The MacAllisters of Rivers End Collection Books 1-4

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

Lucas locked the door of the coffee shop behind him and headed up the stairs towards his place. He was exhausted, but in a good way. Hard work on his own place was extremely satisfying.

His exhaustion flew right out the window when he saw that Shannon’s door was open and smelled something amazing drifting out. He sniffed again. Butter, garlic, and fresh basil for sure. Beyond that he had no idea but looked forward to finding out what was on the menu.

He was disappointed that she didn’t want to go out for dinner with him. He wanted to shout to the world that they were together. And he’d learned the hard way that secrets were dangerous. When he’d come back, he’d promised Isaac no more secrets, and he had every intention of sticking to that.

But he couldn’t fix it tonight. He’d talk to Shannon after dinner. For the moment, he was going to enjoy coming home to someone who cared enough about him to fuss over a meal.

She was at the stove when he walked in, fiddling with something in a frying pan, singing along to her iPod—off-key—and shaking her hips as she danced around the kitchen.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching her move, and felt the tiredness of the day melt off him.

Yep. He was a goner. Looking at her was like mainlining caffeine. He could ride the buzz from just one smile for hours. So beautiful. She’d changed into jeans that hugged her curves and some sort of floaty, blousy top that clung in all the right places. The ties at the front created a little peekaboo window into her cleavage, and he had an overwhelming desire to grab the end of a tie and pull.

He certainly wasn’t the kind of guy who expected his little woman to spend her days in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant, but he wouldn’t mind coming home to her every day. They could take turns cooking for each other.

Whoa, boy. It was way too easy to picture that. Slow down there.

Shannon dipped a spoon into the pot, blew on it, and put it to her lips. She let out a little moan at the taste, and he just about lost it. My God. He was jealous of a spoon.

He attempted to say her name, but his voice had deserted him. Lucas cleared his throat and tried again. “Shannon…”

She whipped around and put the spoon down on the counter. Her eyes lit up, and she sauntered over to give him a kiss. It started as just a little nibble, because he didn’t want to get any paint on her.

When he pulled away, she made a disappointed sound deep in her throat that had parts of him leaping to attention. He needed a few minutes to clear his head. “I’ll just go home and shower off the paint. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She considered that for about half a second. “No.” She pulled him in and gave him a real kiss, wrapping her arms around him and burning up every last brain cell in a flash of heat. “I have a perfectly good shower. Plus, the sauce needs to simmer. I may not have a table, but I do have extra towels and plenty of hot water.”

“I like a woman with her priorities straight.” He liked everything about her. And hell, who was he kidding? Like was way too mild a word for what he was feeling.

“Lucas, do you want me to help scrub your back?”

Hell, yes. His back. His front. His everywhere.

He pushed her front door closed behind him and flipped the lock.

When Shannon held out her hand and tugged him towards the bathroom, he was powerless to resist.

So he didn’t.