Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Well enough to eat once in a while.” He plated the spaghetti, then carried the dishes to the table and set one in front of her. The sauce was thick and red, dotted with bits of tomato and herbs. “How about you?”
“I love to cook,” she admitted. “Lately I haven’t had much time to do so. In fact, I’d love to—” She cut herself off.
Adam sat across from her and poured wine into both glasses. “Love to what? I won’t judge.”
Instinct told her he wouldn’t judge her. What was it about this guy? From the first second she’d met him, she’d felt depths in him. Not that he hid anything about himself. That was rare anywhere, much less in the world she lived in right now. Hollywood.
“I’d love to have a greenhouse and grow my own vegetables and herbs,” she said finally. “Maybe even some fruit.” Her face warmed.
“Cool.” He nudged a bowl of grated Parmesan toward her. “Add this.”
Cool? That was it? No teasing. No comment about her living in Los Angeles. Just acceptance. She sprinkled some cheese on the dish, twirled a forkful of pasta, and took a bite. The sauce was rich and perfect. She pointed her fork at him. “You’re lying.”
Adam draped one arm across the back of the neighboring chair. “About?”
“You’re a fantastic cook.”
His mouth curved slowly. “I’d like to impress you, but I bought the sauce from Mrs. Hudson. She sells all sorts of glazes and jams, and I’m a repeat customer. Eat before it gets cold.”
She obeyed. Outside, thunder rolled across the hills again, softer now but still present. Rain continued to drum steadily against the roof. For a few minutes they ate in comfortable silence. Eventually the plates were empty, and the quiet between them shifted into a definite warmth.
Adam stood and moved around the table. He crouched beside her chair, his bare foot brushing the table leg as he reached for the rolled cuff of the sweatpants. “All right. Let’s take a look at that knee.”
Her breath caught as his fingers brushed her calf.
He lifted the fabric slowly, exposing her knee. The bruise had spread while she showered, dark purple bleeding into deep blue beneath the skin. The swelling made the joint look stiff and tight. Adam studied it carefully, his brow furrowing. Then his hands moved gently along the sides of the joint.
Heat spiraled through her, and not the painful kind. His fingers were warm and calloused. A little rough. “I’m okay,” she said, though her voice came out thinner than she intended.
His gaze lifted briefly, meeting hers. A quiet and intent look flickered there before he looked back down. “Yep,” he said softly. “Just bruised.” He rose and walked to the freezer, returning a moment later with a bag of ice wrapped in a kitchen towel.
She shifted in the chair as he placed it gently against her knee. Cold shot through the joint. She hissed.
“Sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
He kept one hand lightly on the towel for a moment, steadying it. His fingers brushed the outside of her thigh through the oversized sweats before he straightened again.
Desire zinged through her so quickly she nearly fell against the table. What was wrong with her? She worked around handsome men all the time.
“Keep that there while I get dessert,” he said. “It’s a pie made by Dawn Freeze that I bought at a fundraiser a few days ago. Huckleberry.”
Bianca brightened immediately. Huckleberries had been her favorite fruit as a kid. She lifted her glass of wine. “Yes, doctor.”
Adam returned with two generous slices.
She took one bite and nearly groaned.
Adam’s gaze lifted slowly from his plate.
She cleared her throat and straightened. “This house would be perfect for filming.”
“It’s not a good idea.” Adam dug into his pie.
Irritation rippled through her. “Why not?”
He sighed. “First, the town is in the middle of spring cattle season, and we don’t have time to deal with tourists and city people who get lost and get in the way. Second, we’d rather not be discovered and have a bunch of them buy up land to use one week a year. Third, that kind of thing never goes smoothly.”
She lowered her chin. “I’ll make sure it does.” There wasn’t a choice. She couldn’t let Randi down. Not this time. Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she jumped.
“I grabbed your bag from the car when we left,” he noted, stretching one arm over his head to grab the phone. All sorts of impressive muscle shifted when he did so. He handed it over.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey. It’s Dawn Freeze. I heard you were in an accident. Are you all right?” Dawn asked.
Bianca blinked. “How did you hear that?” She’d only been at Adam’s for an hour. Tops.
“From Mrs. Milbury at the store,” Dawn said easily. “I don’t know where she heard it.”