Page 35 of New Nebraska Heat

He answered my worries with a casual point to a far cupboard, saying playfully, “The big shot has to set the table. When you invite yourself to dinner, you got to work for your food around here.”

Bryce smiled, nodded and got to it. Setting the table carefully and elegantly, adding another few candles and lighting them with his fingers.

“What can I do?” I asked, not wanting to feel like a third wheel.

Hunter plucked off an oven glove, cupped my cheek and kissed me briefly, but tenderly. “You can go keep Carrot company until it’s time to eat. Go on, go put your feet up.”

So, ambling over, easing Carrot up and into my arms, I pressed my face against her warm fur and cradled her on the couch until the food was ready, resting my feet on the coffee table while the men got dinner ready. God, I was spoiled.

We all sat down and had one of the best home-cooked Asian meals ever. The prawns were delicious. The flavors so delicate, the rice extra fluffy. This really had been my lucky day for wonderful food.

After dinner, Hunter pulled me down onto a couch and I snuggled into him. Bryce sat in the corner of the opposite couch and pointed to a tall, ornate liquor bottle on the counter. “What’s that?”

“Scottish raspberry gin,” Hunter replied. “Sounds not too great, but I had a shot earlier and believe me—”

“Pour me a large one?” Bryce said in a rush, his face betraying an entrenched nervousness.

Hunter stood, plucked the cork from its top and poured a solid two fingers into a crystal tumbler, doing the same for himself. He held up the bottle. “Serenity?”

I shook my head. I was stuffed with food and relaxed enough as it was, with Carrot curled and purring on my lap.

Handing the drink to Bryce, Hunter sat back down beside me and Carrot, petting her head as he took a couple of small mouthfuls of the liquor. The tart aroma of fresh raspberries drifted toward me as he sipped.

“Something on your mind?” Hunter asked Bryce. “Seemed like you needed that drink.” He nodded at the already half-empty glass.

Bryce guzzled the remaining gin and sat forward, perching on the edge of his couch. “Look, I can see you guys have something going on”—he glanced at where Hunter had rested his hand on my thigh—“and I think that’s great, I’m really happy for both of you, but…”

He brushed his hands over his head, ruffling his perfectly combed hair. He sighed, staring down at his feet, before asking Hunter an unexpected question that shocked me, “All jokes aside, do you love me, Hunter?”

Hunter grinned and opened his mouth as if to reply with a quip, but he swallowed and stopped himself. “I do. I think you know that. Why are you asking?” His face turned mischievous. “You’re not about to propose, are you?”

That broke the tension and Bryce laughed. “No, I’d prefer my partner’s biceps to be smaller than my own, thank you. That wasn’t why I was asking.”

Not wanting to interfere in their moment, I petted Carrot and stayed quiet.

Hunter finished his own drink and clunked the tumbler downon the coffee table. “So, since you’re clear how I feel about you, and you don’t want to marry me, what are you getting at?”

Bryce ignored Hunter’s question for a second and looked over at me, his gaze glazed and focused. “Serenity, today, when you steadied me, to stop me tripping over that cable”—he drew in a deep shaky breath—“our skin touched.”

I made a face. “I thought it was just your glove I caught. Are you—”

He waved an impatient backhand. Not in a rude way, but it was clear he had a truth that needed spilling. “I told Monique that. She didn’t need to know. But we touched. I felt the warmth of your skin on mine. It was something I’ll never forget. For as long as I live.”

Hunter sighed, stood and brought the gin bottle to Bryce. He plucked its cork and refilled Bryce’s glass then did the same for his. “Bryce, you said she touched you. Was there an ambulance involved? Doctors? Morphine injections?”

Bryce gulped the drink, shaking his head. “None of that.” His eyes delved into mine. “Just pleasure. Warmth and softness from your hand. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

I had to interject. “We really touched skin? Are you sure? Your condition. I thought—”

“I thought so too. I’ve been thinking all my life this would never happen, believe me.”

“So, we definitely touched? But I felt nothing. Just, well”—it was my turn to be embarrassed—“I was just reacting on instinct. It all happened so quick.”

“Trust me, we touched. I’ll never forget the feeling until my dying day. I was expecting all hell to break loose. For me to have an invisible elephant sitting on my chest, and for you to be screaming.”

“But nothing happened,” Hunter joined in, his tone slightly skeptical.

Bryce nodded. “Nothing. I felt intense pleasure. Not pain. And I know you and Serenity are getting closer, but I think I mightneedSerenity. She’s… she’s just the only person who can make me feel the way I do. It’s not just her touching my skin. I’m falling for her.” Bryce drained the gin, clinking it gently down. “I bet you want to punch my lights out now, right, Hunter?”