Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,64
said, “thank you.” He held her tight, resting his forehead against her chest. “I don’t know if I have the strength to grill.”
Sugar laughed. “Come on, Chef Tell. Let’s get you back to your post. The military doesn’t turn out wienies.”
“They don’t,” Jake said, following her from the pool, “but they don’t prepare a man for anything like you, either, Sugar Cassavechia.”
Jake wasn’t sure what he was going to do about Sugar. He’d gone over to the dark side. She made him nuts. He was completely addicted to her, a slobbering idiot like Kel. “You’re going to like my cooking as much as you like my—”
“Don’t oversell,” Sugar said, setting their sangria glasses on the patio table overlooking the pool.
“I thought we settled that.” Jake brought two perfectly grilled steaks over to the table. “Do I have to convince you on the kitchen table?”
“No.” Sugar laughed.
He wasn’t going to tell her that she was sexier with her hair wet and no makeup on than he’d ever known a woman to be in like condition. Raul or whatever the hell his name is a fool for letting her get away. Poor dumb bastard. “There’s a drink called Sex on the Beach. I’m going to order one of those one day with you.”
She looked at him. “Maybe we should call it Sex on the Creek?”
“Good idea. I like your style.” Jake scooted her chair out for her and caught a glimpse of bare peaked nipples under a white muscle T-shirt she’d borrowed from him as she sat down. She’d tossed her wet bra onto the diving board to dry, so her breasts danced a little as she moved, and Jake thought this was going to be the toughest meal he’d ever eaten sitting across from glory like Sugar’s. She’d eschewed her wet panties and skirt, instead wrapping a towel around her waist.
She had a lot of style. And he was going to sleep with that towel like a teenage girl with a rock-star T-shirt.
“Why’d your mom name you Sugar?” he asked, sitting down to try to eat and mostly drool over her.
“She didn’t. Dad did.” Sugar smiled at him over the candlelight. “He said I was sweet.”
Jake’s mouth dried out. He served the green beans and the potatoes au gratin without comment.
“This is delicious,” Sugar said a moment later when they’d cut into the steak and eaten some of the meal he’d put a lot of thought into planning, trying to impress her.
“Thanks,” he said, still focused on her breasts and everything else about her.
“This is very romantic,” she said. “I never envisioned you as a romantic kind of guy.”
“Full of surprises, that’s me.” Jake couldn’t remember what he’d taken the last bite of—it all tasted the same. “Just so you know, I’m going to make you forget Raoul.”
She looked at him. “Ramon.”
“Whatever.” He put his fork down and looked at her across the table. “You’re a keeper, Sugar.”
Her eyes went wide, which he thought was cute. She always did that when she was startled.
“I don’t think either of us is looking for keepers, Jake.”
“Probably not. Funny how it hits you in the face when you’re not looking for it, though.”
She nodded. “Maybe. Sometimes.”
He thought he’d come on too strong, scared her. But then she looked at him and smiled, stood up and pulled off her top, making him go straight up.
“You said something about dessert?” Sugar asked.
Heat hit Jake, an inferno he’d never felt, different from the mortar he’d picked up, emotionally intense. Searing. Hot. Yes, she is going to kill me, and I’m gonna die so good.
Jake followed Sugar into the kitchen, and when she dropped the towel sarong to the floor, Jake thanked his lucky stars the Hot Nuts had come to town, even if they’d basically turned the entire town inside out, including him.
Happiness was a hot, naked redhead who wasn’t afraid of kitchen fantasies.
Chapter Sixteen
Jake wanted to head to the pit and do nothing but shoot pool and fantasize about Sugar, but life that was Pecan Creek called. Sugar had departed before he’d awakened that morning, but she’d left a note that read, Paybacks are usually hell, but I underestimated you, so he was feeling pretty proud of himself.
He couldn’t wait to be with Sugar again. The woman turned his crank in a serious way; she made him breathless and made him hornier than he thought the human body could stand, all of which he considered really good signs for the future. He felt alive when he