Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (4 page)

And now this beautiful, mocha distraction in front of him wasn’t helping. He’d never had a type. All women were amazing to him. Soft and warm and at his beck and call. This woman was tough and hard and certainly not falling for his charms.

He put a pot on the stove, put oil in the bottom and began to heat it. Pulling butter out of the refrigerator he emptied half the stick into smaller pot and put a small flame under it to melt it. Then he poured the popcorn into the other pot and placed the lid on it.

When he glanced over his shoulder at her, she was watching him. She didn’t flinch or pretend she wasn’t. She didn’t go back to looking at her computer as if she’d been doing it all along.

She just moved her gaze from him back to her screen. As if she meant to be staring at him. Was she checking out his ass? He’d been told more than once he had a nice one.

He turned back to the pot as the popcorn began to pop. He shook the pot once and then checked on the butter. That was done so he turned off the burner. The popcorn finished popping in a flurry of noise. Not unlike an orgasm with a few aftershocks for good measure.

Why the hell did he think of it that way?

Probably because there was a sexy woman in the kitchen. She had strength and confidence and she had no idea she was sexy. At least she didn’t carry herself like she thought she was attractive.

He doubted she ever thought about her looks.

He poured the popcorn into a bowl then placed it onto the counter next to her. He slid his butt onto a stool one away from hers. “You’re doing background checks? Let me know if you have any questions.”

“This is just a preliminary one. I have a private investigator to do a more thorough one.”

“Well, my assistant was in jail. He served time when he was younger.”

She wrote on a notepad. “Thanks for letting me know. It might have been a red flag.”

“I figured.”

***

Colin had been right. The melted butter did smell good. Especially right next to her. He took a small handful from the bowl and then tossed the kernels into his mouth. She watched him chew and how his Adam’s apple went up and down when he swallowed.

He had a long neck. Regal, almost.

Damn. Her gaze went back to her screen.

“You can have some. I’ll share.”

She shook her head. “I’ll get butter on my keyboard.”

“Then stop working for a few minutes and eat.”

Sounded so easy. Just decide to do it and then do it. As if all of life was that easy. Life probably was that easy when you made the big bucks that this guy did. “I’m working.”

“Then stop for five minutes and enjoy a few handfuls of popcorn. Then you can wash your hands and go back to work.”

“Why is it so important to you? It’s just popcorn?”

The whole discussion was taking her attention away from the background checks she wanted to begin. She had to send the list he’d made to her private investigator. She would do her own Google search too. No stone left unturned.

“Because you strike me as someone that is so serious that you’re going to crack at some point in your life.”

“So you’re concerned about my mental health?”

“Something like that.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine.”

What was this guy’s problem? Was he so used to getting his way that he couldn’t handle any resistance at all? What a spoiled brat.

“I’m just asking you to share my popcorn with me. I don’t understand what the big deal is.”

“The big deal is that you probably get everyone around you to jump when you snap your fingers. I have no desire for your popcorn and as much as I am working for you, I am no sycophant.”

“Sycophant? Holy crap. It’s just a bowl of popcorn.”

He grabbed the bowl and walked out of the kitchen.

***

The next morning Kelly was awakened by her cell phone. Not a work ring but her daughter. She had to admit, she was a little relieved.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi, Mom. We got in late. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“What were you guys up to?”

“We waited in line for the newest iPhone.”

“Did you get it?”

Her ex had family money and could provide so many luxuries for her daughter. She wished he’d discussed with her getting their daughter a new phone. It was his money but she didn’t want her daughter growing up spoiled.

“Yes we did. It’s so cool. All my friends at school will be jealous.”

That didn’t warm her heart. Her ex-husband thought their daughter should have the best of everything. Nothing but the best of things, whereas Kelly wanted her daughter to know she was loved and be confident because of that.

That issue was one of the biggest reasons she’d divorced her husband.

That and he was a lying snake who cheated on her. She shook away those thoughts and went to a happy place in her mind. The marriage was done. She’d moved on. No one would take her heart and stomp on it again.

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy with it. You’ll be home in a few hours?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“I should be done with my work, but I’ll let you know if something comes up. Then if your Dad is okay you can spend some more time with him.”

She had to supervise the installation of the electronic devices in Colin Brennan’s house. Should she tell her daughter? Would that give her street cred? No, that was her ex’s game. No need to play it.

She had her daughter’s love. No need to question it. No need to play games to impress her.

“I’ll let him know. You need to talk to him?”

“No, honey as long as you don’t mind being the messenger in this case. Otherwise I will talk to him.”

“I don’t mind. You aren’t fighting. That’s all that matters.”

No, they didn’t fight anymore. Well, they did, but they did not involve Sophie. “You enjoy the rest of the morning.”

“You, too. Love you Mom.”

***

Colin didn’t know why the bowl of popcorn had developed into something tense between him and Tamra. It was a damn bowl of popcorn. Why had he stuck with it? He could have walked away sooner. He could have not made a big deal about it.

Nor did he have sycophants around him. That was like a burr under his saddle that she’d said that. She knew nothing about it. She’d already decided who he was and that was why she hadn’t responded to his flirting.

But he didn’t flirt with everyone. Not by a long shot. He was nice to fans. He didn’t have a bad reputation as difficult. Why was Tamra so sure that he was?

