While she sipped her Chablis, Sam set to work with a huge wok, a large supply of fresh vegetables, and a sharp cleaver.

It had been hours since she’d last eaten, and the first glass of wine went straight to her head. “Here, let me help,” she offered, slipping off the stool.

“No you don’t. You’re my guest,” Sam insisted, noting the way her cheeks were reddening. She was already a little tipsy.

He refilled her glass, and she sat down again and took another sip. “So you don’t want my help. Have you been talking to the fire department?”

“No.” Sam chuckled and set about slicing the vegetables in neat, even sections. “This is a recipe a friend of mine from Hong Kong taught me several years back. It’s authentic and delicious.”

“Is there anything you can’t do?” she asked, only a little intimidated.

“A few things.”

She sighed, crossed her legs, and sipped some more wine. “My grandmother used to do all the cooking.”

“Your grandmother?” he prompted. She rarely talked about her childhood, he’d noticed.

“Jody and I went to live with her after Mom and Dad were killed in a car accident.”

“How old were you?”

“Twelve going on twenty. Grandma loved us, don’t get me wrong. She tried to make a decent home for the two of us, but she was old, and her health wasn’t good. The main problem was money. Grandma took care of Jody and the house, and I found work to bring in extra income.”

Sam reached for the wine bottle and replenished her glass. The Chablis was loosening her tongue.

“So your grandmother raised the two of you?”

She nodded, holding the stem of the glass with both hands. “Right. This room feels awfully warm?” she said, and fanned her face.

Suppressing a smile, he gazed at her, trying not to laugh outright. “I think I’d better feed you, and the sooner the better.”

“I’d rather you kissed me,” she told him, then blinked and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oops, I didn’t mean to say that.”

Sam pushed the vegetables aside. “Did you mean it?”

Sheepishly, she nodded. “I think the wine’s gone to my head.”

“I think so, too.” He walked around to stand directly in front of her. His smile was filled with confident amusement.

Her dark eyes followed his movements and innocently pleaded with him for a kiss. Unable to resist her, he leaned forward and gently covered her mouth with his own. His intention had been to appease her until he’d finished stir-frying their dinner, but the instant his lips met hers, he was lost. He deepened the kiss, his lips playing over hers as though she were a rare musical instrument.