Page 30 of Rekindle My Heart

“I brought food.”

“Here, give me the bag before it ends up being Karma’s dinner.” She extended her slender hand.

He handed it over as they entered the house.

His gaze bounced around the living room. Beer on the side table, computer on the coffee table with a notebook and pen beside it. A file folder open, pages scattered across the couch.

“You were working when I called?” Ryan followed her into the kitchen. Tried not to the notice the way her flannel pants hugged her hips.

“Yeah, a typical Friday night if it’s not my rotation.” She flinched.

Even facing the other direction, he could tell she wished she hadn’t said that. She grabbed a beer from the fridge and waved it.

“Sure. It’s about as exciting as mine. I was at the station.” Most of his weekends were spent working cases. He’s slipped in the occasional date, but not as often as most people believed.

She twisted off the cap and handed him the beer. His fingers brushed hers as he took it. Her gaze dropped to the bottle as she shoved her hands in her pants pockets. She stepped back before meeting his gaze.

Yeah, he felt it too. The zip of awareness he had tried to bury for the last thirteen years. The one he prayed would happen again with another woman and hadn’t.

The shock in her eyes mirrored his. But while he was used to the longing it left in its wake, he’d bet hers was laced with anger. They had been making headway in this new truce, but he’d seen stripper’s panties that were thicker.

She grabbed plates from the cupboard. Ryan pulled out the takeout boxes. “I remembered you liked bacon cheese burgers.”

“I’m a vegan.” The scowl curling her lips faltered.

Erica may have changed over the years, but she hadn’t developed a poker face.

He’d have believed her if her cheek hadn’t twitched. Not to mention the way her eyes dilated when he held up the takeout bag. “You’re a crap liar. Admit it, you were salivating from the smell alone.”

Her hands fisted on her hips.

And what nice hips they were. Just the right amount of curve to them. He tightened his grip on the box—thank you, peripheral vision—as he pinned her in place with his gaze.

A touch of pink slipped out and wet her bottom lip a second before she snatched the container from his hand.

She unwrapped the burger and inhaled deeply. “I did try to go vegan. Or was it vegetarian? I can’t remember.”

“Did you now? When was this?” He leaned on the counter and crossed his arms.

“For Lent last year.” With one last sniff, she set the food on her plate and added the fries he held out.

“And how long did you last?” Ryan and Erica had both grown up Catholic, but while he wasn’t practicing, he couldn’t say if she was.

Her gaze darted from the burger to him, then back to the delicious smelling food on her plate. “Fine, I didn’t make it the whole day. But to be fair, I put vegetables on top of my burgers.”

“Ketchup and mustard don’t count as veggies.” He plopped a thick-cut fry into his mouth.

She scoffed. “Don’t get me started. Ketchup comes from tomatoes, and mustard is derived from seeds.”

He loved the way color flooded her cheeks when she took a stand on senseless things. He stuck another fry in his mouth to hide his smile. “Okay, fine. Ketchup is a veggie. Or is it a fruit? Doesn’t matter. Now, are we eating in here or in the living room?”

“Living room.”

He scooped up his plate and beer and followed her to the couch. Taking the opposite side, he set his plate down, then pulled his laptop from his bag and set up.

The most delicious moan slipped from her lips as she chewed her first bite. The sound shot straight to his crotch. As casually as possible, he covered his growing chub with his plate.

“Damn, Pete’s makes the best burgers in town.” She licked the sauce dripping from her fingers.