Текст книги "Searching for Always"

Автор книги: Jennifer Probst

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Stone let out a breath. “My ears won’t recover.”

Arilyn kept soothing the dog and whispering low nonsense. “It’s the only thing she had left, I think. Her voice. They’re going to be okay together, but I think we’ll keep Pinky separate for a while. Build up her level of safety. Can you take Robert to his bed and give him a dog treat? His purple bunny squeaker should be there, too. Tell him to stay.”

Stone followed her instructions, and Pinky’s body finally relaxed as Robert trotted off.

Arilyn pressed a kiss to her tiny head. “You did so good. You were very brave. Now, I have an extra dog bed so I’ll set you up where you’ll feel safe.”

They fixed up the separate spaces and finally both dogs were happily settled. Stone went to the refrigerator and pulled out an IPA. “I’m sorry, Arilyn. I shouldn’t have brought her. Do you want wine?”

“Yes, please.” She let him fix both drinks and leaned over the counter. “I’m glad you brought her, Stone. She’s doing so much better. Because of you, she gets to have a real life.”

“Well, it’s only a week left. I guess I can handle one more week.”

She didn’t answer, just sipped her wine. His voice held a tinge of regret, and Arilyn knew he wouldn’t give her up. But he didn’t realize it yet. He needed to figure it out on his own. “How was work?” she asked.

He tipped the bottle back and drank. Wiped his mouth. “Fine. We found a stolen car, which was so fucking exciting I thought Devine was gonna have a heart attack.” She laughed. “Anyway, ended up being a kid dared by his friends, but for a while it was like being back in the Bronx, having a car chase.”

She traced the rim of the wineglass with her finger. “Do you miss the Bronx?” she asked. “I mean, I know it was tough, but you got used to being challenged all the time. You nabbed real criminals, made a difference. Would you ever want to go back?”

He scratched his head. “Hell, no. Sure, it fed my ego a bit. I was always on, the rush of adrenaline kept pushing me for more. I worked around the clock, needing the hit like the junkies I busted. But I like Verily. I like what it represents. I have a real life here I wouldn’t want to give up.”

Happiness flooded her. She kept her head down so he wouldn’t catch how much his words meant to her. “I’m glad.”

“Are you?” He studied her thoughtfully and placed his beer down. “Why?”

She shifted her weight. “Because you’re good for this town.”

“Anything else?”

“Because I want you to be safe and like where you live.”

“Hmm. I think there’s more here you’re not telling me.” Her breath got trapped in her chest and she fought for oxygen. “There’s a selfish reason you want me to stay.”

She opened her mouth to answer, gave a squeak, and tried again. “Nope. Just want you to be happy.”

His eyes held amusement. Slowly, he opened the freezer, took a cup, and began filling it with ice. “I think you like torturing me. Forcing me to exercise in a hundred-degree room while I watch you parade around half-naked. Tempting me with your gorgeous body on display, flaunting what I couldn’t taste and touch, while you called me ‘Officer’ in that snotty tone.”

Her skin heated. She watched as he took the half cup of ice and set it on the counter. “I didn’t think you liked beer with ice.”

“I don’t. I have another use for this. You’ll see in a minute.” She looked at the cup. Worry creased her brow. There was something almost threatening about his tone of voice. “You were hot in that room with me, weren’t you, Arilyn?”

“Yes. That was the point. Pumping the temperature helps release the toxins. I bet you felt amazing afterward.”

“After a cold shower, I did. Will you take off your clothes for me?”

She stared at him. A shiver of trepidation raced down her spine. “Am I going to be naked again while you’re dressed?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He smiled. “Because it turns you on.”

He was right. The secret, shocking exhibitionist in her had been let loose. Maybe it was the way he devoured her with his gaze. He never let her doubt what she did to him, giving him pleasure, and that made the whole encounter more exciting. And the naughtiness with him fully dressed, using his authority to command her to do things, totally wrecked her head. In a good way.

