Page 48 of A Shot at Love
He opened the pantry door. “We’ve got some essentials. There’s bread, a jar of peanut butter and some jam. Looks homemade. Want a sandwich?”
“Homemade? Let me see.”
He handed her the jar and her stomach growled when she recognized the label.
Ky’s low laugh was fast and sounded, God help her, panty-dropping sexy. “You really are hungry.”
“I wouldn’t be sneaking around at this hour if I wasn’t.”
Ky reached into a cabinet and pulled down two plates. The light from the overhead fixture silhouetted his body, shadowing all the contours and outlines of his muscle groups.
Gemma swallowed and moved her gaze back to the jar. “This is Kandy’s jam, from Grandma’s old canning recipe. She makes it every year and gives it out as presents to family and friends.”
“So, I’m assuming that’s a yes for the sandwich.” He found the utensils drawer and grabbed a knife.
Gemma blinked, watching him.
How surreal was this? Standing in a strange kitchen in the middle of the night with a man clad in nothing but silk boxers, looking like a visiting God from Olympus, discussing a sandwich?
Gemma shook her head, wondering when she’d wake up from this dream. When she caught a glance at the way the muscles in Ky’s arm undulated as he spread the strawberry jam on the bread, she hoped she’d get to sleep a little longer.
“Can you grab me a water?” he asked as he picked up their plates and walked over to the breakfast bar.
Seated across from him a moment later, Gemma stared at the chain dropping down almost to his pecs. “What’s the pendant?” she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
“St. Michael the Archangel. Patron saint of law enforcement officers. My baby sister, Ariadne, gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago.”
“The Diet Mountain Dew girl?”
He nodded.
“I don’t know why, but I didn’t think you were Catholic.” She dug into her sandwich and tried not to devour it in one breath.
“I’m not. My whole family is Greek Orthodox, but Dini’s the most superstitious of us all so when saw the pendant online she thought it might help keep me safe.”
“Dini?”
The corner of his mouth lifted again and his eyes softened. “Family nickname.”
“Like Papps?”
His left eyebrow quirked. He took a bite of his sandwich and Gemma had an uncontrollable urge to press her thighs together when his neck bobbled as he swallowed.
“My family doesn’t call me that, only my coworkers do. Pappandreos is a mouthful for some people.” When he nailed her with a look that was equal parts mocking and hot, Gemma squirmed, remembering how difficult she’d found his name at first.
“She doesn’t like that you’re an FBI agent?”
“More that she worries. A lot. All the women in my family are worriers.” He shook his head, his lips tugging into a half-grin. “She thinks if I wear the medal I’ll be protected because it has a built in tracking device. I didn’t tell her I’ve never turned it on, but,”—he lifted a shoulder—“if it helps calm her worries, it’s no big deal to wear it.”
“That’s actually pretty sweet.”
“Dini’s a sweet girl.”
She wanted to tell him she meant he was being sweet, not his sister, but before she could, he cut her off.
“I did a larger scale sweep before turning in,” he told her. “Your friend Bannerman’s got a top-notch security system in the back of the pantry. Took me a few minutes to figure it out.”
“Rick’s the most tech savvy guy I’ve ever met. Even Josh is surprised by some of the stuff he brings to the table. And Josh is no techy-slouch in his own right.”
“It not only looks like the house is alarmed, but I think the surrounding property is as well. I’ll get a better, more in depth look at it in the morning, but we should be okay here for a few days at least. In the morning I’ll also try and make contact with my superior.”
“Find out how Jon’s doing, if you do. If he’s okay.”
Ky stared at her for a moment. She was a little aggravated she couldn’t read the expression in his eyes.
