Unraveled (Mastered 3)

Sweet Jesus. These little glimpses into her were killing him. So when her hand dropped away, he didn’t let her off that easily. He slipped his fingers through hers. She didn’t protest when he towed her behind him as they headed to the kitchen. “I cook, but I didn’t need all the fancy appliances that go into most houses these days.”

“I like this breakfast bar and eat-in kitchen,” she said.

“I got rid of the formal dining room, and it opened up the space between here and the living room.” They cut down the wide hallway. “This is a three-bedroom house, but because I’m a single guy who doesn’t give a rip about decorating, I won’t show you the two rooms filled with crap.”

She laughed.

Knox opened the last door. “Here’s my bedroom.”

Shiori let go of his hand and stepped into the room. Then she looked over her shoulder. “You and my brother must shop for beds in the same place, because this bed is as huge as his.”

He shrugged. “I’m a big guy. A king-sized bed is fine, but having a custom-made bed built for a king is even better.”

“Was this room this size originally?”

“Nope. There was a rear porch that was pretty useless, so I expanded into that space. That allowed me to put in a master bathroom.” He gestured to the door to the right of the bed. “Take a look.”

Her laughter echoed off the tile walls. “Totally a guy’s bathroom, Knox. I love it.”

He moved in behind her. The walk-in shower was big enough so he could stretch his arms out and not touch the walls. He’d had a teak bench put in so he could sit and enjoy the sauna option he’d added. His mother had joked he had more water jets in his shower than a carwash. But he hated freezing his ass off, and with so many adjustable showerheads, water hit every part of his body.

“So plain white tiles, huh?” she asked.

“It was cheaper. I put the money into the plumbing fixtures.”

“It’s nice.” She faced him and smiled. “But no place to take bubble baths?”

He snorted. “Do I look like a bubble-bath guy? I’ll show you the backyard.”

They backtracked to the kitchen and exited out a side door. He led her up the set of wooden steps to the deck he’d built the first year he’d lived in the house.

“You have a lot of yard space.”

“That’s the main reason I bought this place. You can’t find lots like this in metro Denver anymore.”

“There’s room for expansion after you get married and have a couple of kids. It’d be easy to add on bedrooms, a family room, and a mudroom for the dog. Back by the trees would be a perfect place for a swing set and those jungle-gym forts.”

He stilled. She’d voiced his thoughts perfectly.

Then she remembered herself. “Enough with the show-and-tell, Godan. Feed me.”

“With pleasure, Mistress B.”

She whacked him on the ass.

Inside the house, he said, “Have a seat at the breakfast bar and I’ll serve you.”

“That could be taken a couple of different ways.”

Knox leaned across the counter and let her see the heat in his eyes. “You say the word and I’ll offer whatever services you desire.”

“Let’s satisfy our appetite for food first,” she murmured.

He pulled the roast out of the slow cooker and set it on a plate, happy that the meat separated easily with just his fork. He scooped the potatoes, carrots, and onions into a bowl, then filled the gravy boat with the meat juices. “Help yourself. What would you like to drink?”

“Any flavor of soda is fine.”

After pouring her a Coke, he took the rolls out of the warmer and dumped them in a basket. When he glanced up, she hadn’t touched anything.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like pot roast?”

A sheepish smile appeared. “I don’t know since I’ve never had it.”

Knox forked meat onto her plate. Then potatoes and carrots. He smashed the vegetables down and poured the clear, flavorful juices over everything on the plate. “There. And you use the dinner rolls to sop up any extra bits.”

Shiori took a tentative bite and then closed her eyes. “God. That is so good.”

“Thanks. My mom’s recipe.” He loaded up his plate. That they didn’t talk during the meal didn’t feel awkward. Especially since she ate two plates of food.

She set her napkin down. “I’m done.”

“So no room for dessert?”