Chapter 10 Tate #2
“When was the last time you were in a grocery store?”
She grabbed a bag of Pop Corners off the rack and tucked it safely on the top part of the cart. “Hmm, that’s a good question. I think it was probably Columbus, Ohio.”
“Random.”
“Yeah there was a crazy snow storm while we were in town for a show. We had to fly in a day early or we wouldn’t get into the airport at all.
Our hotel was near this ridiculously large twenty-four hour supermarket.
Cindy and I snuck out with a few of the other dancers.
We were tired of the healthy food my chef cooked for us.
Great for keeping us in fighting shape for shows, but not exactly the most exciting stuff. ”
I couldn’t help smiling at her as she told her story while rapidly filling the cart.
“You know it’s just two of us right?”
She tilted her head. “Huh?”
I pointed to the cart.
“Shopping hungry is always dangerous.” She just shrugged and kept moving. She spotted the international aisle and started running again.
I caught up and she already had an armful of ramen noodles, bottles of sauce, and packets of dry ingredients. “You were saying about Columbus.”
“Oh, right. We shopped kind of like this. Instead our cart was full of ice cream cake, mac and cheese, and wine.”
“Supermarket wine, yum.”
“Don’t knock it.” She dropped her bounty in the cart and grabbed a few more things.
“Good thing I have a big pantry.”
“A very good thing.” She patted my chest and ran down the aisle toward the refrigerated foods.
I just shook my head and chased after her with my cart with a squeaky wheel. I found her in the dairy aisle where she was trying to decide on two different kinds of cage-free eggs.
She’d found what she wanted for her original idea for ramen and about two hundred dollars in bonus groceries.
Good thing we had similar taste. She saved me from doing a run myself. I added a few more of my own staples on our way to the registers. We used the self-checkout and laughed our way through bagging groceries until the cart was overflowing with our purchases.
We loaded up the truck and headed back to the farm.
“How did you get away today, anyway?” She asked when we were a few miles from our respective houses.
“Once the foundations were poured there wasn’t much more we could do until they’re cured. Since it’s already so damn cold, it’s going to take a few extra days. My guys have been working their asses off, so I gave them a few days off.”
“Generous boss.”
“I try.”
“You are the nicest millionaire I know.” Her eyes gleamed in the dark. “I know a few.”
“I bet you do.” I pulled into my drive, the gate opening when my truck approached. “Do you need to check in with your folks?”
“No, I texted my mom to let her know I was out with a friend.”
“Is that right? Is that what we are?”
“For now.”
I pulled up close to the front door and turned off the truck. “Good to know.”
We both strong-armed our bags to do one trip and tumbled inside when I got the door unlocked. I hit the lights with my elbow and managed to get to the kitchen with only a little loss of circulation in my fingers and wrists.
I lifted my bags onto the kitchen island, and she set hers on the floor.
She jumped as Velma wound around her ankles. She crouched down and let the cat sniff her hand. Less than a minute later the cat was already headbutting her. “Well, hello there. Who are you?”
“Amber, meet Velma.”
She laughed and looked up at me. “No, she’s not.”
“I told you it was my favorite character. She has so many orange markings, I couldn’t resist the name.”
“You’re beautiful.” She stroked a hand down her back. “You know you’re beautiful too.”
Velma chirped her happiness and meowed then started circling between my legs.
“Sorry, I’m late.” I grabbed one of her cans and pushed the bags back so I could make room for her spot.
At the snick of the can opening she deserted Amber and leaped on the table.
“I see where I rate.”
“Where everyone rates,” I said with a laugh.
Amber dug into the packages. Both of us reaching over the other as I unpacked while she ferreted out all the ingredients she was looking for. It was strangely domestic.
I’d never lived with a woman before. I’d dated quite a few in my twenty-eight years and even got serious with a few, but none had the easy familiarity of whatever was going on between us.
“Would you like some music?”
She was mixing some sort of concoction and threw a smile over her shoulder. “That would be great actually. And can I borrow a shirt? This sweater is too hot for cooking.”
“Sure.”
I put the last of the groceries away and went to my room. I shrugged out of my flannel and grabbed one of my concert T-shirts from my drawer. Figuring she’d get a kick out of the Nickelback shirt from my early teen years.
