She chewed on her lower lip for a moment, then drew in a breath. “Well, I had this image of enjoying a nice dinner with you. Easy conversation, as is always the case.”
“And?”
Her pupils dilated, chest rising and falling in a quicker pattern. Then her voice dropped lower, more throaty. More husky. More…seductive.
“You’d be flirtatious, as you always are. But in this intoxicatingly sensual way.” She edged toward me.
My muscles tensed, jaw clenching. Everything about this was such a damn turn-on. And what made my need for Julia even stronger was that she wasn’t even trying to be sexy. This was just who she was.
“At some point,” she continued, “the sexual tension between us would be too much.”
I gripped her hip, lust coursing through me. “What would happen then?” I growled.
She smirked. “Be a good boy, and maybe you’ll find out.” She lifted herself onto her toes, her breath warming my neck. “But it involves you. A table. And me as dessert.”
“Goddamn,” I hissed, wrapping my hand in her hair as I crushed my lips to hers, claiming her mouth. I circled my hips, desperate for some sort of release of the hunger that had been building since she walked downstairs. Hell, since I fingered her on the lanai and took her panties.
“What I wouldn’t give to have a taste of you right now,” I grunted, burying my head in her neck as I nipped her skin. Then I pulled back. “But there’s a special place in hell for people who overcook a steak. I guess we’ll just have to delay our gratification.”
Smiling slyly, she palmed my crotch. I inhaled a sharp breath.
“I guess we will,” she murmured.
With a groan, I reluctantly stepped away from her, although the thought of foregoing dinner certainly seemed appealing.
“What do you need me to do?” Julia asked as I opened the oven, retrieving the sizzling cast-iron pan and placing it on a trivet. “Anything?”
“Actually, yes.” I removed the oven mitt, tossing it onto the counter. “Come with me.” I rested my hand on her lower back, leading her out onto the lanai.
A gentle breeze blew, the sky a beautiful pinkish orange as day gradually gave way to night. Soft music sounded from the speakers, the candles I arranged on the table completing the atmosphere.
“I want you to sit here and relax while I take care of you.” I walked her toward the table, pulling out a chair.
“I don’t mind helping,” she protested, but I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, forcing her to sit.
“From what I gathered, you’ve spent your whole life putting everyone else’s needs before your own. So, for the next week, my goal is to take care of you the way you deserve. To ensure you put yourself first for once.”
She tilted her head back, staring at me in awe. This was the least I could do for her. Literally. It was something so small. Yet to her, it was everything. The perfect gift.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I leaned down, brushing a kiss against her cheek. Then I hurried back inside to finish preparing dinner.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the entire scenario, and not simply because the last person I cooked for was Piper and I didn’t think I’d ever find someone I wanted to cook for again.
After I learned who Julia was, I debated walking away. It seemed like the rational thing to do. Hell, it still did.
But after Ethan returned to his hotel and I went for a walk to clear my head, I somehow ended up here, just as I did yesterday afternoon when I overheard Julia’s proposition.
And just like yesterday, it was as if the universe was giving me a sign, telling me this was where I needed to be.
That this was what I needed in my life.
I just prayed this decision wouldn’t come back to haunt me.