She placed her wineglass down and backed up. Arilyn had already planned to take charge with his seduction tonight, so this went with her goal perfectly. Slowly, she took off her clothes, running her fingers lightly over her skin in a caress, causing a groan to rip from his lips as she stroked her belly and thighs before shedding her entire outfit and underwear. By the time she was done with him, he wouldn’t know how to speak English anymore. That would teach him she wasn’t a woman who always bowed to direction. His hot gaze probed every inch of her body, lingering on her hard nipples, her tummy, her pussy.

His voice came out hoarse. “Every time I look at you I die a little. I brought a little present with me. Wanna see?”

She nodded, so aroused already she’d be lucky to know English herself. He reached in his back pocket and drew out two strips of red silk.

His ties.

Arilyn tamped down a moan. He watched her carefully and then, grabbing the cup of ice, began to close the distance. “I want to tie you up, Arilyn. Do things to you. Very bad things. Will you let me?

She meant to say yes but ended up releasing a husky moan.

“I’ll take that as permission. Come with me.” He led her into the bedroom and shut the door. Studying her queen-size bed, he ran a hand over the teak headboard as if assessing its potential as a sexual weapon of torture. “Hmm, posts too far apart. I’ll have to improvise. Lie on the bed, little one.”

Heart beating madly, anticipation tangling with a hot arousal that singed her nerve endings, she climbed on the bed, lying quietly, and he gently clasped her hands and raised them over her head. “I’m going to tie your wrists together. Keep them in that position. I don’t want your arms too stretched by the headboard so I’ll have to trust you’ll keep your arms still. Just like you trust me to take care of you.”

He situated her on the bed, checking the fit of the bright red tie and pulling her legs down the mattress a bit. “Perfect. I may never recover from this. You’re so fucking beautiful.”

A half laugh escaped her lips. “I may never recover from letting you do this.”

He leaned over, his mouth inches from her. “I’d never hurt you, little one. You’re too precious.” He kissed her and she melted, surrendering to everything he wanted from her. When he broke away, a fierce tenderness gleamed from his eyes. “Let’s play.”

Stone took the other red tie and dangled the edge over her breast. With teasing, deliberate motions, he dragged the silky edge of the fabric over every inch of her body. She shivered at the gentle caress, the slight tickle over her hard nipples, the length of her arms, the sensitive skin of her belly. Down her legs, over her knee, and round her toes. He took his time, watching her face with an intensity that made liquid warmth trickle between her thighs.

“You like this,” he murmured. “The feeling of being bound for my eyes, for anything I want to do. The excitement of not knowing what happens next.” Her body prickled with awareness, until every stroke of the tie ramped up her arousal and sensation. He parted her legs wider and ran the fabric over her swollen pussy until a long whimper broke from her lips. “So wet and ready for me.” He tossed the tie onto the floor. Flashed a wolfish grin. “Are you feeling a bit hot?”

Hot? She was burning alive, desperate for him to touch her where it mattered. Frustration nipped her nerve endings, stripping away the layers of civility until there was only the man before her and what he could give her. “Yes.”

“Then let’s cool you down, shall we?”

He took the cup from the nightstand and shook it. The rattle of ice echoed in the air.

“Wh-What are you going to do with that?”

He lifted a brow. “Whatever I want.”

And then she knew what her punishment was going to be.

Her eyes widened. He stripped off his clothes. Laid a condom on the edge of the bed. Then, taking his time, drawing out the tension, he lifted an ice cube and sat on the edge of the bed. Studied her body as if deciding where to touch her first. Arilyn stiffened, waiting for the first slide of ice against her skin, and then he pressed the cube to the curve of her neck.

Wet. Icy. She shivered, and he ran the ice down to the valley of her breasts, tracing circles round and round them. She gasped at the sensation. Her nipples hardened, lengthening, begging for contact as he moved closer to the center. Arching up, silently begging, he finally slid the melting cube over her right nipple.

Oh, God.

The sharp burn of cold numbed her nipple. Arilyn hissed out a breath, shaking her head to ward off the feeling, and then he lowered his mouth and sucked on her nipple.

