“Either you’re getting out a lot of frustration on that poor beef or you know exactly what you’re doing,” Reese said standing next to him.
He brought his chin up, settling his gaze on her. His kitchen was too small for two people…especially with one of those people smelling like a dream and looking like a fantasy. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I’ve lived alone long enough I can prepare a meal out of scraps to survive.” He dropped the tenderizer into the sink.
“You know your way around the kitchen. Excellent. No one would have modern appliances, some I don’t even know what they’re for,” she picked up a garlic press from the counter and looked at it in curiosity, “unless they know the difference between a roast and a fry.”
“I can’t take credit for any of this, the decorations and appliances. Angelina did all this herself while I was huddled in some dessert. She thought if I was going to be out here in the middle of nowhere, I should at least have a small taste of civilization. I’m surprised she didn’t take the liberty of building me a new house closer to the pond so all I’d have to do is step out the front door and straight into fishing. I guess that’s another project on my list of wishes.”
“You want to build a house?” She rolled her finger around the rim of the glass and he noticed how short and tidy her nails were.
“When we first bought the property, we planned to remodel the existing cabins, build a dozen or so more and use the untouched side of the property to build cabins for the family. A resort for both guests and family.”
“This property is so big you could have your privacy, still have a resort for guests, and a place for helping veterans.” She smiled and her eyes twinkled.
Yeah, he’d figure she’d be working an angle, and he didn’t quite mind.
“It’s an option, but I sort of like this cabin. It’s home.” He seasoned the steaks and placed them in a bowl.
“That was considerate of Angelina. Looking out for her brother. She did a great job.” She looked around.
He followed her gaze, attempting to see what she was seeing. When he’d first seen the leather couches he’d thought “stiff and formal”, but once he sat down on the cushions his mind had quickly changed. The sofa was so comfortable he slept there at least three nights out of seven. The coffee table was rustic and fit his taste because he’d built it himself. He’d sanded a thick slab of wood and polished it, then put on two larger logs that seconded as legs.
Angelina definitely had his likes in mind when she brought in the large flat screen TV. It sat upon a normal looking entertainment center, but no one knew that it hid his handguns and rifle. He had a variety of weapons ranging from knives to nunchucks hidden throughout the house. That was something he didn’t tell anyone, and didn’t plan to tell Reese either, except a woman of her caliber who’d served in the military probably had her own weapons. A man, or woman, could never be safe enough, not when they’d been trained to know all the dangers.
Angelina had once said to him, “Fine. You can keep your toys scattered all over the house, but the second you have a child, you will find another way to keep them hidden.” Yeah, he got that, but he wasn’t planning on having kids. He’d have to first find a woman who could tolerate him.
He spotted his old pair of dirty boots sitting next to the table. He’d come in yesterday and left them there.
“You must miss your sister a lot.”
He nodded, a pang spreading through his chest as he thought of her. He was still grieving, but had managed to wear his grief like a champ. However, talking about her weakened his wall. “Can you grab a head of garlic and the butter from the fridge.”
“Okay.”
He watched her open the refrigerator door and bend over to grab the requested items. The shorts slipped up higher on her thighs, showing off lean, toned skin. By the time she straightened, he had his eyes back on the meat and was pouring marinade into the bowl. She placed the items on the counter and leaned a hip against the edge of the granite, watching him. He struck the garlic head firmly with the heel of his hand and she jumped. “Sorry.”
She chuckled and pulled a tendril of hair behind her ear. “I guess I’m a little jumpy. It seems it never goes away.”
He understood exactly what she meant. He removed the peel of the garlic and pulled off several pieces, placing it into the press and squeezing the handle. The rich aroma filled the air.
“Wow That little thing does that to garlic?” She seemed honestly interested.
“You don’t cook?” He lifted a brow. He rubbed garlic and butter on the steaks. The smell made him hungrier.
“Well…no, not really, unless you consider using the microwave as cooking.”
“You can nuke a helluva lot.” Once he was finished with the meat, he washed his hands. “I’m heading outside to the grill. Want to come along?”
“I’d like that. I’ll pour more tea and meet you outside.”
The grill had been preheating for a while and when he placed the steaks on the wire rack, the juices sizzled.
“My stomach is growling. Smells delicious already,” she said as she stepped out onto the patio. “And wow! It’s nice out here. Do you have a green thumb?” She looked over the neat landscaping and flowers.
“Afraid not. My neighbor, Isla, does and she volunteers to keep my lawn groomed.” When one brow popped over Reese’s curious eyes, he smiled. “Isla is married to my buddy, Ledge.”
“Oh, okay.”
Did he see relief in her?
“Have a seat.” He used his bottle to point at the glass table and chairs. He joined her once he had the temperature on the grill exactly where it should be. He eased his body into one of the chairs, stretched his legs, staring out in the distance to the edge of the woods to keep from watching her, something he was getting a little used to. He felt her gaze on his profile and he had no choice but to look at her. The sun’s rays turned her eyes into blue gems. “What?”
“This is a great place, but don’t you get a bit lonely out here all by yourself? Or is there a girlfriend that keeps you company?”
