Page 18 of It Happened Back Then (Nilsson Family #3)

“ Y ou know, I’m starting to think this was just a clever trap to get me into your kitchen to clean it,” I say, looking around at the chaos of Bennett’s counter.

There are tomatoes, cans of paste and some kind of herb I can’t pronounce.

“And is that a YouTube tutorial? I thought you passed culinary school?”

Bennett grins. “If I wanted to trap you, I’d at least clean the place up first. This is an honest attempt to share my culinary genius, plus you need food to absorb that alcohol that almost had you dancing on the bar.

” I slap at his chest, and he grabs my hand.

“And yes, that video is for you to follow. I know you don’t like taking orders from me. ”

I shoot him a look. "And yet, you’re still kind of bossy.”

“I’m the boss, that's what bosses do.” he smirks. “Besides, I know you secretly like it.”

I let out a laugh. “I like to be bossed around?” He shrugs and I know he’s just trying to goad me so I point the wooden spoon I'm holding at him. “I’m onto you.”

Bennett gives me a wink, and leans against the counter, giving of that casual sexy vibe that I always died for. "That! That look! I knew what that look meant before you even thought about giving it."

He laughs at me, the tone so familiar. "Dangerous how well you know me."

I shrug. “Some things you don't forget."

For a moment, the air in the room shifts and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was flirting with me.

But we’ve always done this. This push and pull.

Since he’s been back in Bluemoon though, the pull has been tighter.

Memories of us have been front and center in my mind and after my declaration to my siblings, have been impossible to ignore.

It’s as if I finally gave myself permission to feel again.

I’m glad for the change of pace tonight. Where we usually spend time at my apartment, I like being in his space. And I’m glad he brought me to it. I like this little cabin. He swears he’s looking to move out, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

“Anyway, not sure what you’re going to teach me that I can’t just figure out from that video.” I nod to the tablet on the counter. “If I recall correctly, you burned water once.”

He waves his hand in dismissal at my bad joke. “That was years ago. I’ve grown.”

I hum in response, and he laughs then checks the heat on the pot that's been cooking on the stove. “Okay, know it all. Let’s see what you’ve got. First rule of cooking is confidence. Second rule, ignore the directions.”

I give him a look and then stir the sauce which bubbles the moment I place the spoon in it. “Oh shit. Did I burn it already?”

He laughs, moving behind me and placing his hand on my hip, the slight touch making my heart race. “As long as you keep stirring, it won’t burn.” He grips my hand in his, and we stir together, while his other hand still lingers on my hip.

I shift my stance, brushing his thigh with my ass and when I glance behind me, he’s staring at me, not at the sauce. I give a quick smile and look back to the pot.

“There,” he says softly. “Now you’re basically a chef.”

“I think I’ve got a ways to go before I’m considered a chef,” I say, biting back a smile, loving this space we’re in. “I think I’ll need more lessons.”

“First lesson is free. After that I charge, Peach.”

His tone is loaded with innuendo but I manage to laugh it off. Bennett has always been a shameless flirt. But being here tonight and doing something he loves with me, has me thinking about what my sisters said. Bennett loves you. Maybe they’re seeing something I didn't?

We continue to move around the kitchen, him cutting some cloves of garlic, me continuing to stir and it's fun and easy. I see a flash of life ten years from now with us doing the same thing, but maybe with a kid or two running around as well.

Bennett leans against the counter, watching me with that sexy half-smile that always makes me hot. “You’ve got excellent wrist movement, Blossom.”

I snort laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“What’d I say? I’m serious. You’re concentrating very hard, wrist and hand moving just right eyes trained on the prize. Almost like you’ve done this before.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “Make fun of me again and you’ll be wearing this sauce.”

“Oh no!” he yells, feigning horror.

I take the spoon, tapping the excess off it on the side of the pan, but then give it a quick whip in his direction, hitting him with a few drops of the red sauce.

In an instant he reaches out, snatching my wrist holding the spoon, twisting me so my back is up against his front.

He pushes the spoon towards my face, touching my nose with it and getting sauce on me .

“Bennett!” I shout. ‘What if that was hot? You could have burned me!”

“You threw it at me first!” He spins me to face him, my hand still holding the spoon in the air. He leans in and licks the tip of my nose. My lips part and my breathing picks up. “But I remember how you liked it when I got you hot.”

Our eyes hold and I want to tell him yes. Yes, I loved it when we were together. And yes, let’s try again. We could be so good together. But I don't because I don’t know if this is our typical flirting or if it means more this time around.

I pull away and he lets me. I run the spoon under the faucet to rinse it before sticking it back in the sauce and when I cast a glance at him, he's leaning against the counter, arms crossed watching me.

“You know,” his voice is softer now, “this feels kind of nice.”

I don’t look at him. I can’t. “Cooking?”

“Well, yeah. But I mean, you and me here together.”

“Yeah. It does.”

He steps closer to me. Brushing my ponytail off my shoulder, his fingertips graze my neck. “I missed this.”

I swallow, hoping to god he can’t hear my beating heart. “We’re just cooking.”

He smiles. “Sure.”

But I think we both know it’s more than that.

“I’m glad I came back to Bluemoon.”

“It’s about time you got your head out of your ass and realized.” I tease him, but I really mean it. Bennett always soothed me. Being without him for those years, I managed, but I always felt a bit empty too.

“Do you think it’s weird how we can still just be us, together?” he looks at me as he speaks but shakes his head. “I don't know if I’m saying this right. I just mean, we met so young and were instant best friends. ”

“It wasn’t instant. I remember you used to tease me a ton.”

“Isn’t that what boys do though? Pick on their crush?”

“Is that why you’re picking on me now? You still have a crush on me, Bennett?” I laugh and tease him with my words, hoping maybe he’ll give me something more.

“Some things never changed, Peach.” He looks at me like he can see right through me. Like he’s reading my face for every word he wants to hear.

“Do you think it’d be a good thing or a bad thing now?” I ask.

He moves closer to me again, taking a look into the pot before looking back at me. “Having a crush on you? Guess it would depend on the day.”

“And tonight?”

He lets out a breath. “Tonight feels like a trap.”

I want to ask if it’s a good or bad trap, but I don’t. We’ve been here before and I know how it ends. His dad chasing me away and heartbreak on my end. We’re older though. He doesn't live under dad’s rule anymore. The pull between us makes itself known again.

“A trap?” I glance around the room. “I don’t see any cages.” I laugh trying to break the tension.

“No cages necessary. You wouldn’t want to get away. Chasing you would be fun, though.” He winks then gives me a quick swat on my ass. Like the same old us we always were.

“You couldn’t catch me if you tried.” I scoff and go back to stirring the sauce.

He’s quiet for a long moment, but I don’t miss it when he says, “If I tried, it would end differently this time.”

And in my thoughts, I think, or maybe it ends the same , but we just forget how much it hurt last time.