Was I crossing boundaries by bringing his family into this? Then again, he’d plotted first, when he’d conspired with them. Besides, he’d conspired with Avery too. Ryker wouldn’t mind. Besides, it was better to cross boundaries than poison him. My food was mediocre at best when I cooked freestyle, but if I followed a detailed recipe, it was delicious.
I sat on a bench under a crab apple tree. The white blooms looked like something out of a fairy tale, and the sweet scent made me hungry. Mid-April was one of my favorite periods in the city. I couldn’t wait to have some time to venture to Central Park and see the cherry trees in blossom.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I called Skye.
“Hey. Is this a good time to talk?” I asked.
“Sure. I’m just sorting out some inventory. Fire away.”
“So, umm... Ryker and I have a date tonight, and I want to surprise him by cooking for him. What’s his favorite dish?”
“Roast beef and au gratin potatoes.”
“That sounds... like something I can completely screw up. Do you have a recipe? The more detailed the better.”
“I’ll look one up and send you the link. Just give me a sec.”
“Thanks! You’re a lifesaver.”
“No one’s asked me this before,” Skye said. “I think my brother’s hit the jackpot with you.”
I laughed nervously. “Wait to see the result of dinner before you praise me too much.”
“Oh, I trust you, Heather Prescott.”
I was still in a frenzy after hanging up. While waiting for Skye to send me the recipe, I decided to take a time-out. I found a vintage coffee shop and sat at one of their tiny round tables. The white paint was chipping off, but in a lovely rustic way. I ordered a cappuccino and a scone.
Damn, big mistake. I was already jittery, and the coffee didn’t help. Neither did the sugar. By the time Skye messaged me, I was so nervous I could barely sit.
And that recipe, oh God. It had a million steps. It also required a meat thermometer, which I didn’t have. Okay, I could do this. I could definitely do this.
I went to the butcher across the street. A panicky feeling overcame me when the butcher glanced at the recipe and proclaimed it was all kinds of wrong and that I’d ruin a great piece of meat by following it. Well, that was not helpful.
I just smiled politely, paid for the products, and darted out of the store before he could scare me some more.
By the time I arrived home, I didn’t have that much time left.
I could shower and get all pretty and fancy for Ryker while everything was in the oven. Yeah, I could do that.
Five minutes into following the recipe, I realized it was even harder than I’d anticipated. Still, I persisted. I’d even bought one of those fancy thermometers. When everything was in the oven, I hurried to the bathroom. I was late. Ryker was supposed to arrive in forty minutes, yet the beef needed ninety in the oven. Oh well, I just had to entertain him until it was done... and I was quite good at that.
After a quick shower, I put on a short, silky dress that just spelled seduction and sprayed on a new perfume. I didn’t style my hair aside from blow-drying it, but it fell into loose curls all around me.
I was ready for the evening to start.
When the bell rang, I had to reconsider that statement. My heartbeat went from normal into overdrive in a fraction of a second. I pressed a palm on my chest, hoping to calm down, but feeling the wild pulse under my hand only made me more aware of it.
I hurried to the door, opening it with a big smile. He’d taken off his coat already, giving me a prime view of his suit. My gaze automatically went to his right cuff link—the one I’d dislodged today. He’d fastened it back.
“Already thinking about tearing it off again?” he teased, putting me at ease a little.
“Of course, but not before I feed you.”
I’d asked him here on a spur of the moment impulse, before I had time to second-guess anything. And right now? My stomach was full of butterflies, and I hadn’t even let Ryker in yet.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryker
“Heather, you look amazing.”
“Thanks. Come in.”
“What’s that smell?” I asked as she led me to the living room.
She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Roast beef.”
She’d cooked for me? That was... I had no idea why that got to me.
“It’s my favorite.”
“I know. I asked Skye.”
“You called my sister to ask what my favorite meal is?”
“That’s right. I’m excellent at following recipe instructions. And I’m proud to announce that I now even own a meat thermometer and know how to use it. At least, for your sake... I hope I do.”
I swallowed hard. She’d called my sister? Just to surprise me? No one had done anything like that for me. Her gaze turned from playful to uncertain.
“I overstepped boundaries, didn’t I?”
“What? Hell, no.” I grabbed her by the waist, turning her around so she was facing me.
“You just surprised me, that’s all.”
I captured her mouth. I’d been dying to do that ever since she’d been at my office today—kiss her like I really meant it... which lately translated to not stopping, not wanting to let her go. Especially right now, after this welcome.
“Thanks, Heather. You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“It wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Liar.”
“Fine, I am lying. I spent the entire afternoon running around like a crazy person. So even if you don’t like it, you have to say you like it.”
She was avoiding my gaze, moving up and down on her toes.
“Am I making you nervous?” I brought my hand to her face, touching her lips with my thumb.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I... I don’t know,” she said.
“There’s no reason to be nervous. It’s just me, baby.”
Coming home to you.
The thought just popped into my brain, completely unexpected. But hell if it didn’t sound right. Feel right. I’d never had anything like this before.
“And I’ll like your roast beef even if it’s burned to a crisp.”
She buried her head in my neck, chuckling. “Hey. Don’t jinx it.”
“Come on. Let’s check on it together.”
“Okay.”
She led me to the kitchen, proudly pointing to the oven.
“How does it look?”
I knew before I even opened it that the beef was completely dry. But she was so nervous already that hell would freeze over before I admitted it.
“Like it’s ready.”
I carried the food to the table while she brought plates.
“How did Avery take leaving for Arizona?” I asked as we were about to sit.
Heather looked at me warmly. “Thanks for asking. She was psyched. She’s always over the moon when Mom takes her. I’m more emotional than her. I’ll be melancholic the whole week.”
She sighed deeply, her smile fading. I moved closer, touching her neck with the back of my fingers. “I’ll distract you from that.”