Forever After (Montana Brides) by Leeanna Morgan Page B

trouble. But they weren’t going to have sex. Not even a kiss. Never again. Nicky bit her lip. “We were supposed to be going out, not staying at your place.”
    “I don’t recall mentioning where I’d be taking you. Anyway, I’m hungry. There’s no way I’m going to wait another hour for something to eat.” Sam threw snow peas and mushrooms into the wok, keeping his back to her as he flicked the food around. “I’m about two minutes away from being ready. If you want something to eat, help yourself to a plate from the pantry.”
    Her nose twitched at the delicious smells wafting through his apartment. “What happened to the kitchen phobic executive?”  
    A grin spread across Sam’s face. “I got sick of eating out. Unless I wanted to live on toast for the rest of my life, I needed to learn how to cook. So I did.”
    “Cook?”
    “Yep.” He puffed out his chest. “And if I say so myself, I’m pretty darn good.”
    Her shocked gaze studied him from head to foot. “Is this the same man who refused to buy anything that didn’t come in a cereal box? I thought you’d be allergic to saucepans for life.”  
    “What can I say? Evolution is a splendid thing.” Sam turned back to the stove. “Last chance. I’m dishing up now.” Tipping the wok on its side, he slid a pile of fresh veggies onto a plate. Two more plates appeared out of the oven. Juicy strips of chicken and fluffy rice joined the vegetables. “I won’t think any less of you if you change your mind,” he smiled.  
    Nicky looked at the food, and then looked at Sam. Any woman with half a brain would run a mile from the warm brown eyes laughing at her. Candles, flowers, and a man holding a wok full of delicious food did not constitute a business meeting.
    She sniffed the air again. “I may live to regret this, but go ahead. Food it is.”
    He didn’t say a word, but the smile hovering on his lips set her nerves on edge. Sam Delaney was trouble, and she’d just stepped straight in the path of a level five tornado.  
    Balancing a bowl of hot rice in her hands, Nicky moved across to the dining table. “How was your trip to Wyoming?”
    “Hot but useful. We start construction on a large retirement village in a couple of months and there were a few issues I had to sort out.” He followed with the rest of their meal, returning to the kitchen for a bottle of wine.  
    Nicky’s head shot up when most of the lights in the apartment flicked off, leaving the soft glow of candles and two table lamps to light the room.  
    “You’re glaring at me.” Sam grinned.
    “No kidding.” He stood beside her chair, filling her glass with cold white wine and her body with warm tingly thoughts that had no place cavorting inside her head.  
    Even if his manners were impeccable, his romance radar needed a major overhaul. A romantic dinner for two this wasn’t. The sooner he remembered that the better off both of them would be. “Don’t think I can’t see past your ulterior motives, Samuel Delaney. I’ll eat your food and talk business, but I’m not taking anything else you might be offering.”  
    Nicky hoped he didn’t pay too much attention to the throbbing pulse bouncing around like a gymnast in her throat. Looking like a mature woman of the world rather than a hormonal hussy fighting to be set free took a great deal of effort.  
    More effort than giving in to the not so innocent thoughts jamming her brain.  
    The amused gleam in his eye told her Sam wasn’t fooled. Not for one minute.  
    With more speed than grace she leapt out of her chair, heading toward a panel of switches on the kitchen wall. With a flick of her wrist she turned on every light in the room until the ceiling glowed like an airport runway. Sam hadn’t moved from beside her chair.  
    Nicky walked back toward him, concentrating on the food sitting on the table instead of the smile plastered across his face.  
    “I’m not offering anything else.” Sam’s finger lightly