This Love (Cowboys & Angels 6)

He stared at me, and I knew he hadn’t understood what I had just said. I wanted to giggle. If I spoke too fast for him, he would give me that look.

I spoke again, this time slower. “Don’t they belong with the crisps?”

He shrugged. “I have no clue what a crisps is. Looks like someone left them here. Probably a mom who found them in her cart and tossed them out.”

“Smart mom,” I replied with a chuckle.

Cord set the bag down. “So, what’s on the menu for dinner tonight, chef?”

I grabbed some garlic and lemons and headed over to the seafood section.

“Honey garlic salmon.”

“Shit, that’s making my mouth water already.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled. I loved cooking and having someone who appreciated it was nice. My old boyfriend, Sean, thought it was strange that I wanted to cook for him, especially when my parents had a full-time cook on staff. His thought that because we were one of the wealthiest families in Ireland, we should have people cooking for us, not the other way around.

“What do you have in your basket?” I asked.

He held it behind his back. “None of your business. You stick with what you’re making, and I’ll stick with my little surprise. I’ve got to go to the frozen food section. I’ll find you in a second.”

Lifting me eyes, I replied, “I’m intrigued.”

He winked. “You should be.”

Cord checked out separately, not letting me see what he bought for dessert. I was curious as hell, but I was acting like I had no interest, which was driving him crazy.

“Is there a cast iron pan?” I asked, searching through the cabinets.

“Down to the left of the stove.”

I bent down and found it. Placing it on the stove, I turned back to me ingredients and got to work.

“Want some music on?” Cord asked.

“Yes! I love to listen to music while I cook.”

There was a small Bose speaker on the counter, and Cord synced his phone to it. I didn’t recognize the song that started.

“What song is this?”

Cord dropped what looked like an ice cream sandwich onto the island.

“You don’t know this song?”

I shook me head. “Who’s the singer?”

Clutching his chest, Cord stumbled back. “What! You don’t know who Foreigner is?”

“Must you be so dramatic, Cord?”

“It’s Foreigner, Maebh!”

Wrinkling me nose, I added, “Is this an old band? It sounds like old music.”

“You’re kidding, right? I’m not sure I can date a woman who doesn’t know classic rock.”

I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know him.”

“Them! Them! It’s a band.”

I couldn’t help but giggle. He looked so cute standing there with a shocked expression. The urge to kiss him was unbearable, but I glanced back to the food I was preparing while Cord went on mumbling about how I didn’t know one of the most iconic bands in history.

“Boston? Do you know who they are?”

“As in the city?”

He rolled his eyes and hit something on his phone. Another older-sounding song played.

“I take it this is Boston?”

His face fell. “You’re killing me.”

Smiling, I went back to chopping the garlic and cutting the lemons.

After the cast iron was heated, I put the salmon in and poured me sauce on it. A catchy song was playing so I danced a little as I moved about the kitchen. It was a country song. I found meself liking country since I’d moved to Texas and had even taken a two-step dance class in San Antonio.

“You like this song, agra?”

Me heart skipped a beat at the endearment.

“I do. It’s catchy.”

He grinned. “You want to dance with me?”

Turning the salmon down, I faced him to say yes, but paused when I saw him. He was leaning against the counter looking handsome as ever. Before we’d started with dinner preparations, he’d changed into jeans and a black T-shirt, and the way his arms crossed his chest made it appear even bigger. I swallowed hard while me eyes explored his body.

“Yes,” I finally managed to say.

Cord hit something on his phone and held his hand out for me. The moment the song started, I chuckled. Never mind that it was slow and sensual; it described our relationship perfectly.

“You trying to tell me something?” I asked as he pulled me into his arms.

“Maybe,” he whispered against me lips, hovering there and not kissing me. Our eyes stayed locked as Cord started to move and me body mimicked his. Our bodies were like one, swaying and dipping in a slow salsa dance. I’d danced close to a man before, but never so sexual as this. It felt thrilling, and it turned me on. When the chorus started he pushed me out and spun me before drawing me back to him.

When he started to sing about his heart being in danger, I nearly melted. Our eyes never broke apart. He would smile during certain parts of the song and each time me breath would hitch, and I found meself struggling for air.