He wondered if she was asking for personal reasons. “No. I don’t have a girlfriend or even a bed buddy.”
Her tongue came out to roll across her bottom lip. “That’s good. I’d hate to cause any problems by staying here alone with you. I bet this place was once a hot spot for lovers, honeymooners, and the like. The view alone is magnetic.”
Seth held back a smile. He loved how her neck turned splotchy when she was nervous. “You think I can’t handle myself around a pretty woman?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Her cheeks flushed. It made her eyes even more dazzling.
“Oh, so you’re saying you can’t control yourself then?”
“No,” she blurted. “I mean yes, I can control myself, but thankfully, that’s not an issue. I’m just grateful I don’t have to worry that I’ll make things complicated for you.” The natural color of her cheeks was slowly coming back.
He could no longer hold his laughter. “Complicate things for me how?”
“Once you join me on this project, we’ll be working closely together. A lover, or significant partner, might want to be involved too.”
“That’s an interesting way to put it.”
“I think you should concentrate on grilling the steaks and not me.” She sighed.
“I think you’re awfully confident. You seem to know my answer before I do.” He lifted his bottle and downed the rest.
She leaned back into the chair, nailing him with a pensive gaze. “You know as well as I do you can’t turn this opportunity down in helping veterans.”
He shrugged. “I’m not saying it’s not a great idea, but I’m not sure I’m your guy.”
“With all due respect, you are my guy.” Realizing what she’d said, she cleared her throat and looked away. “You have the money. The land. The knowledge.”
He wouldn’t dare tell her that he already had his brothers’ promises to inve
st in the project. “It’s not just about the money, and I think you know that much. It’s about the dedication. I might seem like I do nothing but sit around and twiddle my thumbs, but I assure you, I’m a busy man.” That was a bit of a white lie, but he did have private matters that he didn’t want her privy to. So far, nothing seemed off boundaries with her and he wasn’t sure if he should be intrigued or guarded…maybe both.
“If you didn’t think you were going to say yes, you would have sent me away by now. Admit it.”
“Really? Are you sure? Maybe I like your company. Or maybe it’s Abby.”
She leaned forward. “Come on, Seth. Let’s not tease each other. We both know everything you do has purpose. So why are you stalling and not just giving the go ahead?”
*****
Reese watched his face closely, but he showed no signs of allowing his cool expression to falter. She’d guess that a man like Seth was hard to crack. Truth was, she could pretend that she was cool and level headed, but inside she was nothing but mush. Although quiet and thoughtful, he exuded a mountain of confidence. He could intimidate the bravest, strongest man, and yet she didn’t feel intimidated, not like earlier, but unsettled in all her soft places that should be shut down for business. The last thing she needed was the complication of admiration and attraction for a man who obviously didn’t care what anyone thought about him. She guessed the fact that he wore a scraggly beard and longish hair was a statement, but it didn’t detour from his good looks. And the longer she looked, the better they got. The black T-shirt he wore stretched across his broad shoulders and wide chest, the cotton announcing that he was in great shape. The worn jeans were loose, but they didn’t hide his thick thighs and long legs. She glanced at his bare feet and swallowed. She’d never noticed a man’s feet before, but he had nice, manicured toes. She wondered what woman volunteered to do that for him. Biting back a giggle, she realized he was staring at her.
He cleared his throat. “This is a huge investment, and I give you credit for the research you’ve put into this, but you don’t know the first thing about business and the details of running one. I still have a lot of questions.”
Opening her mouth to defend herself, she couldn’t. He was right. “Okay then. Let me answer your every question, dot all your i’s and cross your every t.”
“In good time. For now, tell me a little more about yourself.”
She dropped back against the back of the chair. “There isn’t much to tell, I’m afraid”
“You did say every question.”
Stirring under his warm gaze, she sighed. “What would you like to know?” She never liked talking about herself, especially to someone who already evoked interesting sensations in her body.
“Where did you grow up?”
“I lived in Chicago, until I enlisted.”
“Is your mom and dad still alive?”
“No. They passed away a few years back. They were both up in age when they had me and I was their only child.” It had been a hard time in her life when they’d both passed away within a year of each other. She prepared herself for more questions about this subject, but she was grateful when he didn’t pursue that line of questioning.
“Reese is a pretty name.”
This threw her for a loop. She didn’t see Seth as a man who offered too many compliments, but he’d already given her two so far this evening. “It’s actually my middle name.”
He lifted a brow. “What’s your first name?” She blew a long breath out of the corner of her mouth debating if she wanted to tell him. “Come on. Can’t be that bad.”
“If you laugh I’ll never forgive you,” she warned. “Praline.”
“Praline Reese Shane? You kidding me?”
“I wouldn’t.”
One corner of his mouth jerked, but he didn’t allow the laughter to flow. “Interesting.”
“Sure, interesting.” She rolled her eyes. “Not for a kid who was always being made fun of by her classmates until she finally called herself ‘Reese’.”
“You were made fun of? I have a hard time believing that. Not the woman who marched in here and demanded that I listen to her. I’m surprised you didn’t pop them in the nose.”
