The Lucky in Love Collection - Lauren Blakely Page 0,108

on the cusp of coming in my shorts like a teenager.”

She laughs, letting her head fall into her hands as she cracks up.

When the laughter subsides, she stands, her hair messed up, her cheeks rosy. “Listen, we need to behave. We both want and need the same thing. We need each other as roomies, not as lovers. Besides, neither one of us wants anything more.”

“Exactly. Screw relationships. Let’s have some grub.”

And on that cock-blocked note, I head into the kitchen and cook for my woman.

I mean, my landlord.

The hot, sexy landlord who nearly came on my lap.

19

Perri

I do have excellent resistance.

Well, most of the time.

I’m not winning any medals in restraint tonight, but I’m disciplined in general and always have been. In college, at the academy, at work now—I get in, do the work, go the distance.

But there’s always temptation to lose focus, and Derek McBride is the strongest temptation I’ve ever known. But temptation doesn’t pay the bills. That’s why I used the trick I learned ages ago to yank myself out of nightmares—count loudly to three and wake myself up. Making out with Derek, and riding his hot, hard ridge, was a flirty, dirty dream rather than a nightmare, but the same trick worked.

One, two, three.

And I was out of the zone.

Now here I am, in the kitchen, watching him cook.

The sight of him making my dinner is testing me, and I’d like to snake my hands around those abs, explore his twelve-pack, and trace all his ink.

Must resist . . .

One, two, three.

There. Better.

But still, there’s just something about a man who can make a meal.

Double points if that meal is for me.

And triple points if he surprises me, which he’s doing. He’s not just throwing together the basics. He’s whipping up a chicken stir-fry, adding in asparagus, carrots, and peppers then tossing in spices, and my mouth is watering.

“You might be the perfect roommate,” I say as I pour myself a glass of wine and offer him a beer.

He arches a brow as he sautés the chicken. “How do we have beer? Pretty sure I forgot to pick some up when I was at the store. I bet I was undressing you in my head in that aisle, and that’s how it happened. Slipped my mind when I slipped off your shirt.”

Laughing, I grab a bottle of pale ale. “I snagged some myself. I had a feeling you were a beer man. Was I right?”

He looks over at me, a smile edging his lips. “You picked up beer for me?”

“Why, yes, I am the perfect housemate. Go ahead and say it.”

He winks. “Perfect landlord. And yes, I’m a beer man. But I’m an everything man, truth be told. Tonight, though, I’ll take a beer gladly.”

I uncap it for him, and he accepts, tipping the neck against my wineglass. “To your resistance. May we see how long it lasts.”

I clink my glass. “It’ll last so long.”

He shakes his head, smiling as he turns down the burner.

A few minutes later, he’s served the stir-fry.

I grab the plates. “Want to eat standing up?”

He scoffs. “Kitten, I made you a meal. Sit your ass down at the table.”

“Well, la-di-da.” I shake my ass as I move to the table.

“Yes, do that. Do more of that, and I won’t feel bad at all at my resistance cracking in two.”

I shake my butt once more before I sit.

“Temptress,” he mutters as he digs into his food.

I take a bite of the meal, and it’s delicious. “You can cook.”

He wiggles his brows. “I can indeed.”

“What other hidden talents do you have?”

“I’m quite handy.”

“Me too,” I say, grabbing another forkful.

“That so?”

“Can you imagine an un-handy cop? Lame.”

“True that. What are you handy with?”

“I can fix a washer. Hang a door. Change a tire.”

He wipes a hand across his forehead. “You need to stop being so hot.”

I lift my wineglass and enjoy another sip. “You have a thing for competent women?”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “Competence is so sexy.” I smile at that.

We eat some more, and I ask him to tell me about his sister. “What’s Jodie like, besides being an amazing baker? Were you always close?”

“We were. She’s five years older, so she’s been like a second mom my entire life. Her dolls became useless once I arrived. She doted on me instead.”

I smile at the sweetness in his tone when he talks about her. “That’s adorable.”

“I remember at one point when I was in middle school, my parents were talking about some changes