The Perfect Dish

by Kristen Painter

  She shut the door and toed her sneakers off. “I know but it’s hard to throw them away.” Jittery about the possibility of what he expected, she brushed past and went into the kitchen. “You want something to drink?”

  He set the basket down on the small bench by the door and toed off his sneakers. “Sure, what do you have?”

  The fridge looked bare since Jason’s visit. “Not much. Bottled water, a can of Mountain Dew or I could make a pot of decaf.”

  He walked over and took a seat on one of the bar stools. “You don’t strike me as the type to drink Mountain Dew.”

  “I don’t but Jason does.”

  “Water would be great.”

  She handed him a bottle and their fingers touched. She pulled back as if stung. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “You’re not comfortable with me being here, are you?”

  Leaning against the counter, she blew out a breath. “It’s been a long time.” For everything.

  “It’s okay. I understand, really.” He set the water down. “I should go.”

  “No.” She pushed off the counter. “I like your company. I’m just not ready for...more than that right now.”

  He stood up, walked around into the kitchen and pulled her to him with his hands on her hips. “Whatever you want. You set the pace. Okay?”

  “I just thought because I invited you up here that you’d think that I, well, you know...that you’d expect...” She rubbed her forehead. For someone with so much education, she felt like a fool.

  “Hey, I’m not a beast.” He laughed softly. “Well, I am but I can turn it on and off at will.”

  She laughed, too. “I feel dumb.”

  He squeezed her forearms, then her biceps and shook his head. “You feel fine to me.”

  “Silly boy.” She slipped her arms around his waist and stared up into his mesmerizing eyes. “Thanks. For understanding.”

  He bent down and kissed her. The gentle, restrained press of his mouth against hers calmed her nerves. This was a good man. The kind of man she’d always fallen in love with.

  She broke the kiss. She would not being falling in love with this one.

  Stepping back, he let her out of the embrace and grabbed his water. “Want to see if there’s a movie on?”

  “Sure.” She got a bottle for herself and followed him to the couch.

  As they sat, he picked up the remote and held it out to her. “Your house.”

  She waved it away. “I trust you.”

  Five minutes into old Steve Martin movie, Kelly glanced over to her end of the couch. “You’re awfully far away.”

  She scooted a few inches closer.

  He sniffed his underarm. “Do I smell or something?”

  “No.” Laughing, she moved all the way over to sit beside him. “Better?”

  “Much.” He put his arm around her and scrunched down on the couch. “Can I put my feet on the table? I took my shoes off.”

  “Yes.” She propped hers up too and rested her head on his shoulder. He smelled good. Nothing perfumey, just a fresh clean male scent. “This is nice.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, it is.”

  She leaned back to look at him, the strong line of his jaw, the bow of his mouth, the broad sweep of his shoulders. The man was as close to perfect as she’d ever seen.

  He turned to face her. “What?”

  “What what?”

  “How come you’re looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  He pursed his lips. “Like there’s something wrong with me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. Not that I can see.” She slipped her hand behind his neck and pulled his head down to hers.

  That was hint enough. He kissed her, harder than she’d expected after the gentle one shared in the kitchen. The shadow of his beard grazed her skin. His hunger for her was obvious in the needy press of his mouth. The hunger excited her. Being wanted was wonderful.

  He moaned and the vibrations sent a hot wave of desire through her. He put his arms around her and shifted their position on the couch so he was above. Easing his mouth from hers, he feathered kisses down her neck.

  She gasped with pleasure as he found the tender spot below her ear. He was learning her body well.

  “You drive me crazy, Mery,” he murmured. Hot breath caressed her skin, inflaming her further. He nibbled her earlobe, then pressed his warm mouth to the tender skin beneath it. An electric shot of desire lit her up like a Times Square billboard.

  “Likewise,” she whispered. Her hands traveled down his back. She wanted skin beneath her fingers, not cloth.