“And face the music from my retired Lieutenant father when I got home? No, thank you.”
“So, your dad was in the military?”
“Navy.”
“Ahh, you followed in the old man’s footsteps. I bet he was proud.”
Her heart fluttered. Her father was stern growing up, but he’d been a damn good dad. “Yes. How about your father? Was he proud that his son was given a medal of honor for bravery?”
He shrugged. “He was pissed when I told him I had enlisted. He’d expected me to follow along in his footsteps and take over one of his many companies. But he passed away before I received the award.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He pushed out of his chair and went to the grill, turning the steaks. They sizzled and a cloud of smoke rolled up. She took the time to run her gaze over his powerful body, liking how his jeans fit. “I hope this isn’t too forward, but when you came home, why didn’t you go into the family business?”
“I’m afraid there’s a lot of polished reservation that’s expected in the business world, and I just don’t have it.”
“Fair enough.”
“So, since you opened the can of worms, do I need to worry about a disgruntled boyfriend, or husband, showing up looking for you?”
“I thought we already discussed this. I told you anyone who needs to know where I am knows. Are you worried?”
“If I was your boyfriend and heard you were living alone with a man in the middle of nowhere, I think I’d be a bit curious.” He came back to sit down.
“Looks like we’re both single, but I wouldn’t call what I’m doing ‘living alone with a man’. This is business.” She sipped a drink of tea. “Now that we have that accomplished, how about the project?”
“Stop being in such a hurry to spend my money.” He smiled, taking out all the underlying gruffness to his words. “Have you even thought of how this will change things for you? Don’t you have a doctor back home? A place to lay your head? Friends?”
She lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “Yes, I’ve covered all those bases. There really isn’t anyone. Not anyone close, at least.”
He scrubbed his beard. “And you’d be fine with staying in the cabin on a permanent basis?”
“From what I’ve seen, it has no bugs. Has running water. No leaks. And the bed is pretty comfortable. What’s not to love? So, is now the time you say yes?” She put him on the spot, but she should have known that a man like Seth could never be cornered.
“No, now is the time we eat.” He placed the steaming steaks on a clean plate.
Although he played hard to get, she had a better feeling that he was closer to saying yes than ever before.
CHAPTER FOUR
Shutting off the water, Seth grabbed the towel from the hook and dried his face. Then he stilled. He heard something from outside of the bathroom. What the hell?
Wrapping the towel around his hips and securing it, he stepped out, quietly moving down the hall and into the open room. Spike and Abby were both laying in front of the fireplace, and he heard clanking in the kitchen. He moved his gaze to Reese who was standing at the stove, stirring a skillet of something. She didn’t hear him come in and he didn’t alert her to his presence. Instead, he stood just outside the perimeter of the kitchen and watched her. She wore a frilly, thin flowered shirt and loose fitting shorts that didn’t distract from her knock-out curves. He slid his gaze down her long legs to her bare feet. His chest tightened. She looked right at home standing there, in his cabin, cooking…something he didn’t know she did. If he allowed his mind to wander, he could imagine seeing here every morning.
Who was he kidding? She’d said herself last night that she was here on business and he got the feeling that was for his benefit. Maybe she
’d caught his staring too long, or a tightening in his jaw or body. Whatever, he’d make sure he stayed a gentleman.
“How long do you plan to stand there watching without asking what the hell I’m doing?” she said without removing her attention off the frying pan that had steam rolling up.
He smiled. He should have known she could tell he was standing there. The woman was a lot more vigilant than she let on. “I’m trying to figure that out, but yeah, what the hell are you doing? That pan doesn’t look like a microwave.”
She tapped the wooden spoon on the side of the skillet. “I saw that your chickens had laid eggs and I thought I’d show you that I can prepare one me—.” She had swiveled on heel and her words fell off her lips. Her warm gaze traveled down him and every part of his body tightened. So much for remaining a gentleman. He was glad to see everything was up to par this morning. Her cheeks turned rosy and the spoon dropped from her fingers. “You’re naked,” she blurted.
“No. I have a towel on,” he returned.
He could hear her swallow. “I-I hope this is okay. The food.” She glued her gaze to his face. “I cut up some potatoes. Grabbed the eggs. I thought I should say thank you for the steaks last night. They were delicious. So, thank you.” She bent and grabbed the spoon off the floor and placed it in the sink.
“Your dog has hypnotized Spike. He normally barks if someone gets close to the house. And the food, is this your way of buttering me up to give you an answer today?”
“Yes.”
He laughed. He had to respect someone who didn’t mince words. “At least your honest.” He smiled.
“Is it working?”
“As long as you don’t burn the potatoes.” He nodded toward the pan.
She twirled back around. “Oh shit! I said I can cook some things, but I didn’t say it’d taste any good.” She turned down the heat and used a clean spoon to stir.
He settled his gaze on her profile, watching how she worked her bottom lip as she concentrated on the contents of the pan. “Just so you know, I can’t be bought with food. It takes a lot more than that. Got anything else to offer?” He laughed.
The Darkest Knight (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 3) Page 5