Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)(59)

“The sitter didn’t show.” Eliza laughed, pushing past me, carrying a stack of glass baking dishes. “Where is she?” she asked, spinning in a circle.

“Asleep.”

“Still? Flint, what did you do to that poor girl?”

“You want the honest answer?” I smirked.

She puffed her cheeks and pretended to gag. “Dear God, no.”

“What’s that?” I followed her to the kitchen.

She turned the oven on. “Pot roast and twice-baked potatoes. Well, only once-baked potatoes right now. Give them about twenty minutes and they’ll be twice baked.”

“Woman.” I grunted like a caveman before lifting the edge of the tinfoil to sniff inside.

“I figured she’d be hungry, and Lord knows you can’t feed her.”

“I love the way you assume I’m worthless in the kitchen. However, if it means you show up with twice-baked potatoes, you can keep that assumption up for as long as you want.”

She giggled, slapping me on the chest. “I don’t assume you’re worthless in the kitchen. I know you’re worthless in the kitchen. The last thing any of us need is you trying to cook her lunch and send her running for another three years. Broody, crybaby Flint was a real drag.”

“Crybaby Flint? You seriously have to make girlfriends and stop hanging out with Quarry so much.” I laughed.

“No, Q would have called you a f*cking crybaby. I edited.”

“This is true.” I snagged a slice of the pot roast with my fingers and popped it into my mouth.

“Are you two coming to dinner after Q’s fight?”

“Yeah. I heard you sold a painting. I’m ordering the lobster.”

“I did! My Dream Window is now hanging in the Museum de Coffee Shop downtown. I only made, like, a hundred bucks, so you might have to order off the children’s menu.”

“That’s still pretty awesome though. You’re a legit artist now.” I took a fork from the drawer and scooped another slice of meat before Eliza pulled the dish away.

“Don’t eat without her,” she scolded.

“No. Let him eat. It’s okay,” Ash said, suddenly appearing behind us.

She was wearing her jeans and one of my hoodies that all but swallowed her. Ash was tall—a fact I’d loved even when I’d had to look up at her—but she was so thin that it hung well below her ass. An ass that, after this morning, I knew every curve of.

“Mm.” I pointed to my mouth as I hurriedly swallowed the roast. “Hey.” I dropped the fork in the sink and headed her way.

“Morning,” she greeted shyly, which made me narrow my eyes as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

Eliza chimed in behind me. “Hi.”

Ash’s leaned away, and her eyes flashed from mine to Eliza’s and back to mine before she replied with a cold, “Hi.”

Oh hell.

Eliza didn’t catch the frigid air in the least. “We met once a while back. I’m Till’s wife, Eliza. It’s so nice to meet you again.” She tossed out a warm grin that did nothing to stifle Ash’s passive-aggressive chill.

“Yeah, I remember when we met.” Ash grinned, something so fake that I almost believed it.

Almost.

I stepped in front of her. “Hey, can I talk to you for a second?”

“Of course, baby,” she answered sweetly, but it was clear that talking was very low on Ash’s agenda.

Her hands glided up my chest and over my shoulders. Standing on her tiptoes, she gave me a sensual and completely indecent kiss. I took it, even knowing Eliza was watching, but only because I could tell exactly what Ash was doing.

And.

I.

Fucking.

Loved.

It.

Begrudgingly, I broke the kiss just before her hands slid down to my ass. “Excuse us for a minute, Eliza.” I turned my attention back to Ash. “Bedroom,” I ordered.

Eliza giggled and wiped her hands on the towel hanging from the stove. “I actually have to go. I just wanted to drop off the food. The potatoes will be ready in fifteen minutes. Eat them while they’re hot. Quarry’s the main event tonight, so it will probably be after nine before dinner.” She walked over to Ash, who was still possessively clinging to my waist. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’re back.” She squeezed her arm. “I’ll save you a seat at the fight?”

Ash was glowering, but when she caught me watching her, she quickly covered it. “Yeah. Um. Sure,” she replied.

“Okay, see you guys tonight,” Eliza called out when she got to the door.

No sooner had the door shut behind her than Ash’s shoulders fell in relief.

“Up,” I barked, causing her head to tip back to look at me.

“Huh?”

“Put your ass on my counter so we can have this conversation eye to eye.”

“What conversation?”

“Up,” I repeated, and with the exception of a huff, she didn’t argue.

Jumping, she pushed herself onto the counter.

I settled between her legs and spread my crutches wide enough to wrap her legs around my hips. “You don’t like Eliza?”

“She’s fine,” she chirped.

“Bullshit.” I crushed my mouth to hers.