Tinsel (Lark Cove #4)(37)

“That’s so sad.”

“Yeah. It is.”

She reached across the table and covered my hand in hers. “Sorry.”

“I’ve come to terms with it.”

I’d made my decisions and set my future in stone.

No wife. No kids. It was easier that way.

Edith came over carrying two large plates, each with a mound of fries stacked next to a thick cheeseburger. She set them down, ending the conversation about my family.

“This is bigger than my face.” Sofia eyed the cheeseburger, unsure of how to pick it up.

“Like this.” I gripped my burger with both hands, squishing down the bun. Then I opened wide and took a huge bite. Grease dripped onto my plate as I held the burger and chewed.

Sofia stared at me for a long moment, then hesitantly copied my movements until her cheeks were bulging, and she moaned at that first bite.

“Good?”

She nodded, swallowing that bite. “I haven’t had a cheeseburger in years.”

“I have one at least once a week.”

“I’m going to need to use your gym in the morning.” She dove in for another bite.

“Don’t worry. I’ll work it all off of you tonight.”

She raised an eyebrow as she chewed. A sexy smirk played at the corner of her lips.

If I were to ever break my own rules and have kids, Sofia would be fun to share that adventure with.

I took another bite, shaking that thought away. Blocking it out for good.

My future was planned. I knew what I wanted and where I was going.

There was no use questioning it.

Not even for a woman like Sofia Kendrick.





“You don’t smile enough.”

Dakota kept his eyes on the cutting board as he diced a green pepper. His mouth was set in a serious line. “You smile too much.”

I forced the corners of my mouth down. “You can’t criticize someone for smiling too much.”

“But it’s okay to tell someone they don’t smile enough?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” he shot back.

“I, uh, I don’t know. It just is. Smiling is nice.”

He shrugged, sliding the pieces of green pepper off the cutting board and into a bowl. Then he took the onion he’d set out earlier and began dicing it too. “Grab the eggs. Start cracking them into a bowl.”

“Not until you smile.”

“I’m not smiling.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Then I’m not cracking eggs.”

“I’ll just do it myself.”

“If you do it yourself, that kind of defeats the point of a cooking lesson, don’t you think?”

“Then grab the eggs, babe.”

“Not until you smile.”

He shook his head.

“Why?” I asked. “You haven’t smiled all morning.”

“Wrong. I smiled at you in the shower. Remember? It was right after I came all over your tits.”

My cheeks flushed as I remembered the feel of his hot spurts coating my nipples. I’d been on my knees, ready to swallow his release when Dakota had pulled his cock out of my mouth and surprised me with a shower of his own.

“Whatever.” I ignored the pulsing in my core. “That was a grin, not a smile. A smile includes teeth.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he still wouldn’t give it up.

“Smile.”

“No.”

“Smile,” I insisted.

“Now I’m not going to smile all day.”

“What? Why?”

He smirked. “Because you want it so bad, it’ll be fun torturing you.”

“Fine.” I pushed away from the counter and went to the refrigerator, grabbing the carton of eggs. “But you should know I’m withholding sex until you smile.”

Dakota’s chest shook with a silent laugh. There was a tiny dimple forming at the corner of his mouth, but he took a breath, shoving all humor aside and concentrating on the onion.

“You’re the worst,” I muttered, taking a bowl from the cupboard.

“Yeah? And you’ll break first.”

“What?” I cocked a hip. “Never.”

He put down his knife and turned to me. Then he took one step forward, coming right into my space and forcing me to lean back. His abs pushed against mine. His hips pressed flush against my own so tight I could feel the bulge beneath his sweatpants. And his nose hovered just a fraction of an inch away from my cheek.

“I’ll smile after I fuck you on the counter.”

My heart skipped as his breath floated across my skin.

“What do you say, princess?” He dropped his mouth and slowly licked the shell of my ear. “How badly do you want that smile?”

“Damn you,” I whispered.

His chest rumbled with a laugh. “That a yes?”

I shook my head as my fingers toyed with the hem of his T-shirt. “Smile first, then fuck me on the counter.”

“Nope.” In a flash, he was gone, the cold air rushing into the space where he’d been standing, causing goose bumps to tickle my forearms.

“Wha—seriously?”

He picked up the knife and went back to the onion. “Hustle with the eggs. They need to go in first.”