Free Mirepoix (A Recipe Of Love Book 1) by Paige Conners

jump off the counter but he won’t move out of the way. I’m momentarily distracted by the fact that if he stepped forward the slightest bit, his face would be right in my boobs. Maybe I should accidentally fall and you know his face could catch them. Before I can get myself into trouble he’s lifting me holding onto me under the armpits, I grab his shoulders for balance, and he places me on the floor like I weigh nothing. Tonight’s shirt is a black thermal long sleeve henley, the top buttons undone showing ink peeking out. It’s not as soft as the t-shirt from the other day but it does show off his build better. It’s a tossup of which I prefer.
    “Hey Frankie, snap out of it. I’m sure his shirt is soft and if you ask him, he would tell you where he got it.” Luckily my friends are used to my quirks and will do their best to remind me to be normal. Also Lindsay at least gave an excuse for me petting other than the strong muscles pressed against me.
    “Nuh huh I asked him who made his soap, and he still hasn’t told me.” I turn as I’m saying this, so now I have all of his muscled heat behind me. I have to keep reminding myself not to back up and rub against him like a cat. He’s so tall he could wrap his arms around me over my shoulders completely enveloping me in his scent.
    “If I told you who made it, you could go buy it and sniff the bottle instead of me.” He says practically against the crown of my head. I lean my head back to see the look on his face to see if he’s serious or picking on me. I forgot how close he was and my head bumps into his chest, throwing me slightly off balance. He quickly wraps his arm around me tucking me into his side.
    I quickly look at Lindsay, this seems like very flirty behavior and I need her to confirm if it is. In the way of best friends we have a quick conversation without words. I look down at his arm around me, then at her and raise my eyebrows, she gives me a subtly nod that yes this is very flirty behavior. We have had to come up with this system in the past due to me being oblivious to casual flirting. I don’t believe the guy would actually flirt with me, and convince myself that it’s all in my head, then Lindsay would lecture me later that I missed not only subtly body language clues but casually flirty actions. I would kick myself later and despair that the guy might have been the one and I’m such a dork I messed it up.
    I look back to Joe’s face and see he’s looking amused but it seems to be honest and not mocking, plus his arm is still around me crossing my back and holding onto my hip. He leads me around the counter to the stool next to Lindsay’s, never removing his hand until he gets me fully settled. He snags my wine glass and hands it to me before offering Lindsay a handshake. His other hand runs down my back and settles on my lower back, I quickly take a gulp of wine in defense.
    “So Joe, how did you like the lunch Frankie brought you?” Lindsay asks making very direct eye contact. I immediately start coughing as the sip I just took goes down the wrong tube when I gasped at her audacity, temporarily forgetting I can’t breath and drink at the same time as I'm not a fish. Joe pats me on the back and rubs calming circles helping me get over the fit.
    “It was delicious, it would have been better if she were with me.”
    I peek up at him and see instead of looking at Lindsay he’s looking down at me. His face looks soft with equal parts concern and honesty. His hand has returned to the small of my back, he nods at me affirming what he said nonverbally before kissing me softly on the forehead. I close my eyes to better absorb the sensation and commit them to memory. He smells like cedar wood again. I can feel his warm breath on my forehead and a his lips are soft and smooth. I open my eyes when I hear Lindsay hop off her bar stool.
    “Alright guys, I need to get upstairs. I have some media blasts I need to get coded and ready to send out.