Taran whacked him in the stomach, and he laughed again.
That morning, when he’d asked Taran to come over, he hadn’t expected this kind of night, but an hour and a half later, he wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“I realize I shouldn’t be surprised, but I had no idea you’d be that good with kids,” Taran said once they had signed off.
Corey shrugged. “I’m the idol of a quarter of the kids in the world; I have to be good with them.”
Taran frowned as she shook her head. “Don’t do that.”
“What?”
She crossed her arms. “You didn’t handle having them ask you for an autograph like a trained pro. That’s not what I meant. You connected with all three of them. Even if you never play with them again, they’ll talk about you for the next year. And it’s not because any of them realized you’re Corey Matthews.”
He shrugged. “I’m a kid person. Are you surprised? I’m like a ten-year-old. I literally play baseball and video games twenty-four seven.”
She fell back into the couch, laughing. “You’re such an idiot.”
But he didn’t feel like an idiot because that sparkle in her eyes and the smile were worth whatever it took to get there. A strange pull in his gut made him want to see that smile from now until forever.
He leaned close and let her soft scent encompass him. He ran the tip of his nose along the smooth skin of her jaw, and her breath caught. Corey pressed his lips into the hollow of her neck until she tilted her head back and moaned.
“Sex or food?” Corey asked as his lips danced down to her collarbone.
“Do I have to pick?” she asked.
“Only the order because I’m perfectly willing to have dessert first, but both are on the menu.”
Her rumbling stomach made the decision easy. He wanted her, but he wanted to take care of her too.
“Dinner it is.”
“Where did you learn to cook?” she asked, sitting on the island as he worked on the risotto.
“I like to eat, and I have a lot of time.” He shrugged, but he watched her legs in the stainless-steel reflection. She’d taken off her heels, and her bare feet dangled. He’d never been a foot guy, but he wanted to run his lips from her feet up both legs. The risotto was on low, and the rest had about twenty minutes—enough time to focus on something else.
“Yeah, but this is like real cooking. I can do comfort food, but roasted asparagus with grated Asiago over a garlic risotto sounds like something I’d order at a five-star restaurant.”
“Would you prefer something simpler?” he asked and held a spoon for her to taste. Her moan shot to his dick, which was already straining against his jeans.
“No, God no. This is amazing, Corey.” She uncrossed her legs and let him step between them.
He tossed the spoon into the sink to rest his hands alongside her thighs and lean into her. Man, he wanted her to moan his name for a different reason. Right here on the island. He could push her back and taste something better than anything he could cook. Her scent tempted him as the silky strands of her hair tickled his jaw.
“But I want to know where you learned.” Her words brought him back from the fantasy, but he didn’t pull away. Just back far enough to look her in the eye.
“It’s not a great mystery, Taran.” He let his fingers run over the smooth skin of her lower thigh, slowly creeping them up under the cotton of her dress. “I had multiple personal chefs growing up. One on the east coast, one on the west coast, and one in the Florida Keys. A lonely only child to parents who didn’t have time for me, so the staff became my friends. I also know how to wax a car and a boat, take care of horses, and power wash pavers.”
“I’m sorry,” Taran said, but her breath hitched as his hands circled under her ass, pulling her tight against his crotch.
“No one has a perfect life, but I have an idea if you want to make me feel better.”
“Are you going to burn my risotto?” she asked, but she rocked her hips into him even as she said it.
“It would be worth it,” he assured her, knowing he wouldn’t.
“Hmm, I don’t know about that.”
“Challenge accepted, my little pain in the ass.” He didn’t let go of her ass as he lowered his mouth to claim hers.