“And what about you being safe? I should tan your hide and make it so you can’t sit pretty on that ass for a week.” He gave her a stern glare, thinking a few good swats to her cute butt would make her see things differently.
She laughed, clapped her hands together and said, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re utterly adorable when you go all domineering like that?”
With a blasé stare, unsure whether he wanted to spank her or kiss her for the stunt in the tree, he kept his hands at his sides. If he touched her, he would do one or the other, possibly both. She was the only woman of his acquaintance who, when he spoke to her like he would any submissive he considered under his protection, laughed and called him cute. She was incorrigible. “Let’s get the groceries inside. I didn’t stop for lunch and am starving, especially after being forced to climb a tree.”
“Groceries? What groceries?”
“The ones I picked up for the cabin because I need more than ramen noodles to survive.”
“But you bought them… for me?” she asked with a confused expression.
Hadn’t anyone ever looked out for her? “For the both of us, but yeah. This way, I will know you’re eating more than ramen noodles.”
Avery placed her palms on his cheeks, leaned up, and kissed him. It was a gentle mingling that bespoke of care. Where she touched him, he burned. Need churned in thick waves. The press of her lips as they moved sweetly over his, left him starved and craving far more than just a kiss. But she lifted her mouth away. “I could get used to having you around, cowboy. Thank you for feeding me.”
Pleasure speared him at the earnest praise and soft welcome in her eyes. They were eyes a man could drown in if he wasn’t careful. “As long as there’s more where that came from.”
She shot him a saucy grin. “Absolutely. I plan to rock your world later tonight, if you’re staying overnight again.”
“I’m spending the night.” Nothing short of the nuclear apocalypse would drag him away tonight. And even then he would find a way. He worried that she had already rocked his world. It hadn’t stopped spinning yet, either, and he had no idea where he would land once it was all over.
Together, they carted in the groceries, with Avery exclaiming at the number of bags. Yeah, maybe he’d gone a teeny bit overboard. But the woman was surviving on ramen noodles and instant coffee. On the last trip to his truck, he remembered to grab his overnight bag as well.
They put things away in the fridge and small pantry together. Avery’s joy as she oohed and aahed over the peanut butter and chips were infectious. Although that was nothing compared to the way she shouted with excitement over the sweet treat he’d picked up at the last minute. You’d think he had brought the woman diamonds the way she preened.
When all the groceries were put away, he got the oven started and put two potatoes wrapped in foil inside. While the potatoes were beginning to cook, he pulled out the two New York strip steaks he had picked up and began prepping those for the grill. He had an amazing bourbon spice rub he liked to use on steak. It made the flavor out of this world.
“We’re having steak? I can’t remember the last time I had steak.” she murmured, pressed up against his side at the counter.
“That we are; I figured we could both use the protein. I’ve got the potatoes for the oven and am about to get the grill started. Is there anything else you want with dinner? I’ve got veggies. And how do you like your steak cooked?”
“We can save the veggies for another night, this will fill me up. Medium rare on the steak. And has anyone ever told you that you’re a handy guy to have around?” She bit her bottom lip and stared at him like he was on the menu. It gave him an erotic thrill to be wanted this way, uninhibitedly, without reservation, and not because of his money. Well, not really because of his money and the pittance he had spent to feed her. Yes, he had bought her groceries, but any man who could call himself a man would have ensured she had food to eat.
“A time or two.”
“I still can’t believe you brought me all this food. And brownies too!” she exclaimed.
“Who says they’re for you?” he teased as he finished prepping the steak with the spice rub.
“Don’t you know it’s wrong to come between a woman and chocolate? I mean, men go to war over land or money. When it comes to women, you touch our chocolate, and you die.”
He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do you need any help?” she asked him.
“I’ve got this.” And before the night was done, he would have her. It was a win-win scenario for both parties.
“Okay, then I’m going to start getting my equipment outside and set up. That way it will be ready once we’re done with dinner.”
“If you want to wait until after we eat, I can help you with all that.” He remembered how heavy her gear was from the mad dash to get it all inside yesterday.
“Nah. I’m used to carting that stuff around all by myself. You’re in for a real treat tonight. We should have a prime view of Venus.”
She was effusive and seductive, with an impish glimmer in her eyes. Was it any wonder he was drawn to her? She lit up a room just by being in it. Even her propensity for getting herself into a tight spot, like getting stuck in a tree after rescuing a baby bird, charmed him. He’d never known anyone like her.
“Looking forward to it.” He headed out onto the front porch where the propane grill sat on a fire proof mat on the deck. Because of the threat of forest fires, they took anything like grilling seriously. One spark could literally ignite a fire that would burn thousands of acres. Colt started the grill, and figured by the time it was properly heated for him to toss the steaks on, the potatoes would be about done.
While the grill was heating up, above her objections, he hauled out the heaviest of her equipment. There was just so much of it. And it made him wonder where she had gotten the money for all of it. Perhaps she truly had just lost her wallet in the stream. She wouldn’t be the first guest to lose important items like that out on a hike, and certainly wouldn’t be the last.
By the time they had all her telescopes outside, the potatoes were almost done. He tossed the steaks on the grill and the scent of sizzling meat filled the air. And while Colt stood at the grill, he watched her flit around, setting her telescopes up.
The woman was in constant motion. She never stopped to settle. He’d never known anyone with such vibrancy and zest for living. And he wondered just how long she would make him wait before he could seduce her back into bed.
5
With a blanket in her arms, standing at the front door, Avery excitedly said, “Come on. Tonight’s a great night to watch the stars. And who knows, we might see a UFO or two.”
Colt finished wiping his hands on the dish towel. Just look at her, he thought. In the deepening night, and the light of the cabin, she was like the sun, and now he was caught in an orbit around her. He couldn’t deny that he was interested to see what his little squatter did with all that equipment. He strode her way and followed her outside, shutting the door behind him. He figured two hours, tops, of looking at the stars, and then he would seduce her into bed.