  His mouth moved to her collarbone. He slid a hand up under her sweatshirt and splayed his fingers over her ribcage. The tank she wore did little to protect her from the heat of his touch.

  He held still as if waiting to see her reaction.

  The quiet moan that escaped her lips urged him on. He lifted the edge of her tank top and rested his hand on her bare skin.

  “Ooh,” she gasped. His touch felt like fire. Delicious, wicked fire. Sweat beaded at the back of her neck.

  His hand swept up her torso to cup her breast. Flames licked her skin through the lace of her bra. She swallowed, trying to think. Her body wanted more but her head knew it was too soon. She pushed him away enough so she could see his eyes. “No further,” she said.

  He nodded, eyes heavy-lidded with the want they both felt. He pulled away. “Sorry.”

  She pulled him down for a kiss. “Don’t say that. I’m not sorry. I’m just not ready.”

  He rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. “You really do make me crazy.” He sat back, pushed his hands through his hair and sighed. “I guess the beast is a little harder to control than I thought.”

  Giving him a smile, she sat up and tugged her sweatshirt down. “You get me pretty hot, too.”

  “I do?” He laughed. “Wait. Let me guess. That’s my constant need for approval, right?”

  She giggled, a soft girlish sound born of the moment. “You’re a fast learner.”

  He nodded. “You’ll see.”

  “I already do.” Could a man be more handsome? She doubted it.

  His smile faded a little. “I better head out. Work and all.”

  Disappointment filled her but she understood. “When are you taking me out to dinner and a movie?”

  “How about Thursday night? I can move some shifts around, get coverage.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Can you meet me at Sedona around six?”

  She nodded.

  He took her hand as he stood, then pulled her up and tugged her along to the door. He got his sneakers on before settling his hands possessively on her hips. “I’m going to kiss you once and leave. Nothing you do will get me to stay so don’t beg or cry or take your clothes off. Unless you really want to.” His teasing made her laugh.

  He captured her still feverish lips and quieted her laugh with a kiss that reached her toes.

  “Well done,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “See you Thursday, gorgeous.” He pulled the new box of chocolates out of the basket, handed them to her, then opened the door and left.

  “Bye.” She waved like a woman underwater, shutting the door as the elevator chimed, then dropped onto the bench in her small foyer. Her fingers brushed her mouth. She leaned back, grateful for the solidness of the wall.

  Her blood sang with pleasure. He was a good man. The kind she always fell in love with.

  That line of thinking had to stop. This was just a calculated move at getting some positive press. Nothing more. She grabbed the bench’s arms and held on as a whirlpool of emotion tugged at her. Denying her feelings had worked in the past. It would work again.

  Why did he have to be so sweet and sexy and vulnerable? She shook her head and tried to tell herself he wasn’t anything special. Just a man. No, he was a boy. A very nice boy who’s too young for anything but a fling. But her heart w
asn’t buying that.

  She groaned softly and thumped her head against the wall, hoping to knock a little sense into herself.

  She was in so much trouble.

  * * *

  Kelly leaned against the wall outside Mery’s apartment. He needed to catch his breath, to let his racing heart slow down and most of all, to wait out the embarrassing bulge in his jeans.

  Mery was screwing him up big time. Damn it. Not only had he apologized for copping a feel but he’d actually meant it. The woman was trouble. He smiled. The kind of trouble he could get used to.

  No, no, no. She was a conquest. Nothing more. A chance to experience some of the finer things in life, like the accomplished lovemaking of an older woman. Just the way she kissed promised more than any other woman he’d been with.

  Compared to Mery, those other women were just girls. Silly, marriage-happy girls. Mery...Mery was all woman. Brains and beauty and sass for days. And her skin. How could anyone be so soft?

  His fingers curled with the remembered pleasure of her breast in his hand.

  The thought sent fresh blood rushing to his groin. He closed his eyes and tried to think about his mother and bad cooking, two of the unsexiest things he could come up with. But that couldn’t stop him from anticipating the next time he’d see Mery or touch her or hold her.

