Hunter tossed his shirt somewhere and ran his hands through his hair, half turning and giving her a spectacular view of his front side.
Chest and abs would also have to go on the list.
He scratched at his scruff and twisted, unknowingly baring more to her view. Mal choked back a whimper of appreciation. Maybe just his chest and abs.
Real men didn’t look like that. And yet, there he stood. A real man, who really liked her and who really drove her insane and really knew how to kiss her.
He finally moved out of sight, and Mal found herself staggering backward against the doorframe. She blinked hard and realized she was literally biting her knuckle. Shouldn’t she have noticed that before? She straightened up and fumbled her way back into the room, reaching for walls and the bed and anything else that would keep her from falling over.
Another shower suddenly seemed like a really good idea. A very, very cold shower.
Several face washes and fanning episodes later, Mal made her way down the stairs. She wandered around the main floor and heard some noise from the kitchen, which made her smile. She wasn’t the only one quick in the shower, then.
She poked her head into the kitchen and saw Hunter pulling things out of the fridge and a pot from under the counter. A set of speakers in the corner was playing slow jazz, and Hunter moved to the beat. He was freshly changed into a perfectly fitted dark gray T-shirt and jeans, and oddly enough, he was barefoot.
Mal grinned and came into the room fully. “What’s on the menu, chef?”
He looked up, gave her a slow appraisal, and his mouth curved. “Hello, gorgeous.”
She blushed and tucked an invisible strand of hair behind her ear. “Hey, hot stuff.”
He choked a laugh and winked at her as he moved to the sink to fill the pot with water. “Don’t tease me, baby. And don’t get excited either; it’s nothing fancy. Mac and cheese. From a box.”
Mal smiled and came over to his side of the counter. “Sounds great.”
He smiled down at her. “Audrey’s clothes look good on you.”
“She has great taste,” Mal informed him, pushing the sleeves back. “I like her already.”
Hunter’s smile grew, and his eyes crinkled. “I thought you might.”
Mal considered him for a moment. “That story you told me. About her leg? That was why you got so crazy about me in the rain, wasn’t it?”
He set the pot down and turned on the burner, taking his time to answer. He turned, facing her. “Yeah, it was. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just get fired up about that.”
“I get it,” Mal said as she came over to him. “You have good reason to be worried about that. I’m sorry I made it so hard for you. I should have listened.”
He straightened up and kissed her forehead softly. “I get angry when I get scared. Forgive me.”
Mal laughed softly through her nose. “I guess I have to, since you’re showing me the house and feeding me and all that.”
He laughed and stepped aside, going for the things he pulled out of the fridge. “Yeah, the house you wanted so badly.”
Mal shrugged, folding her arms. “It has its perks,” she drawled.
Hunter gave her a look that made her grin. “Topic change,” he instructed.
She hummed and leaned against the counter. “If you had to sing at karaoke night, what would you sing?”
“Easy,” he said simply. “I wouldn’t.”
Mal rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know, but if you had to.”
He looked at her again. “I wouldn’t.”
She tossed her hands up. “Really? It’s a hypothetical!”
He raised a brow as if she were missing the point and not him. “Yeah. And hypothetically, I wouldn’t.”