, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult. I have to force myself to calm down. “Do you think we should eat first?” I whisper, and immediately he pulls away from me.
“I’m sorry, Solia. I don’t know what got into me. Of course, we should eat dinner. I didn’t mean to get ahead of myself. Seriously, I apologize.”
I turn to face him, and we’re eye to eye. I grab the dish towel and wrap it around our hands and wipe them dry. “No need to apologize. It’s crazy to say because we just met, but I am comfortable and extremely attracted to you. Maybe we should eat first, though.” I laugh, hoping that frees him from any worry he may have done something wrong.
“I’m glad you said that, Solia. I feel the same—you’ve surprised the hell out of me. But I promise to be a gentleman … most of the time.”
A gentleman with a side of spice is just what I want.
“I’ll go start the grill. I don’t mind grilling. What are we making?”
“Steak, and I have foil-wrapped potatoes to roast too. But you don’t have to grill unless you want to?”
“It’d be my pleasure.” He winks, and I melt.
I hand him the potatoes. “Let me grab the steak.” I turn to the counter.Shit!With my hands on my hips, I dip my chin to my chest and take a deep breath. I open the freezer and stare at the solid block of steak marinating in a Ziploc bag on the shelf. I drop it on the counter. Jackson hears the clunk and throws his head back in laughter.
“We have a change in plans, Chef.” Jackson taps the ice block with his fist.
I cover my face with my hands. “I’m so embarrassed. I marinated it and everything. See what happens when I move too fast? I put the damn bag in the freezer. Great.”
“No big deal.” Jackson opens the freezer and pulls out a package of frozen hamburger patties. “We can just throw these babies on. Do you have any rolls?”
“Why would I have rolls? That would make sense. Normal people have rolls when they have patties. I prepare food for dinner and freeze it.” I throw my hands in the air and laugh.