She spotted me as I walked in. “Oh, good.” She held the spoon in the broth. “You stir.” She plucked the shirt out of my hand. “Where’s your bathroom?”
“Down the hall.”
I heard her laughter halfway down the hall. Mission accomplished.
The scents from the pot were making me hungry. There were two others on the burners as well. I lifted the lid and found chicken resting.
“Much better.” She came back wearing my shirt. She’d kicked off her boots as well leaving her in striped, mismatched socks.
She was breath-stealingly beautiful.
So much so, that I couldn’t help lowering my mouth to hers.
The kiss was unhurried and sweet. Where the maze had been an off the charts heat, this was something different. It matched the vibe of the kitchen and the light, easy music that had popped up on my randomizer. I felt the edge of heat, but eased back before it could come up and ruin the mood.
She rolled her bottom lip under her teeth as if to hold onto the taste.
I cupped her jaw and told myself to step back, but I couldn’t help myself and took another taste.
She went onto her toes and gripped my T-shirt. She nipped at my lower lip. “There’s something about a man who likes to kiss.” She reached up to sift her fingers through the hair at my nape.
“Helps when the woman smells like you.”
She slid her hand down to my chest and patted it. “Okay, back up before I burn everything.”
“Can’t have that.”
I resisted the urge to stroke down her back. I was a touchy guy. Sometimes to the detriment of my relationships. I’d been with more than one woman who found me too intense.
To keep myself busy, I moved to my wine fridge. “White or red?”
“It’s pretty salty. Maybe something white? Do you have a Riesling?”
“I can handle that.”
While I opened and poured, she cut up the chicken and slid it into the pot along with a cutting board full of vegetables. She pushed everything into the broth and put the top on.
She picked up her glass. “Needs to cook for a bit. I’m about ready to chew on the counter. Where did those chips go?”
I laughed and opened the cupboard. “Here you go.”
She snatched the bag and padded into my living room. “Your house is nice. Did you add onto it?”
“Yeah. Want a quick tour?”
“Sure.” She took a handful of chips and followed me down the hall.
“You found the bathroom. If you keep going my bedroom is to the left. To the right is my office and a few spare bedrooms along with my home gym.”
She peeked into the rooms, then halted. “A library?”
“Damn right.”
“So you’re definitely a reader.”
“Most definitely.”
She munched as she peered at the spines of my books. Every few books, she tipped one out to read the back before tucking it back in. Finally she took one out fully. “Stealing this one.”
“Borrowing?”
She grinned. “Probably stealing.”
I pulled down a little metal press and opened the book to slip the first page into the press, then handed it back.
Lifting the cover, she laughed. “Library of Tate B. Reynolds.”
“Molly got it for me for Christmas last year.”
She closed the book and tucked it close to her chest. “You and Molly are close.”
“Yeah. Molly was the only one who didn’t move out of Haven after high school.”
“How come?”
“She thought she was going to do the mom thing, but she and Jake couldn’t have kids. They tried for years. The stress of it even broke them up.”
“Jake Norris?”
“That’s the one. He moved to Vermont to coach football. Molly worked for the school in the business office, but it was too hard on her. When I hit the lottery, I knew she’d be the one to help me.”
“More like you helped each other.” She patted my chest. “You’re a good man, Tate.” Then she left the room and went across the hall toward my room.
I wasn’t sure getting her near my bedroom was good for my peace of mind. I followed her out and down the hallway.
When I got to my open door, I found the book she’d snagged sitting on the console table. “Amber?”
“In here.”
I swore under my breath when I heard the water running.
My bedroom had a large en suite bath. Being six foot four meant I needed space, but my muscles also took a beating getting this endeavor off the ground. I spared no expense in the bathroom.
“Do you want some privacy?”
“Nope.”
“Shit.” I stared at my feet and closed my eyes.
“Get in here, Tate.”
The massive soaker tub was steaming as it filled. I hesitantly crossed the threshold and swallowed hard when I saw her striped socks on the floor, followed by her pants tossed on the hamper. When I looked up my Nickelback shirt came at my face.
I caught it reflexively and whatever breath in my lungs dispersed as Amber slid into the water, pulling bubbles over her breasts.
“We have an hour to kill while the ramen base simmers.”
My mouth dried as I swung around facing the door. “That’s okay, I can leave you to it.”
“Pretty sure this bad boy can fit both of us.”