Page 61 of In Doubt

“You really do love to cook.”

“Yeah, it’s what I want to do.”

She cocks her head to one side as she nibbles on the cake and rests her hip against the table top. “I thought you were studying business management or something like that.”

“I am. My plan is to open a restaurant.” I grin. “Actually, more than one. I have ambitions for an entire chain.”

“You should talk to my brother then. You know that’s what he does?”

I nod. “Maybe you could introduce us.” Her eyebrows leap up her forehead. “What?”

“Probably best you make your own introductions. If I introduce you, he’ll think…”

“He’ll think what?” I tease, loving the tiny dash of pink that spills into her cheeks.

“That you’re a prospect or something and he’s your typical big brother. I once had a date pick up me from the house. By the time I’d made it to the door to greet him, Ric had grilled him so efficiently he knew his whole family history. The guy never asked me out on a second date.”

“Fool,” I whisper, leaning in to her. Her eyes flick up to mine. “What else?” I ask. “You didn’t finish your verdict.” I take the last bit of cake from her fingers. “Come on.” I nod, holding the piece up to her lips. She hesitates. “No one ever gives me honest feedback.”

“Fine,” she says, opening her mouth. “But you can’t be all grumpy if I hurt your feelings.”

“I’m tougher than I look.”

“You look pretty rough,” she mutters under her breath, her gaze darting down my form and my lips twitch. I place the food inside her soft mouth, her tongue brushing fleetingly against my fingertips.

“Close your eyes,” I repeat. She does and my fingers hover in front of her face. It would be so easy to trace her lips, to cup her jaw, to kiss her sugar coated lips.

Her scent deepens like she can sense my closeness. How has Jake resisted her all this time?

“So?” I ask her.

“It’s …” she swallows, licking her tongue along her bottom lip. “Good. Just a tad more spice to compliment the sugar.”

“Thank you.”

She opens her eyes and smiles up at me.

“I’m not scared of big brothers,” I tell her. “I have two of my own, plus two younger ones and three sisters.”

“Wow. That is a big family.”

“Yep, my mum spent most of my childhood cooking up huge batches of food just to keep us all fed. I guess it’s why I fell in love with cooking. Helping her in the kitchen was my way of claiming a bit of her attention. Her cooking would probably be considered a little old-fashioned but I love it.”

“My mum was an amazing cook too. Ric is pretty good. But it’s not the same. I miss her cooking.”

She brushes the crumbs off her fingers and onto the plate. Hesitates, then takes another cake.

“They can’t be that bad if you’re having a second.”

“I never said they were bad,” she says with a grin that’s almost flirtatious. “What does your mum think of the pack?”

I sigh, helping myself to one of the cakes. I break it in half between my fingers and give it a sniff. Giorgie is right. They need a tad more spice.

“She’s about as traditional as her cooking. She would like me bonded with an omega by now. She doesn’t understand why I’d want to be in a pack.” I pick out a raisin from the sponge, squeezing it between my finger and thumb. “Or why I’d want to be with a man.”

“Oh.”

“She’s not disowned me or been awful about it. My mum isn’t like that. But she is disappointed and continually tries to set me up with a nice little omega.”