She gasped. The delicious wet, the heat of his tongue, the slight scrape of his teeth, all combined to fire her senses off like an explosion. He moved to the other breast, repeating the motions, and Arilyn tugged at her bound wrists, crazed to touch him and move and make him stop and make him continue.

“Ah, you like that. Let’s see what else you like.”

“Stone.”

“I love your sweet body. I love the sounds you make in your throat, and the way you say my name.” Rivulets of water trickled down her tummy and slid lower. He kissed his way down, lapping up the liquid. “I love the way you explode in my arms and give me everything you got.” He grabbed another ice cube and traced patterns over her stomach, dipping into her navel and licking. “Spread your legs, little one. Wider. Yes, like that, beautiful. So swollen and wet. Now be a good girl and don’t move.”

Her thighs shook. He ran the ice over her inner thighs, tracing the line of pubic hair, moving closer to his goal. Her clit throbbed for attention, and she was so ready, she knew she’d come if he just gave her enough pressure.

He didn’t. He teased her mercilessly, allowing the cube to melt around her channel but not close enough. He licked, he bit. She twisted, she moaned.

“Please, Stone. I can’t take any more.”

“Not done with you yet if you’re still able to talk.”

And with that, he pushed the ice cube inside of her.

Arilyn shot up, a keening whine echoing in the air. The freezing chill met with blistering heat, setting off mini convulsions of pure arousal and need. He moved the melting cube in a slow rhythm. At the same time, the second cube was pressed against her throbbing clit.

She cried out his name and jerked.

The brutal pain/pleasure ramped up her arousal until she hung on the edge of a cliff, desperate to be pushed over. Then Stone replaced the cube with his hot, wet tongue, licking the swollen nub. Once. Twice.

She came hard, tears stinging her eyes at the intensity of pleasure. Instead of softening, he sucked more violently, his fingers replacing the ice and thrusting again and again into her pussy, curving just perfectly to hit the magic G-spot and setting off another chain of orgasms.

Tears leaked from her eyes. Beyond anything she had ever experienced, she began to shake, calling his name as the only anchor she had left in a world that had just shattered away.

“Fucking magnificent,” his voice growled. He surged up, over, and inside in one perfect thrust. “Fucking mine.”

The raw possession swallowed her whole, the punishing, greedy strokes of him driving into her body over and over, the dirty whispers in her ear as he claimed her.

Arilyn broke free, taking all of him, and felt the next climax gobble her up whole. He shouted her name, his hands gripping hers, his dark eyes drilling into her soul until they both came together, and fell into each other’s arms.

Mine.

The word echoed like a mantra repeatedly as he gently untied her, rubbed her wrists, and pulled her close.

Mine.

Yours, she whispered to herself. Then closed her eyes.

“WHY DID YOU STAY with him for so long?”

The dark was good for sharing secrets. With his arms wrapped around her, snuggled under the covers, his mouth against her ear, nothing seemed off-limits. “I thought I loved him,” she said simply. “He had this way of making me feel like the most important person in the world. The way he focused on me. Listened. Shared with what I believed was pure emotion. He seemed so honest and real. He was also my yoga teacher, so he introduced me to a spiritual practice that changed my life.”

“Was that the first time he cheated?”

She sighed and pressed a kiss to his palm. “No. It was the third. Each time, he explained that the others didn’t mean anything to him. Cliché, I know, but he made me actually believe it. He used to say men weren’t made for monogamy, that he was fighting his own nature, but he’d keep fighting because we were soul mates.”

“Damn. He was good.”

She laughed. “Yeah, he was good. It was also easier to continue because we were a secret. Think about it. Nothing really invaded the intimacy he claimed we had. No bickering parents, or in-laws, or coworkers. No friends or public events. It was just me and him on an island together.”

They lay quietly for a while, both sifting through her answer. “Do you still love him?”

