Page 56 of Lucas

“She demanded nothing. She’s not like that.” Lilibeth lowers her gaze. “I don’t want to betray her trust.”

“If you don’t tell me right now, you can consider yourself dismissed. I won’t keep staff who keep secrets from me in my house.”

Lilibeth’s head snaps up, eyes round with alarm. “No, sir, I swear it’s nothing like that! There’s no conspiracy. It’s only, well, that particular dish you enjoyed so much...”

“Yes?”

“She made it. It’s her recipe, and that’s why I can’t make it for you.”

I blink. Once. Twice. “Ava, cooked?”

“Yes, sir. That’s what I’ve been trying to say.” Lilibeth looks at me like I’m being dense.

“That’s all? Why did she want to hide that from me?” I don’t understand.

Lilibeth shrugs. “I’m not sure, but I think she wanted to hear your true opinion without you complimenting it just because she made it.”

I think the opposite. She didn’t want me to spit it out if I found out she cooked it.

This whole situation is strange. Ava knows how to cook? Not just cook, but gourmet food. Lilibeth is an excellent chef, yet that dish is seared into my memory.

I leave the kitchen and head to my home gym.

After our texts this morning, there’s no chance in hellshe’d agree to cook something for me. She’d prefer to stab me with a knife than cater to me.

I shove open the gym door and freeze, stunned by the sight in front of me. Ava, in only a sports bra and a pair of lycra shorts so tiny they’re nearly indecent.

Her lush curves are on sinful display as she runs on my treadmill. Earbuds in, eyes closed, pink lips parted as she hums to herself, lost in her workout.

I can’t tear my eyes away from that perfect ass of hers as I stand there gawking like a fool at the narrow sweep of her back leading to full, round curves. A bead of sweat trickles down her spine, and I itch to lick it from her skin. I want to grab handfuls of her firm cheeks, bite into them?—

Ava’s eyes snap open and meet mine in the mirror. She cries out, arms smacking as she hits the stop button. Her feet tangle, and she falls backward off the treadmill.

“Fuck, Ava!” I lunge forward and grab her just before she hits the floor, pulling her against my chest. My heart pounds. “God, you almost hit your head.”

She looks up at me, dazed, lips parted as she gasps for air, the heat of her barely covered bottom in my hands. Only the thin fabric separates my fingers from her skin. This close, her scent floods my senses—flowers and sweat. It makes me want to do insane, stupid things.

Goddammit, I care more about her than I should. I like her more than I should.

“You could’ve gotten hurt,” I whisper. I raise my hand, brushing my thumb over her cheek, edging dangerously close to her mouth.

She doesn’t stop me, so I keep moving in—slowly. Hereyes are dark, pupils blown so wide they nearly eclipse the divine green.

Stop me, Ava. Stop me before I can’t stop myself.

Like she hears my thoughts, Ava pushes hard on my chest. I let her pull away, trying not to show how much I hate it.

“Right, because you care so much if I get hurt.” She laughs. “I could break my neck, and you’d celebrate.”

The spell is broken.

“And if you don’t want me getting hurt, maybe don’t sneak up on me like that.” She grabs a towel from the rack and drapes it over her shoulders.

“I didn’t sneak. I walked in the door like I always do. I just came to work out.” I gesture at my athletic attire. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“Sorry for intruding on your gym.”

Fucking hell. The way those tights hug her thighs, accentuating the enticing V between her legs. “You’re welcome to stay.”