“What’s with the third degree? Just figured I’d give you time to cool down.” I snatched the helmet off the handlebar and put it on. “I’m sorry for pissing you off, okay?” I huffed a breath.
I never liked apologizing, especially when I didn’t think I did anything wrong. I grew up hearing my mom apologize to my dad for everything and nothing at all. But for whatever reason, I felt the need to defuse Nik.
He climbed onto his bike, and I got on next. We didn’t say anything else on the way back to his house, which only took ten minutes because he didn’t take the same route we came. It was for the better. I didn’t know if I could play nice right now.
Back at his house, he left me alone while I rummaged through his kitchen cabinets. Surprisingly, he had a decent skillet and everything else I needed to make the lasagna.
While I cooked the meat and got ready to assemble the ingredients, I wondered where he’d disappeared to. How was I to teach him how to make this dish if he wasn’t around?
My first thought was he was on the phone, making up with his girlfriend. I hated her and didn’t even know her.
While I mentally cursed his girlfriend, Nik appeared in the arched doorway. “Need me to do anything?”
“I thought you wanted to learn how to make lasagna?”
“Nah. Not really.”
“Wow, okay. So you’re using me to make this for Nana Bea. Nice. Asshole.” I gritted my teeth, stirring the sauce.
“You and your damn mouth. It’s going to get you into trouble. You should put it to better use.”
I whipped my head toward him, finding he was behind me now. I sniffed something different. Something pungent.
“Were you smoking weed?”
“Needed to take the edge off.” His hands were on my hips, rubbing up and down. Butterflies took flight in my stomach. Not an everyday occurrence when a guy touched me. “Smells good in here.”
He was a lot more chill than before, but he shouldn’t be touching me when he had a girlfriend, so I moved out of his grasp.
“This takes fifty minutes to bake once in the oven.”
“Do I make you nervous, Rita?” The amusement in his voice made me scowl. He was toying with me.
“No.”
“Liar.”
“Whatever.” I didn’t look at him while I assembled the lasagna. But in my peripheral vision, I could see him smiling as he hovered close. Goose bumps spread across my skin.
I gulped, trying to stay focused on my task, instead of wishing Nik would kiss me. Maybe rip my clothes off and have his way with me. I squeezed my thighs for going down that dangerous, delicious road.
But it was wrong to wish such things. Granny would have a fit. So would Nik’s girlfriend.
“So, where do you work?” I needed to get my mind on something else.
“I’m a bouncer at a club.” He went to the fridge and took out a beer. “Want one?”
“Sure. Thanks.” I could stand to take the edge off too. “I can see that. Put those muscles to good use, huh? Which club?” I smiled, spreading ricotta on the second layer of lasagna.
“It’s near the beach.” He guzzled and so did I.
I set the bottle on the counter and sprinkled mozzarella next. “Which beach? In Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu? Or is it down south?”
“You sure like to ask a lot of questions.”
Why was he deflecting? “And you sure like to avoid talking about yourself.” I started the third layer.
“Malibu.”