Page 21 of Unexpected Temptation

E ach day that passed became harder for both. He had kept busy working with the horses most of each day. Amelia had been able to obtain a laptop and the necessary software through the Internet, which was shipped overnight to Kane. One of Jaylen’s hands picked it up in town.

Jaylen taught her a few more simple meals. Grilled cheese, egg sandwich, and hamburgers on the stovetop grill. Amelia didn’t have much time to go through the cookbook, but there were a couple of recipes she thought looked simple enough to make.

That first night and most of the next day, she’d organized and input all the receipts for the year in different categories.

The software was also able to send out checks through his bank.

Now he could view his accounts online at any time.

Jaylen was amazed at how quickly she had everything set up and had even started teaching him the basics.

A new system of thunderstorms moved through, marking the end of a whole week that Amelia had been there. It wasn’t supposed to last as long this time, but the drenching rain kept everyone indoors for the most part.

Jaylen ran from the barn, but even at full speed, dodging puddles, and with a poncho on, he was drenched by the time he made it to the back door. He took off his poncho and shook it out before he pulled off his sopping boots.

“Here you go,” Amelia said as she held out a cup of coffee.

Jaylen froze, and his eyes trailed over her. Even covered in his shirt, she was still the sexiest thing he’d ever seen in his lifetime.

He cleared the emotion from his throat, stood, and walked to her. He lifted the cup from her hand and took a long sip without taking his gaze off her.

“Mmm. You’re getting better at making coffee than I am.”

Amelia snorted even as she could feel the warmth of a pleased blush cover her face.

Jaylen grinned. “Are you ready to make dinner with me?” he asked.

Amelia bit her bottom lip and glanced toward the kitchen.

“Well, I’ve already started.”

Jaylen chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Don’t look so worried.”

“I tried to make a recipe from the book. We had a few cooked hamburgers from the other night, and I wanted to use them.”

The aroma hit Jaylen the moment he walked through the kitchen doorway. He closed his eyes and groaned. He walked to the stove and lifted the lid on a large pan simmering on the back burner. His startled gaze flew to her.

“What was the recipe, because this looks a lot like goulash?”

Amelia lifted up the book and glanced at it quickly.

“That’s what it’s called.”

“You made goulash?” he asked, shocked.

“Well, yes. But don’t get too excited until you try it. It might taste like cardboard to you.”

Jaylen reached for a spoon. “Did you try it?” he asked before he dipped the spoon into the pot.

“Yeah. It’s okay, but I had to improvise a few things, so it’s going to taste different from what you’re used to,” she said worriedly.

Jaylen spooned up a bite and slipped it into his mouth. The taste exploded in his mouth.

“Oh, Lord,” he murmured and closed his eyes.

Amelia’s heart sank, and her hands pressed against her stomach. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Jaylen replaced the lid and set the spoon aside before he turned to face her. He grasped her shoulders.

“Just tell me, Jaylen.”

“It’s the best goulash I’ve ever had.”

Amelia snorted and took a step back. “Stop. Tell me the truth.”

Jaylen followed her as she continued backward until her back hit the wall. He cupped her face.

“I am telling you the truth. It is the best I’ve ever tasted.”

“You’re just saying that because you ... care about me.”

“I will always tell you the truth, even if it might not be what you want to hear. Right now, I’m telling you what you made is delicious, and I want more.”

Amelia’s eyes widened, and her hand reached out to grab his shirt. “Really? You really like it?”

Jaylen brought her against his chest and tipped her chin up with his hand. “I do. Very much. What did you do differently?”

“We didn’t have many spices. I didn’t have bay leaves, so I used chives and oregano. Instead of canned tomatoes, I used fresh. I think I used more hamburgers than the recipe states. We didn’t have green pepper or the right noodles, so I used what we had.”

She studied his expression. “You’re not kidding? Are you?”

“No,” he said and chuckled. “It’s really, really good. Did you by chance write your recipe down?”

“Well, yeah. If it didn’t work, I wanted you to tell me what you thought I could have changed about it. I also have a list of the spices we need next time we go to the grocery store.”

“Is it ready?”

Amelia smirked. “Yes, it’s ready. It says it could simmer for another hour, but the noodles feel cooked.”

“I can’t wait.”

Amelia filled a bowl for Jaylen and set it on the table while he set out silverware and drinks. She bent down and opened the oven, which was still warm from earlier, grabbed a few for him and one for herself, and put them on a plate.

“Here are some biscuits to go with it.”

Jaylen stopped with his spoon halfway to his mouth and looked at the buns, then at her, before taking one and starting to slather butter on it. “Have I told you bread is my downfall? That and noodles. I could eat them every day.”

Amelia smiled as she sat across from him with her own bowl. “Well, tonight you’re getting both.”

Jaylen wiped the butter off his hands and reached for hers. “Thank you so much. This is over-the-top delicious. The biscuits are flaky...”

“Remember, they’re store-bought. I would like eventually to make them from scratch, though.”

“That doesn’t matter. I still would have burned them.”

Amelia cracked up and continued eating.

Jaylen got a glimpse of the bandages on her palm and wrist as they finished cleaning up. He snatched up her hand as she walked past.

“What happened?”

Her heart melted at the genuine concern on his face. “I burnt myself a few times. They are not bad. It’s just a little tender. I put the ointment I found on the bandage on them. It comes with the territory, and they are good lessons for me.”

“Can I see?”

Amelia sighed. “They aren’t bad, I swear. You can look at them later.”

He reluctantly released her, walked to the fireplace, and tossed on a few logs.

Amelia caught his expression. “Stop worrying. I’ll let you look at them. Besides, I feel like they’re a badge of honor for me.”

“What does that mean?” he hissed.

“Every chef I’ve watched on TV has scars from burns or knives on their hands. It makes me feel like a real chef,” she said and laughed.

“I’d rather you stick with the two you have and not get any more. God, the thought of you cutting yourself and me not being around to help makes me crazy.”

“I’m cautious with the knives. I don’t want to be cut either. I’m going to take a shower,” Amelia said as she grabbed what she needed out of the closet.

“All right.”

Jaylen finished poking at the fire and sat on the sofa.

This was the hardest time of day for him—when everything was quiet, and there was so little to keep his mind off her body.

The thought of sinking his cock into her tight cunt distracted him most of the day.

It didn’t matter. He would do whatever he had to make her happy and feel secure with him, so he’d just have to suck it up for a while longer.