Page 64 of Sunkissed Colorado

Connor glanced toward the hallway. “Then you won’t mind if I ask for her number? Text her tomorrow so I can teach her cooking next? I make a mean omelet. A perfect breakfast after a night of?—”

A feral growl rumbled from my chest. “I thought you two were leaving.”

They were both laughing as they grabbed their wallets and hustled out the door. I’d do just about anything for those guys, because they were my friends as well as my fellow firefighters. But they were getting on my nerves.

If Zandra was different from any other woman I’d brought home before, it was just because she was an actual friend. Not a hookup. And when you slept with a friend, much less one who was also a coworker, things got complicated fast. Z and I could flirt and have fun together, but we wouldn’t be crossing any lines. Regardless of how much I might want to get naked with her.

Fuck.Reallywanted to get naked with her.

It had been too long since I’d gotten laid. That was my problem. Maybe I’d go out to a bar next weekend. Not Hearthstone. I could meet a tourist, get my fix, and I’d be good to go.

Yet the thought of Zandra doing the same with any other guy made me want to get stabby with my chef’s knife.

I busied myself in the kitchen. Cleaning up a few smears of batter I’d missed, checking on the brownies in the oven. Starting to set the table for our dinner.

Then a couple minutes later, Zandra emerged from the bathroom. And she looked so good, she was already testing my resolve.

Her long hair was damp and falling down her back, leaving wet spots on my T-shirt. She kept hitching up the shorts I’d given her, which sat low on her hips. My breath caught in my throat.Seeing her in my clothes…Nngh. It just made me want to rip them off her and cover her with my body instead.

I cleared my throat. “Comfy?”

“I look ridiculous,” she said, tugging at the gaping collar of my shirt. She glanced around the kitchen. “Where are Connor and Darius?”

A wave of her scent rolled over me. Oh, hell. She’d used my body spray. Why was that so hot? It should not have been that hot.

Maybe it was a bad idea that Connor and Darius had left after all.

Ignoring the bolt of lust tightening my boxers, I went to grab us some drinks. “They bailed. It’s just the two of us. That’s okay, right?”

“Sure.” She sounded quieter than usual.

“Want a glass of wine?” The words left my mouth before I could reconsider. Did I really need alcohol in my bloodstream with Zandra looking and smelling like that?

“You have wine? I would’ve thought a bunch of firefighters would have nothing but beer and whiskey in here.”

“We’re full of surprises.” I pulled out a bottle of Pinot Grigio. “Besides, Niko’s girlfriend left this here a couple days ago.”

She smiled. “In that case, yes.”

I poured the wine, then finished setting the table. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

We sat down at the small dining table, and the intimacy of the moment hit me. It wasn’t just that we were both dressed in my worn-in clothes with wet hair. Something about the soft lighting, the home-cooked meal, the wine glasses catching the light, made this feel…significant.

I’d been giving her shit about this being a date earlier, but now the thought wouldn’t leave my head. Especially after what Darius and Connor had been saying.

DidIactually want this to be a date?

I managed to shut up my overactive brain while we ate. Thepot pie was spot-on. Rich and savory filling, tender and buttery biscuits. Even if it was vegan butter.

Zandra took a bite and moaned. Which didn’t help the interest my dick was already showing in her. “This is amazing. Seriously, Callum, this might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. How’d you think of pot pie? I haven’t had anything like this in forever.”

“My mom used to make it when we were kids.”

Her expression softened. “She passed away, right? You mentioned that.”

“When I was in middle school.” I dipped my spoon into the creamy chicken mixture.

“I’m sorry,” she said gently. “And there were four of you. That must’ve been a lot for your dad.”