  He was acting like a lovesick fool. A throaty growl from the back of his throat followed his thought. He might be a fool, but he was not lovesick. That implied...well, love, damn it.

  He pushed off the wall and punched the elevator call button. Love. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. You could forget that.

  He was not falling in love. With Mery or anyone. Not now. Not ever. Love led to marriage and marriage led to heartache. If his mother’s life wasn’t proof enough of that, Mery’s sure was.

  The elevator arrived and he got on, frowning as the doors slid shut and cut off his view of Mery’s apartment.

  Yeah, that’s right. Think about her dead husbands, may they rest in peace. Marriage certainly hadn’t worked out so hot for them.

  Then why was he jealous of two dead men he hadn’t even known?

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Celia, slow down. I don’t understand. What pictures in what paper?” Meredith stretched out in bed with the phone to her ear and rubbed her eyes. She had no idea the uber wealthy got up so early.

  “Pictures of you and Kelly. They’re in the Daily Post.”

  Meredith turned over onto her side and tried to clear the fog from her head. “Pictures?”

  Celia’s grin came through loud and clear. “You went to the park with him yesterday, didn’t you? Had a picnic on the grass? Did some more kissing? Ended up on a bench with your legs across his lap?”

  That woke her up. “How do you know all that?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. There are pictures of you two in the paper. They call you...well, they don’t know who you are. He’s the only one named. Eventually they’ll figure out who you are and then your problems are solved!”

  “I hadn’t expected this to happen quite so soon.” She couldn’t recall seeing anyone with a camera. “What paper did you say they were in?”

  “The Daily Post.”

  “I’m going to run down to the newsstand and see for myself. Thanks, Celia. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Sure thing, Mer.”

  Meredith hung up. So it had begun. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Of course, if they didn’t know who she was the pictures didn’t do her any good. She threw on jeans and a sweater, tucked her hair into one of Jason’s baseball caps, grabbed her purse and headed out.

  The gray morning fit perfectly with her mood. She trekked to the corner newsstand and pulled a Daily Post from its slot. She flipped through, looking for the pictures Celia was talking about.

  She stopped flipping the moment she saw them. Pictures of Kelly kissing her. Of them laughing together. Her stomach went queasy. She hadn’t counted on feeling so exposed. So violated. The page blurred for a moment and then her eyes refocused on the headline. “Cowboy Rides Again.”

  How dare they imply such trash? What if her father saw this?

  She skimmed the column, skidding to a halt at the first mention of herself. Randy older woman? Randy? They had to be kidding.

  Temper flared along her spine. Her hands shook with indignant anger. Oh. Oh. No. This would not do. She was a respectable woman, not some flash in Kelly’s pan.

  “Lady, you wanna read the paper for free, they got libraries for that.” The man behind the newsstand wiped a beefy hand across his nose.

  She snatched every copy displayed. “How much for all of them?”

  He narrowed his eyes and stabbed his finger into the air, counting the stack. “Twelve fifty.”

  She dug in her purse, threw the money on the counter and walked away, hugging the papers to her chest. The next trashcan she came to, she dumped every copy but one.

  She needed to speak to Kelly. This had to come to an end. Immediately.

  * * *

  The sharp slap of leather against leather cracked the air as Kelly’s glove connected with the bag. Mick shook his head. “You’re still seeing her, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah.” Smack. “What about it?” Smack. Smack.

  “You’re still wound up, that’s what.” Mick grinned. “You close the deal yet?”

  Kelly stood up. “Who I sleep with is none of your business.” Sweat trickled down his back.

  Mick rolled his eyes. “This from the man who text-messaged me the bra size of his last date.”

  “Not my last date. The one before Mery.”

  “Whatever.” He shrugged. “You should bring her to the exhibit Saturday. Chicks dig art.”