Arilyn rolled over to face him. Stroking his beloved face, the rough, carved features, the silky scratch of his goatee, she shook her head. “No, Stone. I don’t love him anymore.” I love you, she ached to say. But it was too soon. He wasn’t ready, and Arilyn wondered if he ever would be. Still, she’d tell him one day, because he deserved to know.

“Good.”

She smiled. “What about you? Do you still think of your ex-wife?”

“Sometimes. But not because I miss Ellen or still love her. I think over where it really went wrong, which I think was straight from the beginning. I don’t think I was ever made for a long-term relationship. Once I accepted it, I seemed to do better by not expecting something from myself I can’t give.”

Her heart broke a little. Why couldn’t he see it? He was meant for a family and love. He was loyal and protective and deserved so much. “You’re wrong,” she finally said. “If you believe that, you’re just like my ex.”

He drew back a little. “Don’t ever compare me to him.”

“He didn’t believe he was capable of being monogamous. By allowing himself to believe such bullshit, he made himself into what he wanted. Ellen cheated on you, yes, but it wasn’t your work that drove her to it or your selfishness. It was both of you not wanting to work, or communicate, or fix the tears.” She blinked, refusing to get sloppy and emotional. “It’s the coward’s way out.”

“I’m being honest, not a coward,” he shot back. “Don’t get any ideas about who I could be, little one. I’ll only disappoint you.”

Her heart couldn’t take it. Anger replaced the pain, and she grabbed his cheeks, forcing him to deal with her. “How do you know?” she shot back. “You buried your head in the sand after your divorce and locked yourself in a world of limitations that don’t exist. Bullshit you can’t be in a healthy, committed relationship. Bullshit your work and cynicism will ruin everything. Bullshit to all of it, Stone Petty, because you’re just lying to yourself for one big fat reason. It’s easy. And safe.”

“That’s two.”

“Asshole.”

“Shut up.” The frustration twisted, until he pushed her back on the pillow and took her mouth in a deep, thorough kiss. She dug her nails deep into his naked shoulders, eliciting a grunt of pain, and nipped at his lip, aggressively giving back to the kiss until his hips pinned hers and he was surging again between her thighs, already half-erect.

He broke the kiss, panting, staring at her with a mad gleam of lust and something more. Something deep that gave her pause and hope. “We have this,” he said fiercely. “It’s real, and brave, and good. Can’t that be enough?”

Arilyn arched for more of him. He slid deeper, and the pleasure gripped her mercilessly. “For now,” she gasped out. “Fuck me, Stone.”

He muttered a vicious curse, took her mouth, and fucked her long and hard. Arilyn clung and shattered around him, refusing to deal with the dawn of day and her love for a man who didn’t believe in it.

Afterward, sated, wrecked, lying in his arms, she finally heard him speak.

“I’m taking you to the movies tomorrow night.”

She roused herself enough to wonder if the sex had killed his brain cells. “Huh?”

“The movies. You know, a date. Dinner, too. Okay?”

Her throat tightened. “Okay,” she whispered. She knew it was his way of showing her what she meant to him. His gift, and a reminder he wasn’t her ex, and refused to keep her locked up in his bedroom because it made things less messy. A complete contradiction to the mind-blowing sex they’d just engaged in.

“But none of those chick flicks. I hate them. Something with guns. Okay?”

She thanked the dark for masking the tears that stung her eyes.

“Okay.”

Arilyn smiled and cuddled close. She’d take what she could. It was enough. For now.

eighteen

I’M IN TROUBLE, Kennedy.”

Her friend arched a brow and studied her from the doorway. Arilyn had just finished a counseling session in the purple room and couldn’t focus. Every thought and action kept going back to Stone and their incredible night together. Maybe if she talked it over with her friend she’d be able to work out the tangled emotions wrecking her system.

“What type of trouble?”

Arilyn sighed. “Man trouble.”

“The worst kind. Wait here.” Kennedy disappeared, and then came back with her cell phone. “Hang tight.”

“What are you doing?”

“FaceTiming with Kate.”

