Page 61 of Bitter Lies

She shakes her head and then picks up her fork. “No. It’s just… this is the first time a man has cooked for me, besides my brothers, of course.”

With a soft thud, my fork hits the plate. I blot my mouth with the napkin. “This is the first time I’ve cooked for someone.”

Cutting a piece of her gammon, she brings it to her mouth and chews. “So good.”

“It’s ham. Not much to screw up.” Reaching for my juice, I down half in a single gulp. “I only heated it up.”

Her shoulders shake as she giggles. “Good point. What about the eggs?”

“I cracked them, added cheese, salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika.” Scooping some up, I shove them in my mouth. They taste fine to me.

Using her fork, she scoops up a portion and takes a bite. The way her lips wrap around the tines stirs the memory of how my cock looked with them around it, while she sucked me off. Then she hums, and I have to stop watching so I don’t clear the table and have her for dessert.

“Delicious. I could get used to this.” Spearing a piece of egg and ham, she pops them into her mouth. “You cook anything besides eggs, ham, and toast?”

I don’t mean to be rude, but she’s killing me. Shoveling the last of my food in, I stand and carry my plate to the sink. “I cook food. That’s it. Nothing special.”

Her quietness draws my attention. Head lowered, she pushes her food around, only taking small bites. She was trying to be nice and make conversation—and I went and fucked it up.

I’m such an arsehole.

“Sorry. I’m not much of a talker.” Kicking myself in the arse, I grab a mug, a coffee pod, and press brew. “It’s usually just Bear and me.”

After she takes a bite of toast, her head lifts, displaying a cute smile. “I usually eat my meals alone. Unless I’m at hospital, then I might eat with one of the other doctors or nurses, depending on when that is.”

The coffee machine sputters. “Do you cook?”

The corners of her mouth turn up, lighting up her entire face. “When I have time. Larkin loves cooking. Once she married Antonio, we started cooking as a family. Not every night, but at least once or twice a week. And Winnie, Esteban’s wife, taught me how to bake. She owns a bakery. If you get a sweet tooth and want something like cinnamon buns or strawberry muffins, I know how to make those.”

My mouth waters as I sip my black coffee. “Do you know how to make lemon tarts?”

“Are those your weakness, Aiden?” She brings her other leg up, sitting cross-legged in the chair.

I nod. “One of my SBS teammates received goodie boxes from his wife. She’d send those, and he’d share with me. Once she learned I liked them, she started sending a box just for me.”

“That’s sweet.” She shoves her plate to the side. “I can check if Winnie has a recipe she’d be willing to part with. If I made them, how would you show your appreciation?”

Without blinking, I fix my gaze on hers. “Eat your sweet pussy until you came so hard you passed out.”

The blush that creeps across her face has me reaching down to adjust myself. I was about to say something else, but my mobile rings on the counter, forcing out a groan, knowing I can’t keep ignoring him.

“I need to take this. As soon as I’m done, we can get going.” I snag the offending device and silence it. “You should call the morgue and let them know we’ll be there in thirty. That way, we don’t have to wait once we arrive.”

All the color drains from her face, and I wish I could take back my words, but this is something that can’t be put off.

Lowering myself to my haunches, I place a hand on her leg. “I’ll be with you the entire time. I promise.”

A tear rolls down her cheek, leaving a glistening trail in its wake. “Thank you.”

When my phone rings again, she wipes it away. “You better take that. I’ll be fine.”

Planting a tender kiss to her forehead, I stand, the green icon shining beneath my finger before I press it. “What?!”

Chapter 23

Isabel

Aiden’s been a total grump since stepping outside to take that call. He picked up a ball and tossed it for Bear, then turned his back to me. I’m assuming that was so I couldn’t eavesdrop.