Ignite On Contact (Brotherhood by Fire #2) -Jaci Burton Page 0,30
for a hard day’s work, so she pulled back. “I bet you’re hungry.”
The hunger she saw in his eyes had nothing to do with food, making the temptation to stay in his arms even more difficult.
But he took a step back, too. “I could eat.”
“Great. I’ll get the grill started.”
“I’ll do that.”
“I think you’ve done enough. How about you grab yourself a beer and go put your feet up.”
“What I need is a shower. But are you sure you don’t want me to grill?”
She tilted her head. “I’m perfectly capable of doing it.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
He left the house.
That could have gone in such a different direction. She could have tilted her head back and stayed right where she was, and she knew Rafe would have kissed her.
She’d wanted him to kiss her. So why had she put a stop to it? Because she thought he needed a meal?
Bullshit, Carmen. You’re the one who’s hesitating. You had a hot guy in your arms, and you didn’t pull the trigger. You need to go for it.
Deciding hindsight was getting her nowhere other than supremely frustrated, she took the meat out of the fridge and laid it on the counter, started rice cooking in her Instant Pot, then went outside and fired up the gas grill.
Fortunately, the steak wouldn’t take long to cook, and she didn’t have to linger to watch it, which was a good thing, because the humidity level was off the charts today. By the time she was ready to go outside and pull it off the grill, Rafe was back, looking amazing in black-and-white shorts and a white sleeveless shirt.
“You’re just in time,” she said, handing him a plate. “You can go fetch the steak while I do the veggies.”
“You got it,” he said, heading out back.
She grilled the onions and peppers until they were sizzling, then warmed the tortillas and quickly fluffed the rice before pouring it into a bowl. She took out the salsa and guac she’d made earlier.
“Where do you want this?” Rafe asked as he closed the slider.
“On the counter so I can slice it.”
After slicing the flank steak into strips, she brought over the rice, and Rafe helped her set the table and carry the rest of the stuff over. He held her chair out for her, making her smile.
“Thanks.”
“Thank you for making me dinner. You didn’t have to do that.”
She pointed at the kitchen. “You didn’t have to brighten my kitchen or do any of the other things you did. The new faucet works great, too, by the way. Thanks for everything you did today.”
“It was my pleasure. Thanks for letting me tag along.”
She fixed herself a tortilla and rolled it up, then took a bite, not realizing how hungry she was. They’d both worked hard today. But her house was clean, laundry was done, and with Rafe’s help, she’d accomplished a lot more than even she’d intended.
“These are great, Carmen.”
She lifted her head and smiled at the compliment. “I’m glad you like them.”
“Who taught you to cook?”
“My mom died when I was ten, and my dad split not too long after. Never knew what happened to him. So I went to live with my grandparents. I used to cook a lot with my mom before she died. After that, I hung out in the kitchen with my abuela. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away when I was twenty.”
He laid his hand over hers. “That’s rough, losing both your mom and your abuela. I’m sorry.”
The warmth of his touch was comforting. Even if it had been years, she still missed her mom and her abuela. “Thanks. It was. But I had my grandpa, and he was there for me when I needed him most.”
“Which is why you’ve been there for him.”
“Yes.”
“He’s a great guy.”
She smiled. “Always has been. He was my lifesaver after my abuela died. She and I had grown so close after my mom passed. She got me through my teen years and pushed me to enter nursing school. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I told her everything that was going on in my life. All my hopes and dreams and heartbreaks. So when she died, I was lost. Grandpa stepped in and picked up where she left off. He offered his ear and his heart, and I leaned on him in ways I could never repay.”
“But you’re doing that now, being there for him like he was for you.”