Page 63 of Driven to Love

Good, casual. She could do this. Sex and flirting had always been straightforward to her. It was the everyday life where she stumbled in relationships. With Nash, maybe the fact that they had mutual friends would help.

Lucifer came out and rubbed his black body up and down Nash’s pant leg, purring loud and clear for everyone to hear.

Addison shook her head. “I don’t understand you, cat.”

“What can I say? He finds me irresistible.” Nash shrugged.

So did she, not that she would tell him. Play it cool. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Water is fine. Do you want help setting the table?”

“Thanks.” She handed him the plates and silverware. When he turned and stepped away to set the table, she exhaled. It felt right having him here, so why was her stomach fluttering like butterflies in a jar? She grabbed some hot pads and pulled the lasagna out of the oven.

“Oh, that smells delicious.”

“Thanks. It’s my grandma’s recipe, handed down for three generations.” She carried it over and set it on the trivet in the middle of the table.

“Dang. I didn’t know you could cook. That just solidified it for me.” He placed his hand on his chest and thumped it.

She laughed, but in her own chest, the thump mirrored his hand. Yep, this was definitely the start of something.

Nash rinsed his plate and set it in the drying rack before picking up a second one, scrubbing it in the soapy water and rinsing it.

“Dang, you do dishes. A real Renaissance man.”

“Years of being a single dad. Someone had to do it.” Right now, Nash was thanking his mom for teaching him how to wash dishes. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d cleaned up after meals, both when he was married and after. But something about this time—standing next to Addison, working as a team—felt different.

With the last dish set on the rack, he wiped down the counter and drained the sink. “Thank you. The meal was delicious. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good, home-cooked meal.”

“Bullshit. I know for a fact your mom cooks. Last time we were there, she invited me to come back for the family dinner on Sunday. Unfortunately, I’ll be out of town.”

“Where are you gonna be? Are you ditching me already?” He picked up his water, followed her into the other room, and then sat beside her on the couch.

Addison picked up the remote. She shook her head. “No, Laney wanted my opinion on the venue for the wedding.”

“I thought they already looked at one that they liked,” Nash said. “I remember Cade mentioning something about a barn venue out past Cannon.”

“Yeah, they went and looked at it, but Laney wanted my opinion, and I told her I could go on Sunday. Since it’s wedding season, Sunday evening was the only time the venue had open to show us around.”

“I guess I’ll have to tell Mom you’ll come next time.” He slid an arm around her back as the screen popped to life in front of them.

She leaned back, resting against him. The nerves he’d noticed in her when he arrived had left the building. He couldn’t deny he’d been a little uneasy about this evening, but he attributed it to excitement. He’d been wanting this shift in their dynamic for a long time.

She turned on a show and snuggled in. “Definitely. You know, if it weren’t for Laney, I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Nice to know I mean that much to you,” Nash said.

“Hmm. Actually, it’s your mom’s cooking—it would take a lot to pull me away from that. She is one fantastic cook.” Addison grinned.

Nash scoffed. A mock-insulted look crossed his face. He moved lightning-fast. His fingers dug into the soft flesh at her sides, tickling her.

She squirmed, and a squeal filled the room.

Nash wasn’t one to miss a perfect opportunity like this. He captured her mouth with his—lips to lips, inhaling her breath, craving more.

Her hand threaded through his hair. Light tugs drove him deeper, devouring her, pulling her close, and making long strokes up and down her back. The feel of her against him, her lips, her teeth, her hunger, had him forgetting all about the show. They got lost in each other.

Bam. Bam. Bam. A barrage of knocks on the door, followed by multiple rings of the doorbell, killed the mood. Nash pulled back.