  Kelly bent back into fight stance. “You know Saturday’s a busy night for me.” Smack.

  “Take a freakin’ Saturday off once in awhile, would you? You haven’t been to a single showing since I opened.” Mick grunted as Kelly hit the bag hard.

  He shook his head. “That’s not true. I went to the first one.”

  “But not one since,” Mick said.

  “Really?” Kelly paused. “Damn. I haven’t, have I?”

  “Nope.” Mick looked as hurt as an ex-Seal could.

  Kelly rolled his head from side to side and jogged in place. “I’ll talk to JP, see if he’s ready for a Saturday alone. Mery would probably like the art thing.”

  As they headed into the locker room, Kelly heard his phone beeping.

  “Somebody’s hot for you.” Mick smirked. “Can’t imagine why.”

  “Ask your mom. She’ll tell you.” Kelly winked.

  Mick snapped his towel in Kelly’s direction. “Punk.”

  Laughing, Kelly checked his phone. Three missed calls. Three new voicemails. Two from Mery, one from his agent.

  News from his agent. An answer maybe. Anticipation galloped through him. But five minutes wouldn’t turn a no into a yes. He scrolled to Mery’s number and hit send.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey there, gorgeou—”

  “Have you seen the paper this morning?” Steel edged her voice.

  “Not yet, why?” In the back of his mind, he had an idea what was up.

  “There are pictures of us. In the park. Kissing.” The last word came out in hiss.

  Sighing, he rubbed his shoulder and leaned against the lockers. Definitely should have warned her. “Yeah, that happens sometimes. The Daily Post, right? It’s no big deal, just a picture here or there.”

  Over by the sink, Mick shook his head.

  “No big deal? I’m sorry but this isn’t my idea of great press. I’m going to call them up and give them a piece of my mind.”

  “Won’t get you anywhere. There’s nothing you can do to stop them unless they threaten your person. I know it sucks, baby, but that’s the joy of living in a free country.”

  Standing in front of the mirror, Mick rocked his cradled arms back and forth and made kissy li
ps.

  Kelly rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Bite me” in his friend’s direction. Baby. He smiled at the term of endearment and wondered what she thought of it.

  “Don’t ‘baby’ me.” Not much, apparently. “You haven’t seen it. Do you know what the headline reads? Cowboy rides again. That implies that we’re...” She growled something that sounded like a cuss word, “doing it.”

  Although Mick had already disappeared into the showers, Kelly lowered his voice. “Actually, it implies that I’m doing you.” He wanted to laugh but thought better of it. They had come close yesterday. He didn’t want to ruin his chances for the future. Thinking about Mery had become his brain’s favorite pastime. He craved the woman so much it almost scared him. Almost.

  Her breathing sharpened. “I don’t find you or these pictures amusing. Perhaps you should look for a woman who does.”

  “Mery—” Too late. She’d hung up.

  He huffed out a breath. Women. If they weren’t proof God had a sense of humor, he didn’t know what was. He called her back.

  “Hello?”

  “Hanging up on someone is a pretty childish thing to do, don’t you think?” Turnabout was fair play. And he loved stirring her up.

  “Maybe.” Silence for a moment. “I’m sorry. It was a rude thing to do. But I’m upset about this. I feel like my privacy’s been violated.”

  “It has. And I agree, it’s a low-down, no account way to treat people, but it’s part of my life.” And a part she’d have to accept if she was going to keep seeing him. He hoped she was okay with that, because he really liked having her around.

  She sighed resignedly. “There’s nothing that can be done about it?”

  He took that to mean she’d put up with the press. “Nope.”

  “Well, I think it’s appalling.”

  “I’m sorry your name was dragged into this, Mery. I really am.”

  More silence. “They didn’t exactly use my name.”

  “What did they call you then?”

  “I don’t want to say.”

  “I can buy the paper and read it for myself, you know.”

  She mumbled something.

  “What?”

  “Randy older woman.”