“Okay, chef. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

She followed him back to the house, parking alongside his truck.

“Go on inside and help yourself to something to drink,” he said. “I’m going to put the fishing poles and bait away, and clean out the cooler. I’ll be right in.”

“Okay.” She went inside and headed into the downstairs bathroom to wash the fishy smell off her hands. She also shrugged out of her silky top since she still wore her tank and bra underneath. After slipping off her sandals, she made her way into the kitchen and took inventory of the contents of the fridge.

There were vegetables, but she just knew Logan wasn’t a salad-for-dinner kind of guy. Having seen the calories they burned off during an average day, especially a hot summer day, she pulled two steaks out of the freezer and placed them in the microwave to defrost, then grabbed some broccoli and cauliflower, along with tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce to make a salad. She mixed together a quick marinade for the steaks, and after they defrosted, slid the steaks in the marinade and got to work slicing the vegetables.

“What are you doing?” Logan asked as he came into the kitchen.

“Fixing dinner. Well, sort of. You’re going to cook the steaks I’m marinating, while I make the side dishes.” She leaned against the counter, waving the knife back and forth. “I assume you like vegetables.”

“I do.”

“Great. Then you’ll have to trust me.”

“I said I’d fix dinner.”

“And you’re going to. You’re going to be out in the heat doing the grilling, while I stay inside where it’s cool making the sides. It’s a big win for me.”

He gave her a dubious look. “I didn’t invite you here to the house so you could cook.”

She put her hand on her hip. “You don’t trust my cooking?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Good. Then go start the grill. It won’t take long for the steaks to marinade.”

He sighed, then went out the back door. Des busied herself by slicing the broccoli and cauliflower, then found a pan and put the veggies in there to steam. When Logan came back in, she took the steaks out of the marinade and put them on a plate.

“How do you like yours?” he asked.

“Medium rare.”

“Perfect. Same as mine. I’ll be back soon.”

He left with the meat, and she made the salad, then set the kitchen table, drained the broccoli and cauliflower, and seasoned them, setting them aside while she finished the salad and put it on the table. By then, Logan had come back in with the steaks.

It had all taken about twenty minutes, which was good because she was really hungry.

Logan scooped salad into a bowl, then the broccoli and cauliflower onto his plate.

“I didn’t even ask you if you liked any of this stuff,” she asked.

“Why would you bother to ask?”

“Some people don’t like broccoli. Or cauliflower.”

“I pretty much like whatever you put in front of me. I’m hungry.”

She smiled at him as she cut into her steak. “Me, too.”

The steak had turned out perfect, and they dug in, both of them quiet as they finished up their meal.

“I like this,” Logan said.

“What?” she asked after taking a sip of her water. “The steak?”

“No. You. Cooking in my kitchen.”

She laughed. “Don’t get used to it. My culinary skills are limited. And you made the main course. I just did sides, and they weren’t exactly complicated. But I do like to practice cooking, and it’s something I’d like to do more of, so thanks for letting me play in your kitchen.”

He shot her a smoldering look from across the table. “So, you like to play in the kitchen, huh?”

“Maybe.” She got up and grabbed their plates, then headed over to the sink to rinse them and load them into the dishwasher.

Logan followed her, handing her the salad bowls. They got into a rhythm. She rinsed, and he loaded the dishes. Though she noticed he’d come up right behind her to hand her a dish, his body brushing against hers. She almost dropped a plate, dammit.

The man was very distracting, and her body had a mind of its own where he was concerned.

And when she took the pot from him and filled the sink with dishwashing liquid to hand wash it, he slid his hands into the soapy water, tangling his fingers with hers. His chest rubbed against her back, his hips aligned with her butt, and her brain went to mush, because he began to kiss the back of her neck and her skin broke out in goose bumps.

He slid his hands up her arms, painting a trail of soap along her flesh.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Playing in the kitchen. You said you liked to do that.”

She tilted her head back and rested it against his chest. “Mmm. I did, didn’t I?”

She loved the feel of his hands moving along her body, the slick, soapy bubbles sliding across her skin as he reached her shoulders and pulled the straps of her tank top down, then pressed his lips there. Her breath caught and held as he grasped the strap of her bra with his teeth and dragged it over her shoulder and down her arm, then moved to her other shoulder and did the same.

“Logan,” was all she could manage to say, his name falling from her lips in a whimpered whisper as he drew the straps of both her tank and her bra down, taking the cups of her bra along with them, baring her to the waist. He dipped his hands into the soapy water again, this time cupping her br**sts with his warm, wet hands.

She looked down to see his very tan hands cupping her white br**sts, his thumbs moving lazily back and forth over her ni**les. His expert fingers made her ni**les tingle and her sex quiver with need. And when he flicked her earlobe with his tongue, then tugged it with his teeth and whispered, “I want you, Des,” in her ear, her legs trembled. Without the sink in front of her and his body behind her to bolster her, she might have sunk to the floor.

She wound her arm behind her to cup his neck. “Yes.”

He made quick work of her capris, his hands masterful in the way he undid the snap and drew down the zipper. He slid his hand inside and cupped her, his fingers warm and wet as he found her clit and touched her there with sure, masterful strokes.

“You’re hot here,” he said. “Wet.” He slipped a couple of fingers inside her, then used the palm of his hand to stroke as he moved within her. His other hand continued to tease her ni**les until she thought she’d die from the dual sensations.