Hooking Him (How to Catch an Alpha #3)(46)

“Should you being all protective make me tingly?” I ask, trying to ease the tension I feel coming off him, but he doesn’t even crack a smile. “Fine,” I agree with a sigh. “I’ll call you.”

“Good, now come here so I can kiss you properly,” he orders.

I close the distance between us, and as he wraps his arms around me, I rest my hands against his chest. “Sorry for not telling you about Lance showing up. Honestly, once he was out of sight, I’d forgotten about his existence until Lucy called.”

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore tonight.” He gives me a squeeze.

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”

“You can tell me exactly where I make you tingle.” His hands glide down my back to my bottom as I lift up on my tiptoes to get my mouth closer to his.

“Or I could show you.” I smile and nip his bottom lip.

“I like that idea,” he growls. He lifts me off the ground and carries me to his bed, where he has his way with me.

An hour and two orgasms later, I walk into the kitchen wearing Calvin’s T-shirt and my panties and watch him come out of the pantry with a jar of red sauce, along with a box of pasta, in nothing but a pair of plain black sweats.

“What can I do to help?” I ask as he stops to kiss me on his way to the counter.

“You can grab the meat from the fridge.” I run my fingers along his abs as I walk away, then open the fridge and frown when I see a bouquet of pale-orange roses on the shelf inside.

“Those are for you.” Arms wrap around my waist, and he presses a kiss to my neck as I pull the flowers out and hold them to my nose, which is stinging.

“Why?” I turn to meet his gaze.

“I thought of you when I saw them.” He kisses my neck, then reaches around me to grab the ground beef off the shelf.

“So they aren’t apology roses or ‘it’s your birthday’ roses; they’re just because you were thinking of me?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.” I fight back stupid girly tears.

“I don’t have a vase, but I’m sure there’s something in one of these cabinets you could use.” He motions around the room.

“Do you mind if I look?” I ask, inhaling the scent of roses once more.

“Make yourself at home, baby,” he says, and I open and close cabinets until I find a red oversize plastic cup with a handle and lid, the refillable kind you get from the gas station.

“Is this okay to use?” He nods, and I fill it with water, then cut down the stem of each flower carefully before arranging them in the cup. When I’m done, I place them on the counter and admire them for a minute before I go to where Calvin is now browning the meat in a pan, slide my arms around his waist, and kiss his shoulder. “Thank you for the roses. I love them.”

His hand covers mine on his stomach, and he tips his head down toward me. “You’re welcome.” I slide under his arm and rest against him, then hear him sigh when his phone rings on the counter next to the sink.

“Take it. I’ll finish with this.” I take the spatula from him, and he kisses the side of my head.

“I’ll be quick.”

“Don’t rush,” I murmur as he picks up his phone, walks out of the kitchen, and puts it to his ear. I finish browning the meat, then pick up the jar of sauce and try to open the lid, banging it against the counter in frustration when it won’t budge.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” I turn as Calvin comes toward me, now dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved flannel shirt with his badge clipped to his belt, carrying his shoes. “I have to leave.”

“Is everything okay?”

“There was a big accident. They’re asking everyone to come in to help clear it. I shouldn’t be gone long.” He takes a seat on one of the chairs and puts on his shoes. I set down the jar and walk across the room to him, and he runs his hand up the back of my bare thigh.

“I’ll finish dinner. We’ll eat when you get back.”

“Thank you.” He stands and kisses me swiftly, then looks down at Bane, who’s waiting to find out what’s happening. “Take care of Anna,” he orders, and then, before I can blink again, he’s gone.

I look down at Bane when I hear the front door close, and he falls to his stomach and rests his head against his paws with a groan.

I go back to the counter and pick up the jar of sauce, groaning to myself when I can’t get it open no matter what I try. I chew the inside of my cheek, then go to the pantry to see what he has and come out with an array of beans, one onion, a can of chopped tomatoes, and tomato paste. I place the already cooked meat in a bowl, then chop up an onion and add it, the tomatoes, some of the tomato paste, and a few spices to the pan. I cook it all down before adding the beans along with the meat. I taste it when I’m done and smile. It’s not spaghetti, but it’s delicious. I just hope Calvin likes chili. I set it to simmer and clean up the kitchen; then, with nothing to do, I go to the living room and search for the TV remote. When I don’t find it, I take a seat on the couch, and Bane joins me in the quiet, and we both end up dozing off.

I blink my eyes open when Bane starts barking and then sit up and push my hair out of my face. “Bane, come here,” I call, and he runs into the room, barks at me, and runs back out as the doorbell rings. I push off the couch and go to the front door to look out the etched glass, seeing what looks like a young woman on the porch.