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His teeth met at her slip. How much control had that bastard had over her life?
He extended his bottle, seeking focus. “To good food and good company.”
She chinked her bottleneck with his. “Good food and good company.” She licked her lips before she picked up the knife.
Caleb was mesmerized. What would it be like to kiss her right now? Would her lips be cool from the beer? Would he be able to taste the fruity notes lingering on her tongue?
“Shit.” Grace dropped the knife and sucked her thumb. “Clumsy,” she muttered.
He came up behind her. “Is it cut?”
She took her finger out of her mouth, and he took hold of her hand. Dark blood welled. The nick was small but deep.
“Hang on.” He retrieved his first aid kit from the kitchen cabinet. “Here let me.”
She held out her hand, and he wiped the wound with an antiseptic wipe. Her skin gleamed with moisture.
“The band aid won’t stick like this.” He blew on her finger, hearing her sharp intake of breath, his cock hardening as he then wrapped the band aid around her finger. He couldn’t take much more of this. Soon, his whole body was going to explode with need.
“I need to work on my chopping skills. I’m a little out of practice.” Her voice was breathy and color blazed across the top of her cheekbones.
The intensity of their connection sparked deep within him. He wanted more than these fleeting moments with her. He wanted everything. “Out of practice at cooking?”
She gave a dismissive shrug. “Richard didn’t like me cooking.” She took a hasty slug of beer. One he was sure was to prevent any more questions.
He moved behind her. “Okay. Let me remind you. It’s all down to how you hold the knife.” He placed the knife back in her right hand.
Soft hair brushed his face. He wrapped his arms around her, closed his right hand over hers, his cheek bumping hers. God, her skin was so soft, he could barely feel it. “Hold it like this. He closed his left hand over her left, securing a pepper in place then made a rapid sawing motion so the pepper flayed into thin wafers.
When he released her hand, his skin was on fire from the contact. “Now you try.”
Grace widened her stance. Her ass bumped against his crotch, sending fireworks throughout his body and fiery blood rushing to his cock. Caleb swallowed a groan and inched backward, gritting his teeth, creating a distance between them, to save himself from combusting on the spot. She had been through so much and even though she had kissed him back with an intensity that matched his own, that didn’t mean she was ready for things between them to go any further. The last thing she needed was him pawing her, concerned with only his own desires.
Grace concentrated on slicing a cucumber. With a triumphant last slice, she lifted the knife. “Success! No wounds.”
“You did.” He lifted his beer and took a deep drink, needing distraction from the molten heat coursing through his body now he had glimpsed what he wanted.
It had been so long since he dared to let someone else in. So long since he had fought to control his desire.
But in that moment, he knew he had found something worth fighting for.
20
Grace ate her fill for what felt like the first time in years. Richard had always monitored her food intake, his watchful gaze a constant reminder of his control. Caleb was different. He enjoyed cooking and his focus was on the food and conversation. Not on her.
His cooking was delicious. He’d roasted the chicken with a sprinkle of salt and cinnamon, something that she never would have thought of, but somehow it worked. She ate a second helping of the succulent meat with crisp salad and another cold beer. It was such a joy to eat with someone and not feel her every bite was being scrutinized.
Afterward, they sat side by side on the couch sipping hot tea, watching the lick of flames. The memory of their kiss earlier rested quietly at the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with that right now, even though the passionate way he’d kissed her had left her craving more. So much more. She was insanely attracted to him and was sure he felt the same way.
But the plan was to move on, to keep putting as much distance as she could between her and Richard until her court case arrived. Becoming involved with Caleb now would only complicate matters, would only bring trouble to his doorstep, destroying the life he had carved out for himself.
She sensed his need for solitude came from a place of hurt in the past, and the idea of stripping away something that he needed was an anathema to her.
No. It made more sense to hold back instead.
Eventually, the events of the day caught up with her, and her eyelids grew heavy. She made her excuses and made her way to bed, climbing between sheets that smelled of man and, if she was honest with herself, safety.
She didn’t know when it had happened, but for the first time that she could remember in her adult life, for tonight at least, she felt safe.
