Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Hmph.” Liam pointed at the cheese I’d abandoned. “Back to your station. I’ve got this.”
“So much for being the master,” I snarked, picking up the block of parmesan cheese.
Liam bumped my hip playfully. “I read an article about couples cooking together. It said the secret to success is splitting up duties so you aren’t in each other’s way. And there was a show on the Food Channel where…”
I nodded absently, but I wasn’t listening. My brain was stuck on the word “couples.”
We were a couple. Right? We were together. And when we weren’t, we wanted to be. I licked my lips nervously, grating cheese double time as I mulled over the implications. That meant we were boyfriends. Fuck, that was…cool. But scary too. I hadn’t meant for this to happen, but it felt right. I wanted him in my life. I wanted—
“What were you reading?” I interrupted.
“Huh?”
“You read an article about couples cooking together,” I prodded.
He finished cutting a precise strip of basil, then set the knife on the cutting board. “Oh. Yeah, the article popped up on my Instagram feed. Hmm. Did I freak you out?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good. I’m a prolific googler. If I don’t understand something, it’s a handy crutch.”
“Yeah. So…did you google ‘couples cooking’?” I asked.
I’d been going for casual, but when Liam sidled next to me and flashed that devilish grin, I knew I’d missed the mark.
“No, it just popped up out of the blue. You know the phenomenon…you talk to a friend about how to cook fish, and the next thing you know, you’re getting ads for fish and cookware all over your newsfeed. And if you click on one of those, you’re doomed.”
“I see. So you clicked and got relationship advice as well as pertinent info on how to debone halibut.”
“Exactly! Knowledge is power.”
“Hmm. What’s the most informative thing you’ve ever learned from googling?”
Liam gave me a sideways glance I couldn’t quite read. “Um…who would win a fight between Superman and Batman.”
I guffawed. “That is important info. And the answer has to be Batman.”
“Correct! Superman might be strong, but everyone knows the guy’s weakness is kryptonite. Batman wouldn’t even need Robin’s help to bring him down. And by the way, what’s Robin’s job? Does the dude have a real purpose, ’cause I don’t get it. Are they buddies or more than buddies?”
I chuckled. “I have no idea. And why are we talking about Batman and Robin?”
Liam raised his hands in surrender. “You started it.”
“I did not.”
“Did too. You asked about googling cooking and…”
“Couples.”
He cocked his head curiously.
“I’ll google that next.”
“That’s probably not necessary,” I replied.
“Sure, it is. I don’t want to blow this.” He crossed his arms as he leaned against the counter. “This is where you tell me I can blow you right here, right now.”
How did he do that? He wore his heart on his sleeve yet still allowed me an exit strategy in case he overstepped my comfort level. Or maybe his own. I couldn’t tell. I just had a feeling we were suddenly in deeper than we’d planned.
“You’re not blowing this. Me and you.” I gestured between us lamely, fixating on his full lips as I tried to find my place. “I think we’re supposed to communicate a lot. Is that what the article said?”
“Well, no. It suggested to never start cooking on an empty stomach, to delegate with your partner, and clean as you go.”
I smiled. “That’s helpful.”
“It also advised not to be overly ambitious. I’m totally guilty of that.”
I set the grater down and turned to face him. “I like that about you.”
“Thanks.” Liam traced the curve of my jaw and stared deeply into my eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something but changed his mind.
I tugged his shirt, hooking my thumbs in his belt loops. “What are you thinking about?”
“I like the way you laugh.”
“That’s what you’re thinking?”
“Yep. You have a hearty laugh. Your eyes get in on the action, and you look like you’re bursting with sunshine or something.” He brushed his nose against my cheek. “It’s pretty freaking special.”
I leaned into his touch and purred like a fucking cat. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he was the special one, but I didn’t want to lay it on too thick. So instead, I told him another truth.
“You make me smile. You don’t have to do much. Just being here with you works for me.”
Liam gave me another searching look. Then he nipped my bottom lip and crashed his mouth over mine. And damn, it felt like we were having two conversations at once, but I understood the deeper meaning. This wasn’t ordinary. This was special.
I wanted it to last.
Look, I wasn’t an idiot. Just because we didn’t want our work associates to know about us didn’t mean they didn’t suspect something was up. Derek gave me a curious side-eye every so often, but he didn’t say a word. He was glad Liam had stayed on longer than he’d intended. I didn’t think he cared if I was the reason. Jade was the one I couldn’t read. She was perfectly cordial to Liam; however, I noticed she was downright chilly to me lately. I didn’t get it.