“What you need is a wife to cook for you,” she added. “Surely you must have found a nice woman out west.”
Kale smiled at her old-fashioned ways as he thought about the corporate climbers he’d dated in Los Angeles. Superficial women who were quick to take from him, yet never eager to give anything in return. Women pretending to be something they weren’t. He couldn’t imagine any one of them ever cooking for herself, let alone for him. In fact, he was the one who’d always done all the cooking. Not that he minded; he enjoyed being in the kitchen. And soon, very soon, he hoped he’d be preparing breakfast in bed for one very special lady.
As his thoughts journeyed to the sexy scientist who evoked unfamiliar feelings in him, a sudden burst of warmth streaked through his body and reverberated through his blood. It amazed him how just thinking of Erin could rouse such intense emotions. There was something about her that pulled at him. She’d gotten under his skin without even trying. No woman had ever affected him that way.
Kale’s whole life had been about shouldering responsibility and taking care of others. He’d never been selfish or put his needs first. Now, for the first time, he was about to do something just for him. With single-minded determination, he was going to go after what he wanted. And he wasn’t going to stop until he broke through Erin’s defenses and had her writhing beneath him on his bed.
Lisa’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts. “Yeah, big brother, when are you going to get yourself a good old-fashioned woman to cook for you?”
Kale kicked her under the table. Without breaking her smile, she kicked him back. Hard. It damn well hurt. Just like old times, he mused.
“Tell me, Nick. What do you do besides train my scrawny sister at the gym?” he prompted with a smile.
Jenna chuckled in response to his question. The joyous sound made Kale smile. It pleased him to catch a glimpse of the playful young girl he’d left behind eight years ago.
Nick cleared his throat. “I’m in my senior year of physiotherapy. I want to work with sports injuries.”
Impressive.
“If all goes well, after graduation I’ll be working at the clinic a block away from Lisa.” Nick lowered his head and smiled as his gaze collided with Lisa’s. “We’ll be able to have lunch together every day,” Nick added.
Kale felt a lump clog his throat as the two exchanged a long, lingering look. It occurred to him that the plow truck really and truly loved his sister.
“What about you Kale, are you just passing through?” Nick asked.
Jenna piped in. “Or are you home to stay this time?” The eager tone in her voice gained his attention. Her hand closed over his and squeezed.
Kale twisted to face his youngest sister. He spotted a gleam of hope in her wide blue eyes as she handed him a bowl full of mashed potatoes. The look on her face caught him by surprise. He hadn’t realized just how much his baby sister had missed him, how much his absence over the years had affected her. Jenna had been only a toddler when they lost their dad, and Kale had been the only father figure she’d ever known. His heart tightened in his chest.
“You could probably get on full-time at the research center,” Jenna continued, adjusting the spiked bracelets on her wrist, enabling her to delve into her meal.
Kale helped himself to a heaping spoonful of potatoes and passed the bowl on. It wasn’t the first time since he’d been back that he’d considered that option. The pay wouldn’t be as high, but then again, he no longer needed it to be. Lisa would be out of college in a few months, and he had enough money tucked away to take care of Jenna’s education. It really would be nice to be closer to his family. Jenna certainly looked as though she could use some male influence. And he’d have to keep an eye on the plow truck to make sure he treated his sister properly. Kale suspected wedding bells would be ringing in their near future.
At the mere notion of wedding bells, his thoughts careened backward in time to relive the passionate kiss he’d shared with Erin at Jay and Laura’s reception. A kiss so full of emotion and tenderness it nearly brought him to his knees.
Casual, his ass!
Hell, no woman could possibly kiss like that without feeling some deeper connection.
Erin’s arousing feminine scent and the slow, torturous way her tongue had mated with his while he explored her sleek, sexy legs had made him fairly mad with longing. And when he’d whisked his fingers across her damp panties and connected with her moist private parts, he thought he’d been given a gift from the gods. Hell, he must have done something right in a past lifetime.
Just thinking about her triggered a reaction from his body. Perspiration broke out on his skin and clung to his upper lip. He instantly grew needy for her as he replayed the passionate slide show in his mind’s eye.
Shit, he’d better tamp down his desires and censor his thoughts. This was not the time or place for such delicious memories.
As everyone at the table concentrated on the lovely meal before them, Kale redirected his focus. He wondered what Erin was doing at that exact moment. Would she be having dinner with her family? Hanging out with her friends or testing her bad-girl act with another man? A sudden surge of jealousy rushed through his veins and fired his blood. The flash of possessiveness made his stomach twist. He frowned and worked to dispel the image of Erin playing bad girl, or playing anything with another man.
Kale knew Erin was not simply a passing interest. She made
