“Crepes.”
She went to his side and looked into the pan. The man was making crepes. Homemade crepes. There was no more perfect man in this universe than Colton Duchaine. Holy cow.
“Oh my,” she said. “How do you get them so thin?”
“It’s the batter. And the technique. You have to swirl just right.” He finished the crepe and then added fruit, ricotta cheese, and honey. “Here, try this.”
He set the plate on the table and Angie picked up a fork and knife and sliced off a piece. It was heavenly, of course. Angie moaned. Colt laughed as he joined her. There was a stack of crepes on the plate he put between them, containing different fillings.
“I assume you’re feeling better if you’re eating the whole thing?”
She finished the first crepe and reached for a second, grinning. “Much. Thank you again for taking care of me.”
His eyes were warm. “You don’t have to thank me, Angie. It’s what friends do for each other.”
Friends. She liked hearing that word from his lips—but what if she wanted more? What if she wanted to feel his mouth against her skin, to laugh at his jokes, to eat with him every night, and to watch old movies curled up beside him? How had she gone so many months denying herself those things?
And what if she’d blown it? What if he no longer wanted any of that?
She ducked her head. “We are friends now, aren’t we? I’m sorry I avoided you for so long. It was stupid.”
He put his hand on top of hers. His palm was warm, his touch comforting. “It wasn’t stupid. You had a lot to process.”
“You’re so forgiving. I’m not sure I’d be as understanding if I were you.”
He arched an eyebrow as he picked up his fork again. “Do you want me to hold a grudge? Would that be better?”
Her stomach flipped. “Of course not. I just feel like an idiot about the whole thing. If I were you, I might hold my feet to the fire a bit more than you do.”
“Not the way I operate, minette. I like you. I want to get to know you better.”
Her nerves pinged and zinged through her body. Her nipples tightened. A hot, heavy ache formed between her legs. “I want that too.”
“You do?”
She laughed to cover the butterflies swirling insanely in her belly. “Of course. You’re a great guy, Colt, and I want to know you better. I like you.”
“And if I’m talking about the kind of knowing where we spend time naked? Where I learn what makes you fly apart and gasp my name?”
Oh god, leave it to him to cut straight to the chase. She could pretend she’d misunderstood him the first time. Or she could just admit the truth.
“I know that’s what you meant.”
His smile was wolfish now. Masculine and hot. Her heart throbbed. She should be afraid. So afraid of what he could do to her poor heart. Oddly enough, she wasn’t. He’d proven that he wasn’t like Dan when he’d nursed her without complaint. That didn’t mean they were destined for the altar, but she was pretty sure he wasn’t the kind of guy who’d cheat behind her back. He was too honest for that.
He leaned toward her, captured her mouth in a kiss. He tasted like cream and bananas, and heat flashed through her at the press of mouth against mouth. But he didn’t push his advantage. He didn’t even linger. He sat back and smiled at her, and she thought she’d never seen a more handsome man in her life.
“Don’t look at me like that, Ang. Did you think I was going to drag you to the bedroom and do it all right now?”
She nodded as a strange disappointment seized her when it was clear he wasn’t.
“Oh, I want to. Believe me. But this is your first day feeling better, and I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to jump on you the instant you’re back to normal.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Of course he wasn’t. Colt was the kind of man who cared about a woman’s feelings. The kind who believed in taking his time and doing things right. How had she not realized these things about him before?
“You aren’t like most men I’ve met then.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’re better.” She turned her attention to the crepes to cover the awkwardness she felt at saying those words. “I mean look at these things. Perfection on a plate. No ordinary man can do this.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“I definitely do. I think if you ever want to get out of the danger business, you could open a restaurant. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“I don’t think that’s my style. I like to cook for people I care about. But the public? Nah, not happening.”
People he cared about? Oh my. “Then I guess I’m going to have to stay on your good side so I can pop over for crepes or omelets or whatever you’re fixing.”
His eyes glittered hot. “You can pop over anytime, baby. I’ll always cook for you.”
She thought about it. What she really wanted was to wake up with him and have him cook for her. That would be even better. Perfect, in fact.
But she didn’t know how to say it.
Once they finished eating, Colt asked Angie if she’d like to get out of the house for a little while. Her eyes lit up at the suggestion.
“I’m feeling a bit stir crazy,” she admitted. “Where are we going?”
“I need to get some groceries. Feel like walking around the store?”
“God, yes. Let me get my bag.”
Colt set the alarm and led Angie outside and over to his Yukon. It was cold out and their breath frosted in the air, but at least it wasn’t raining. “Are you warm enough in that?” he asked.
She glanced down at her red
