Dreaming still, she turned her head, brushed her lips over his hair as her hand trailed up and down his back, while they lay quiet. When he shifted, she curled against his side. His arm came around to wrap. Drifting, he didn’t make the connection that affection had tangled with heat, on both sides.

“I guess I should put those steaks on.”

“I could eat. But I think I’ll need my dress.”

“You look good without it, but it’s a nice dress. I’ll get it.”

“And my purse?”

“What for?”

“I need to make a few repairs.”

He frowned at her. “What for?” he repeated. “You look good.”

“It’ll take me five minutes to look better.”

She could already wring every beat out of a man’s heart, but he shrugged and went downstairs. The dress smelled like her, he thought, sniffing at it as he hunted down her bag in the kitchen.

D.A., the rawhide—worse for wear—still clamped in his teeth, gave him a look that said: I know what you’ve been doing.

“You’re just jealous.” He carted the dress and purse upstairs where she sat on the bed, knees drawn in. When she smiled, he wanted to jump her again.

“Thanks. I’ll be right down, give you a hand.”

“Okay, but it’s no big deal.”

He left her alone before he broke and climbed on her again.

True to her word, she was done in five. “I don’t see any difference except for the dress.”

“Good. You’re not supposed to.”

“How do you like your steak?”

“Rare.”

“That makes it simple.” He tossed a couple of enormous potatoes in the microwave, punched buttons, then pulled the salad out of the fridge.

“Would you like me to dress that?”

“I got a bottle of Italian and a bottle of blue cheese.”

Considering, she poked her head in the fridge, took stock. “I can do better, if you’ve got olive oil.”

“Yeah. Up there.” He pointed to a cabinet.

She opened the cabinet, found a couple other things that met with her approval and took them out. “Little bowl, a whisk?”

“I got the bowl.”

“That and a fork then.”

She went to work, smooth and quick, and looked nothing like a woman who’d fogged his brain only minutes before. He left her to throw the steaks on. When he stepped back in, she was tossing the salad. “I couldn’t find your salad set.”

“I don’t have one. I use forks.”

“Well then.” She angled the forks she’d used in the bowl.

“I thought we’d eat out on the deck.”

“Perfect.” She carried out the salad, went back for plates, flatware. By the time he pulled the steaks off the grill, she’d set the table—with the flowers—topped off their wine. She’d managed to find his butter, sour cream, salt, pepper. And plated the potatoes.