“No! She’s on her honeymoon! Oh my God, do not call and bother her!”

“Too late. It’s connecting. Hey, babe, how’s the sun, sand, and sex?”

Arilyn squeezed her eyes shut.

Kate’s voice drifted from the phone. “Fabulous. Is something wrong? Is Robert okay? Kinnections?”

“Take a chill pill, things are fine. Except we have a crisis with Arilyn, and since she never comes to us with boy trouble, I knew you’d be pissed if I didn’t bring you into the conference call.”

“Damn right. Turn me around so I can see her.”

Caught between laughter and a groan, Arilyn opened her eyes. “Hi, Kate. I’m sorry about this.”

Her friend looked tan, well rested, and deliriously happy. She was in a black bikini and floppy-brimmed hat, and held a cocktail with a purple paper umbrella sticking out of it. “Don’t be sorry. I’ve been dying to have this convo with you for a long time. Thank God you dumped Yoga Man. Now, tell us all the details.”

Kennedy squeezed into the circle so they could all see each other.

Arilyn decided to go with the unvarnished truth. “I’m in love with Stone Petty.”

Kate gaped. Kennedy gasped. Silence settled over the room for a few moments.

“Damn, girlfriend, you didn’t even give us a warm-up. Hard-core,” Kennedy said.

Kate squealed. “I’m so happy for you! This is the best news ever! Isn’t it? Wait a minute, why don’t you look happy?”

“Are we ever happy when we realize we’ve fallen for a man?” Kennedy quipped. “Most of them are not as smart as us and fight it to the end.”

“Except Nate,” Kate said. “He said you were worse than any man.”

Kennedy beamed. “Well, I gotta make him work for it, don’t I?”

“Guys, I don’t know what to do. When we started this thing, we agreed it would be about sex. Then we moved it a bit into companionship, and you convinced me to invite him to the wedding.”

“Which went famously well, I thought,” Kate said. “He was a big hit. Slade loved him.”

“So did Nate.”

“I know, but now he did something terrible and ruined the whole affair thing.”

“What?” Kate demanded.

“He fostered Pinky for me. And fell in love with her. And he hates dogs, because he got bit by a pit bull years ago, but he took in Pinky as a favor and now he carries her around with him because he refuses to leave her alone, and he has this great big heart, and he wrung, like, a million orgasms from me that night with the ice, and I fell in love with him. And if I tell him, he’ll run and refuse to look back, because he doesn’t think he can be in a relationship because of all these excuses he believes are true.”

Kennedy let out a breath. “Dudette, this is crazy. How many orgasms? Did you like the ice?”

“Focus!” Kate snapped. “We can’t talk about the sex now.”

“Sorry. Umm, okay, most men run at the idea of the word love being thrown around. Maybe he needs some time to get used to the idea.”

“You think?” Arilyn murmured. “He’s been divorced so he’s bitter, and he says he’s a workaholic, and I know we’re opposites, but there’s something about us that just fits.”

“Slade was divorced,” Kate said. “We had a lot of ups and downs, but eventually he came to realize just because it didn’t work with his ex doesn’t mean it never works at all.”

“I think he’s using excuses to keep him from admitting the truth,” Arilyn said softly. “I know it’s only been a little while, but I swear he has all these emotions inside to give. There’s a connection between us. The way he looks at me, touches me. He just hates talking about feelings.”

Kennedy rolled her eyes. “Men like to work out their emotions in bed. It’s the simpler way of communicating. I think he calls for a bit of patience. Cops are bristly, hard-core cases.”

Kate chimed in. “I agree. Give him some time to discover it on his own.”

“So I shouldn’t tell him I fell in love with him?”

“No!” they both said together.

“At least, not yet,” Kate clarified. “Slade freaked out. Kennedy did the same. So did Wolfe when Gen finally confessed her love. We don’t want you to go through the same thing. If you give him a bit more space, he’ll figure out he’s madly in love with you and you’ll get your happy ever after.”

“Probably,” Kennedy said.

“Definitely,” Kate said.