Guess he’d have to apologize. He hadn’t ended up enjoying the popcorn anyway. It didn’t taste  good after their argument.

Thankfully he didn’t need much sleep so after five hours, he was up and running on his treadmill. Then breakfast and he hoped that Tamra was still here. Maybe he’d cook her breakfast.

Everyone had to eat. Even hard asses like Tamra.

She was still plunking away at her computer when he entered the kitchen. He’d showered. Had she sat there all night?

He dropped the empty popcorn bowl in the sink and then turned to her. Leaning against the counter, he crossed his arm in front of him. A defensive posture he knew, but he wasn’t sure what to do with his body parts.

Well, there was one body part he knew what he wanted to do with, but Tamra didn’t seem amenable to that.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said.

Tamra’s fingers paused over her keyboard. She blinked then her gaze trudged up to him. “For what?”

He resisted putting a hand on his chest. The encounter had meant more to him than to her. Now he felt like a complete dork for apologizing. Well, he was in it now. He couldn’t back down. “For making a big deal about the popcorn. I wasn’t trying to piss you off.”

“You didn’t piss me off.”

“Yeah, I did.” He put up his hands when she went to protest. “Don’t deny it. You were at the very least irritated by me. That was not intention. I’ll try to stop being a child.”

“Uh, okay.”

He turned the heat on under a pan. “I’m making breakfast. I can make some for you too.”

“No, thanks.”

He turned back around. She hadn’t stopped staring at him. Nor did she look away guiltily as if she shouldn’t have been staring at him. No, she looked at him like a specimen under a microscope instead of a sexy man.

Hell, he’d been voted sexiest man alive and this woman was not reacting to him, well, like a woman. He found that exasperating and refreshing at the same time. “Are you not allowed to eat on the job?”

She went back to her typing. “No, I’ll eat later.”

“I don’t want to argue again but I’m making breakfast. Let me make you some.”

“Will you be quiet if I do?”

He smiled. “Sure.”

“Then I’ll take some of what you’re having.”

***

For Tamra it was like going home to her mother. This guy kept trying to stuff her with food. For her mother it was love and maybe some guilt. She had no idea what this guy’s problem was.

Whatever it was, he was now silently making her breakfast and she was able to finish her report for the night. Kelly would be here any minute and Tamra could go home and catch a few hours of sleep.

Thankfully Colin didn’t whistle while he worked. The smell from whatever he was making wafted over to Tamra making her stomach rumble.

He glanced over his shoulder at her, a rakish grin on his face. Probably thinking I told you so. A few minutes later, he put a plate down next to her computer. Next, he placed silverware and a cloth napkin near the plate.

He still hadn’t said a word. She had a few more sentences to type before she could eat. Now that she was hungry.

“Eat,” he said. “Before it gets cold.”

“I just have a few more things to do.”

“I’d rather you enjoy it while it’s hot.”

“It’s just food. Now let me finish.” She typed the last few sentences then closed her laptop. She pushed it away then lifted up her fork. Colin was staring at her.  “What?”

“Just food?”

She shrugged. She could take or leave eating. She only did it because she had to. There was no joy in eating for her. Most of the time she heated up something frozen or called for takeout. Food was merely fuel.

She took a bite and registered that she was eating a pretty good omelet. Tasty cheese and fluffy. He ate his in silence, but she could see out of her peripheral vision that he was sending glances her way.

Finally she had enough “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because food is part of life. It’s this amazing part of life. We have to eat several times a day. Why not enjoy it?”

“I never thought about it that way. Eating is something necessary.”

“You make it sound like a necessary evil.”

“Well, yeah. If I didn’t have to eat I could get more done in a day.”

He frowned and went back to his food. The doorbell rang as she was finishing up. “I’ll get it.”

*

Kelly waited at the door, a large box in her hand. A few years ago, before she was able to do this wirelessly, the box would have been much bigger. She wanted to get started so she’d be done by the time her daughter came home.

She missed her daughter when she spent time with her father. Even though she was glad her ex was a good father, she wished things were different. Shrugging, she shoved the thoughts away. No need to rehash old business.

Time to focus on new business. This client could do good things for their company.

Tamra answered the door. “Hey.”

“Quiet night I hope.”

“Yep,” she said as she led Kelly to the kitchen.

“Can I set up my stuff in the dining room? There’s a nice big table there that will make a good work space,” she said.

Colin nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll be in the basement studio most of the day.”

“Then we won’t get in each other’s way.”

Kelly noticed that there were two plates on the counter. Tamra had eaten with a client? She rarely crossed that line. Not that Kelly thought it was a line. Tamra did. She kept her private life closer to her than Kelly felt the need to.

Probably going back to her own stalker incident. Kelly didn’t judge.

“I’m heading out,” Tamra said as she packed up her laptop into a case.

Colin looked pained for a moment. “Will you get back to me about what you’ve found out about my employees?”

“It’ll take a few days,” Tamra said. “I’ll call you and let you know when I can come by. Does that work?”

“Sure,” he said.

She left and he looked like a lost puppy dog watching its owner go to work. Poor soul. He didn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell with Tamra. She was a single girl who was going to stay that way.

Kelly unpacked her box in the dining room. Colin stood in the doorway. She had to admit it would be fun to watch the situation.

“Do you have any questions?” Kelly asked.