“Or get good at ordering in. Not that I have the funds for that.”
Natalie shrugged. “I do. I am great at ordering in, and catering, and the perfect place setting. That’s what my family does, after all,” she mumbled. My eyebrows went up, but Nessa met my gaze and shook her head. So, we weren’t going to talk about that. “Anyway, we were trying to make chicken cacciatore. Or at least a version of it that I found on the internet. Only I’m pretty sure we’re only going to give everybody food poisoning if they eat the leftovers.”
“I can help if you want,” Nessa said, and I looked between the two of them, wondering how I was supposed to deal with this. Every time Nessa entered the room, my cock got hard. It was a little difficult to concentrate and not cut off my fingers or burn myself while cooking, given my dick was so hard I could barely breathe or function.
I’d reached a new low.
“Nessa might be right. We might be the worst at this.”
Natalie nodded. “Yes, so bad in fact, we can never let Dillon or Tanner know that I’m pretty sure I scalded a pot while boiling water.”
“You did what?” Tanner asked.
I turned. “How the hell did you get in here?” I inquired, frowning.
“The back door was unlocked and open,” Tanner said, glaring at Natalie. “I thought you said you were going to keep everything locked.”
My gaze shot between them, and Natalie raised her chin. “I thought I had. I didn’t realize it was open.” She paused, her expression falling. “It was open?”
Tanner scowled. “The wind must have gotten it. I’ll work on the mechanism. I think it’s the lock’s issue, not yours.”
“Look at that. Tanner saying that it couldn’t be my fault and that it could be something else,” Natalie singsonged as she went back to cooking.
“Watch it,” he grumbled, met my gaze, and then lifted his chin before walking out the door.
I met Nessa’s gaze. She shook her head, her eyes wide. “Okay, then.”
“Why is Tanner here?” I asked slowly.
“I have no idea,” Natalie said. “He texted earlier and said he was coming over to work on something around the house. Mostly because our landlord doesn’t do anything, and he’s handy.” She blushed. “You know what I mean. Not in that way. I don’t… We are not like that.”
I met Nessa’s gaze again. “I believe that,” Nessa said, laughing. “Not with how the two of you never seem to get along.”
“I was just telling Miles that we do get along. Though not always. Whatever. I suck at this.” She set down the knife. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” She picked up her phone and stomped out of the kitchen, and I heard Tanner growling about something. She growled right back.
Nessa walked to my side, her eyes even wider. “Is there something going on?” she whispered.
“Between Natalie and me? Hell, no.” I winced. “I mean…no. We’re just friends.”
“That’s good. That’s what I assumed,” Nessa said slowly. “But I meant between Tanner and Natalie.”
I shrugged, embarrassed. “I have no idea. I wouldn’t have thought so until just now. Wow.”
“Exactly. Wow.” She swallowed hard and rocked back on her feet. “Anyway, do you want help cooking? I guess this is dinner? I mean...if I’m invited.”
I looked around at the messy kitchen and the fact that we hadn’t even started cooking beyond the prep. “This was supposed to be dinner. Only I don’t even know when we’re going to be able to eat.”
“Come on. I’ll help you.”
I shook my head. “I thought you were working today.”
“I was. I did my shift and then thought I would come home and try to get some work done. So, here I am. And I will. But let me help you cook first.”
“You don’t have to. I can figure it out.”
She raised a brow.
“I can,” I growled.
“I’m sure you can. Still, let me help you. I’m good at this. Decent, anyway. And I know this recipe.” Nessa tapped the screen. “Let me help you.”
“I’d appreciate it. Are you going to need help with your homework? Anything I can do?”
She straightened. “Actually, yes. I’m in a stupid statistics class, and it’s kicking my ass.”
“Ah, that other class you kept putting off.”
“Yes. I hate it. I vaguely remember when we were signing up, and you said you were decent at it.”
“It’s not exactly my major, but I took the class. I can help if you want.”
“I’d be grateful. I’d rather just keep writing.”
“Writing? For work? School? Or the book you’re working on?”
Her gaze shot to mine. “You know I’m writing a book?”
I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Maybe.”
“Miles,” she teased as she deftly minced the garlic and chopped the onion. How could someone do that so quickly?
“I overheard you and the girls talking about it while working at my desk. The house is loud sometimes. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It just sort of happened.”
“Serves me right for actually speaking it out loud in the living room rather than from behind a tightly closed door with a lock in a soundproof room.” She shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. “Let me show you how to cut these tomatoes.”
I tilted my head, studying her face. “Can’t you just buy the canned ones?”
“Yes, but you didn’t. You bought tomatoes, meaning we’re going to have to cook them down. We can do this, Miles.”
“Maybe I should have started with just mashed potatoes. Or steak. I can grill a steak.”
“As can any guy I know, according to the laws of being a man or whatever other patriarchal society thing is out there.”
“That was a nice segue,” I said, laughing.
“I had a rough day. Too many customers searching through our books then going to their phone and ordering online from the big online store that will not be named.”
I went still. “Seriously?”
“Yep. And they didn’t even bother hiding it. They just buy their print books, not even ebooks, even though they’re holding the book in their hands. I don’t get it. However, there’s nothing I can do other than curse them behind their backs and maybe make a voodoo doll or something. You know, I’m not in the mood to do that.”
“It seems like a lot of work and responsibility.”
She grinned. “Exactly. Let’s get through this. While it simmers, we can work on statistics.”
She turned, ran into my chest, and put her hands on my abs. I reached out to steady her, my hands on her hips, and did my best not to let them move around to cup her ass.
She was just…right there, her breasts pressed against me. I nearly groaned.
“Oh,” she whispered, swallowing hard.
“Sorry. You okay?”
“Yes, I think I am,” she breathed.
My gaze moved to her lips, and I swallowed hard. I wanted to kiss her, wanted to do something. Instead, I just stood there. But I didn’t move back, didn’t do anything.