Arilyn sighed. Her friends were right. She’d gone from refusing to spend time with him, to liking, to passion, to love. How could the poor man keep up? The knowledge of her feelings ran deep and true. This was no transitional or recovery period. Stone Petty was the man she was meant for, and the last one on earth she’d ever look for.

Fate was a tricky bitch.

“Okay. We’ll finish up the course, and I’ll keep my revelation to myself. See how it goes. Thanks, guys.”

“No problem. I’ll be home soon, but keep me updated with texts,” Kate said.

“I will. Love you.”

The phone clicked off and Kate’s image disappeared. Kennedy patted her shoulder. “I know this is hard, A. But just remember: men are limited. We need to work with them in order to catch them up to speed. Now, I want to hear all about the ice.”

Arilyn laughed. Then told her.

ONE WEEK LATER, STONE wondered what was happening.

His life was usually easy. Mapped out. He worked every spare moment, slept, played pool, worked out, and went drinking with the guys. Sure, there were dates and some sleepovers in the middle, but mostly his freedom was key, and he relished the open road, even taking the bits of loneliness in stride.

Now, things had . . . changed.

He got into the habit of bringing Pinky to Arilyn’s house after work. After the first sleepover night, Pinky stopped howling every time Robert got close. The second night, Arilyn put their food bowls and beds closer together, still keeping a safe distance but forcing Pinky to see Robert in her space. The third night, they ate side by side without communicating. Almost as if Robert knew Pinky was delicate and needed to move things on her own. Oh, they watched each other, and sometimes Robert looked over with pleading need and adoration, wanting to play with a friend, but he kept chill. Stone fell hard for the pit bull, with his smarts and gentle soul. He even learned how to hook up his scooter and helped Arilyn take care of him when Patrick couldn’t get over there in the afternoon.

Arilyn and Stone’s relationship had also changed. What began as annoyance and attraction and then melded into hot sex and passion had now morphed into more. Affection. Tenderness. Comfort. Stone didn’t know when it had transitioned or at what moment he realized that he was enjoying having dinner, going to the movies, or hanging with her and the dogs just as much as being in bed.

Well, almost as much.

He never experienced such intense liking before. Sure, he enjoyed women and took them out on dates, but when he was alone, he never really missed them unless he had a hard-on. Never thought about them during the course of the day. Maybe because Arilyn was wrapped up with him in the anger management course, he’d gotten used to seeing her on a daily basis. That had to be it. Because the alternative was impossible. He didn’t lose control of his boxed-up mess of emotional crap, because it never worked out. Being honest was the best he could give.

Though something had happened between them the night he tied her up. Rollicking passion, yes. Numerous orgasms, definitely. But a bond had been strengthened, a connection that had always simmered between them but now seemed fused together permanently. She made him ache all over, inside and out, and drove him to claim her in bed endlessly in the drive to get rid of the madness. So far, no good.

Maybe once anger management was over, things would calm.

He’d work an extra shift. Pick up a little OT, gain some distance, and remind himself about real life. It would be good for both of them.

Stone pulled up to her house and glanced at his companion. The sore spots had now fully healed. Her new pink collar glittered with fake bling, which embarrassed the hell out of him, but since it was a present from Arilyn and Pinky seemed to like it, he hadn’t ripped it off. Yet. Hell, he’d almost bought a spiked leather collar at the pet store, but it reminded him too much of a BDSM relationship. So the pink stayed.

Her bat ears stood straight up with pale pink centers, and she panted with what he now knew was excitement. Her jaw jutted out with the excitement, exposing tiny sharp teeth. Those chocolate-brown eyes stared at him with sheer adoration, making him shake his head. “Come on, you little rat fink. Let’s go see Robert.” He scratched her head affectionately and pulled her into the crook of his arm.

He didn’t knock. When he came for dinner, she left the door open, and already the scents and sounds of the small bungalow drifted from inside. He walked in.

