“What did he warn you about?”
“That you have an unbalanced sense of humor.”
“Unbalanced? That’s harsh.” Though Roman had said worse when she’d switched salt for sugar in his canister and he’d added it to his morning coffee.
It was an old trick and she shouldn’t have gotten away with it, which was what she’d told him. Sugar and salt didn’t look alike to a person with a background in chemistry, not to mention the different smell, texture and melting rate in hot water.
He’d told her she needed to get a life. Of course, it was his effort to see she had one that had prompted the salt in his coffee. He’d fixed her up the night before with the most boring, obnoxiously intelligent man she’d ever met. To make matters worse, they’d gone on a double date and while her brother was having fun with his not-so-brainy arm candy, Danusia had spent the evening arguing quantum physical theory. Not discussing, but arguing.
Her blind date had been an opinionated cretin.
“Do I have to worry you’re going to sabotage the kitchen?” Max asked, proving Roman had been telling tales.
“I don’t know. Are you going to try to fix me up with the most obnoxious man on the Eastern Seaboard?”
“Is that what Roman did?”
“Yes. And when you’re contemplating murder, salt in the coffee doesn’t seem like such a harsh retaliation.”
Max laughed out loud. “I can promise you, I’ve got no plans to fix you up with anyone while you’re here.”
“Good.” She had her own plans and they all revolved around the gorgeous black man whose laugh made her thighs clench.
Weird. Was that a primal reaction, she wondered, or an evolutionary one? Whatever it was, there was an ache between her legs that would not go away.
“You’re doing it again.”
“What?”
“Thinking about something that puts that alarming expression our eyes.”
“Do I worry you?” she asked in disbelief.
“More than you know.” With that, he spun on his heel and headed out of the room, stopping at the doorway. “I’ll make dinner tonight.”
“You don’t trust me to cook?”
“Let’s just say I’ll be sure what goes into it if I make it.”
“I’ll have you know I’m a very good cook.” It was basic organic chemistry and she’d had that particular subject down before she’d been out of training bras.
“When you aren’t switching ingredients on the unsuspecting.”
“I told you, he deserved it.”
“And I don’t.”
“Not yet,” she couldn’t resist saying.
He laughed again and she decided that sound could become more addictive than McDonald’s French fries.
CHAPTER 2
Max julienne sliced the carrots while he reminded himself of all the reasons why the sexy little doctoral student currently studying in the living room was off limits.
One—despite her advanced education, she was six years younger than he. Two—that education disparity was just another reason that nothing between them could work. After barely graduating high school, he’d gone directly into the Marines and learned how to kill people. No amount of reading and online courses since then could bridge the gap between the two of them.
And hell, why bridge a gap for a casual fling?