Last Promise by Scarlett Dunn

wrap his arms around her waist and pull her to him. She smelled good, almost good enough to eat. He saw himself leaning over and planting small kisses on her neck. “You smell better than these mashed potatoes.”
    She kept her eyes on the steak. “Thank you.” He smelled good too, like sunshine and leather. She could feel the muscles flexing in his arm as he worked.
    â€œTime to turn.”
    She stared up at him and he smiled at her. His teeth were perfectly straight and very white. Is there anything about him that isn’t attractive? “Turn?” she questioned.
    He put his hand over hers and speared the steak in her skillet and flipped it over.
    â€œOh.” His large hand on top of hers was surprisingly gentle.
    Eb walked into the room and handed Luke another returned steak. “We have orders for eight more steaks.”
    â€œWe’ll get them done,” Luke told him. He grabbed another huge iron skillet hanging over the stove and placed it over the flames.
    â€œIsn’t anyone ordering anything other than steaks?” Mary Ann asked.
    â€œNo,” Luke answered.
    â€œLuke said they could only order steaks tonight,” Eb put in.
    â€œBut why?”
    Luke winked at Mary Ann. “That’s the best thing I can cook.”
    This was a night filled with firsts for Mary Ann. No man had ever winked at her, and she didn’t know what it was about that particular gesture, but it stirred her insides. She told herself that he probably winked at every woman he saw, but her heart started doing flip-flops all the same.
    Luke stabbed the sizzling steak in the skillet and tossed it on a plate, adding some potatoes and a biscuit before passing it to Eb. “This is for that loudmouth in the dining room, Eb.”
    Eb’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Luke. Maybe this will shut him up.”
    â€œIf it doesn’t, come and get me.”
    Mary Ann turned her eyes on him. “Was someone upset?”
    â€œNothing to worry about.” He picked up a fork, scooped it into the potatoes and then held the creamy mound to her mouth. “Tell me if they’re good.”
    She nibbled the potatoes off the fork. “Oh, yes, very good.”
    When she licked her lips Luke wanted to pick her up and start nibbling on her. “More?” His voice sounded strange to his own ears.
    The way Luke was looking at her mouth, she was certain he was about to kiss her. And to her surprise, she didn’t think she would have objected. “Later, we need to get started on the other steaks.”
    I’d like to start on you, he thought.
    â€œHow did you learn to cook?”
    â€œI’ve traveled around some and if I didn’t cook, I didn’t eat. Sometimes we are out on the range for weeks at a time and we don’t always bring a cook with us. Did you cook at home?”
    Mary Ann laughed. “Heavens no. Father would have never allowed that. We had several cooks.”
    He turned from the stove and reached for a biscuit off the table. When he saw her watching him, he said, “I need to keep up my strength.” He took a big bite and offered the remainder to her.
    â€œNo, thank you.”
    He loved a good biscuit and these were soft and fluffy on the inside and the top perfectly golden brown. He could have eaten the whole platter. “How did you learn to make biscuits?”
    â€œLillian taught me. She’s the wife of the man who managed the way station in Missouri where we spent the night. I told her they were the best biscuits I ever ate and she was kind enough to show me how to make them. We didn’t sleep at all that night, we just talked. I don’t think she sees many women and she was thrilled to have company. She was a lovely woman.”
    If he was with her all night they wouldn’t be talking. “Will you make more so I can have some for dinner later?”
    â€œOf course.” She was delighted he liked them. “It’s