Arilyn stood in the kitchen, surrounded by pots and pans. She wore a stained apron that encouraged him to KISS THE CHEF. Feet bare, hair twisted up, clad in yoga pants, she grabbed her glass of wine and sipped while the sounds of a singer belting out lyrics not in English filled the air. Robert lay near the edge of the kitchen, purple bunny squeaker tucked firmly between his paws, head lifted as he waited for scraps to drop. Mrs. Blackfire and Patrick sat at the pine table with crackers and what looked like hummus, arguing over old movies and who were the greatest actor and actress of all time.

“There’s just no way you can’t pick Bogie,” Patrick stated. “He was a man’s man and a great romantic lead. No one touched him.”

Mrs. Blackfire snorted with disgust. “He mumbled and talked weird. Also not what you’d call handsome. Sorry, the real winner is Newman. Mr. Blue Eyes himself. He was a much better actor. Arilyn, do you have Ritz? These wheat things are a bit too crunchy.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Blackfire, Poppy needs to watch his salt intake, along with getting more fiber. How about the rosemary and garlic toast bits I made?”

“Yes, they’re better. Well, hello, Officer Stone. Were you called out to the bingo hall? Marilyn said there’s a thief who’s stealing the petty cash. Did you catch her?”

Stone nodded a greeting, clapped Patrick’s shoulder, and eased into the kitchen. “Wasn’t a theft, Mrs. Blackfire. Mr. Olsen is beginning to forget things, so he moved the cash and didn’t tell anyone. We found it. Crisis averted.”

“Oh. Well, I’d keep an eye on him. I always knew he looked suspicious. He’s even wearing an eye patch now!”

“He had cataract surgery.” He stopped in front of Arilyn. “Hi.”

She smiled and his heart stuttered. Damn undependable organ. “Hi.” He kissed her properly, his hands skating over her slim hips. “Need help?”

She laughed, rising up on her toes, and kissed him again. “Not your kind.”

“Hey, I helped the last time.”

“You thought the Brussels sprouts were broccoli.”

“They look the same.”

“Trust me, you’re a better help out there. Keep an eye on Poppy and make sure he’s not sneaking slugs of beer. I cut him off.”

“Mmm. ’Kay.” They stared at each other for a few moments. Funny, he’d never experienced that sensation of having the world melt away, but he couldn’t give a crap if a crime happened right in front of him. Stone seemed unable to move from the spell of those green eyes. Her delicious clean scent rose to his nostrils like heaven. “Whatcha making?”

“Pasta with creamy cauliflower sauce. I saw it on Thug Kitchen. I promise you’ll like this one.”

His lip twitched. It was a fifty-fifty shot. Some of her recipes he was actually getting used to. Other times she finally took pity on him and gave him something he recognized. Still, he left with his belly full, feeling pampered and cared for in a way he had never experienced.

Patrick spoke up. “With real sausage. She promised.”

He raised his brow. “Seriously?”

She shook her head but grinned. “Yes. I went to the organic butcher. I bend if you bend.”

“Sweet.” He opened the refrigerator, grabbed an IPA, and took a pull. Reaching into the right top cabinet, he took down four bowls and lined up the silverware. “Mrs. Blackfire, I saw your driveway is starting to crack. It’ll never make the winter. Do you have someone you trust to do it?”

“The last company did a terrible job, but they won’t come back to fix it. I called several times.”

Stone frowned as he set the table. “Is it that place on the edge of town with the dirty red truck parked in front?”

“Yes! I can’t get them to make good on the work, even though I paid for a guarantee.”

“I’ll take care of it. I know some people over there.”

“Thank you.” It came out soft and grudgingly, but Stone had been making great strides in cracking Mrs. Blackfire’s hard shell. The more he got to know her, he realized it was all a farce. She had no one in her life, and because she was so abrasive, people didn’t stay around long enough to get to know her. Arilyn set out the portions, with a vase of happy yellow flowers, and poured water in all the glasses. “Of course, you can really help if you convince your girlfriend to chop down that tree for the winter. When the snow piles up, it’s going to fall.”