Page 30 of Decidedly Off Limits

“Nope. I definitely prefer penises over…um, pussy.” My face heated up and I looked away before Trent noticed. Definitely the hangover talking. But it also felt oddly natural to talk to him this way. “I mean, I’m tired of dating guys who don’t care about me, who are only interested in me the wrong way.” I guess I was kind of guilty of that too. Hadn’t I wanted to have sex with the Viking and the waiter? Which just proved my decision was the right one.

Even if the ache between my legs wasn’t on board with the program.

“There isn’t much to my life right now. I work all day and come home to hang out with Mr. Kitty Whiskers and read a novel. I don’t have any interests. I’m boring.”

Trent leaned back against the counter. “You’re not boring.”

“Thanks, but you’re wrong. Other than my job, I have nothing I’m passionate about. I have nothing that defines me. How can I expect a guy to appreciate me when there isn’t much to appreciate?” I nodded, convinced I was doing the right thing. Until I sorted out who I was, there was no point being in a relationship. “I need a hobby. Something to get excited about.”

Trent didn’t look entirely convinced, but at least with my new goal in life, I was making things easier for him. He wouldn’t have to play the role of concerned brother while Liam was away. “What kind of hobby?”

Good question. “I have no idea. Maybe if I sign up for a bunch of different classes, I might find something that excites me.” I thought about it for a moment, then dug through the recycling bin.

After a few minutes of searching, I found what I was looking for and held the flyer up for him to see.

He frowned. “Cooking lessons?”

“Yes, it’ll be perfect. I’m not a very good cook, so this would be a great start.” I searched for the website on my smartphone. “Here’s one. French bistro. It’s three hours of hands-on lessons that will teach me how to make a three-course meal. Then I could host a dinner party.”

Trent removed the phone from my hand, studied the screen for a moment, then handed it back to me. “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“It’s the perfect idea.”

The know-it-all voice in the back of my head grumbled that maybe I should start with something simpler.

I ignored it.

13

Trent

There comesa time in a man’s life when he realizes the old adage is true: If you can’t beat them, join them.

I walked into the classroom to the rich scent of French cuisine, and spotted Kelsey sitting at a table near the front, reading a piece of paper. The seat next to hers was vacant.

I hadn’t planned to sign up for the class when she first showed it to me, but then I realized she had the right idea about taking it. My scrambled eggs proved I needed help.

There was also the issue where I couldn’t keep away from her. She was like a drug. Only a lot healthier.

I pulled out the seat next to hers and accidentally (not) bumped her arm with my hip. Like a junkie craving his next fix, I couldn’t get enough of her soft body and just wanted to touch her.

Her head turned to me, then her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open. For a heartbeat it looked like she had stopped breathing.

“Hey, is this seat taken?” I asked.

“What…what are you doing here?”

Assuming that was a “no” to my question, I sat. “Same as you. I figured a cooking class might do me some good.”

She nodded, no doubt remembering my disastrous eggs.

“And I thought we could wow our friends and my sister by hosting a dinner party together,” I added. It was just an excuse to spend more time with her, but I would take whatever sweet, Kelsey-scented scraps that were scattered my way.

“That might not be a bad idea. We could invite Holly.”

I could only imagine what Holly would say if she knew I was here…once she stopped laughing. “I’m sure my friend Josh would also be interested.”

“Josh?”