going all out, maybe takeout from Bertâs.â
âNothing wrong with that. I like the food from Bertâs. I do draw the line at microwaved meals, though. And Iâm sure with a little effort you could probably cook.â
âI can toss stuff on the grill. Throw a salad together. And make eggs and bacon. Thatâs the extent of my cooking prowess.â
âYou can survive on that.â
He dug in to the cheesecake first, and he had to bite back a groan. It was so damn good he wanted to dive face-first into the entire thing, gobble it up, and then grab the whole cheesecake and run out the door with it.
âDamn, Megan.â
Sheâd been watching him. âSo itâs good?â
âUh, yeah.â After he finished the cheesecake, he sampled the chocolate mousse cake.
Sonofabitch, it melted on his tongue like a chocolate orgasm.
He lifted his gaze to hers. âWhy donât you have a boyfriend? Or a husband?â
She frowned, then wiped her lips with her napkin. âExcuse me?â
âI mean, youâre hot as hell and you make great food. Not to mention these desserts. Why hasnât some guy carried you off and married you?â
He saw her cheeks blush crimson. âOh. You think Iâm hot?â
âSure.â He waved his fork at her. âSoft hair, pretty eyes, sexy mouth, great ass. Whatâs not to like?â
She laughed. âAs far as compliments go, that was pretty good. So, thank you.â
âYouâre welcome.â He busied himself with polishing off the rest of the dessert, and even contemplated askingfor seconds, then decided heâd regret that later when he was trying to sleep tonight.
He went into the kitchen and helped Megan with the dishes, despite her trying to push him away. It was the least he could do to thank her for a home-cooked meal that came with the best damn desserts he could remember having.
After her earlier nap, Roxie busied herself running back and forth from the kitchen to the living room to the dining room, her feet occasionally tumbling out from under her, so sheâd go
splat
on all fours. Then sheâd get up and scramble and do it all over again.
Megan laughed at her as they stood at the sink. âSheâs got some energyâthatâs for sure. But she needs some chew toys to help her burn off that energy.â
âI guess so. Iâll look into that.â
After they finished the dishes, they took their glasses of iced tea and moved into the living room. Megan took a seat on the sofa. Brady picked the comfortable-looking chair next to the sofa. Roxie tried to claw her way onto the sofa, so Megan scooped her up and set her on her lap.
âWould you like a beer or some wine?â she asked.
âNo, thanks. Iâm good with the tea.â
He grabbed a flavored toothpick out of his pocket and slid that in his mouth.
âI have some floss in the bathroom if you have something in your teeth.â
âSomeâoh, no. Nothing in my teeth. This is to keep me from wanting a cigarette.â
She frowned. âOh. You quit?â
âYeah.â
âHow long ago?â
âAbout a year or so.â
âWell. Good for you.â
âThanks. After dinner is always when I get the toughest cravings.â
âI never smoked, so I wouldnât know. Your brother did, though.â
He stilled, pulled the toothpick out of his mouth. âYou knew Kurt?â
âSure I did. I dated him for a while.â
His head felt fuzzy and full. âWhen?â
She lifted her eyes to the ceiling. âLetâs see. It was about two years before he died. We dated about six months or so.â
âI didnât know that.â
She shrugged. âNo reason for you to. You werenât around then. He told me you were working in . . . Memphis, I think?â
âYeah.â Heâd been off learning his trade, working for a great body painter,
Alaska Angelini, A. A. Dark