Free Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5) by Kallypso Masters

convey the point of this meal. He took his seat on her right side.
    “It smells delicious. When did you make a food run?”
    “I haven’t left the place. You know I wouldn’t leave you alone. I made it from what you had on hand.”
    “From what you found in my brother’s kitchen? I haven’t had time to stock the pantry as well as I’d like yet, but his cooking skills are minimal. Worse than mine even.”
    “Yeah. I took inventory and found cans of tomatoes with green chiles, corn, and black beans, not to mention frozen chicken and other meats in the freezer. I remembered eating lots of dishes like this when I stayed with Carlos’s grandmother. It won’t be as delicious as hers, but I’m sure it’ll be edible.”
    She picked up the piece of bread. “You even made bread?”
    “Fry bread. A lot simpler than yeast breads in the oven. I’ve made fry bread lots of times, so I had that recipe in my head.”
    “Oh, I always see stands at the side of the road where they are selling fry bread. I just never stopped to try any.” She took a bite and closed her eyes as she chewed and swallowed. “Oh, my gosh. That’s incredible! I could get spoiled if you keep cooking for me. I’ve been staying here for weeks, but as you might have guessed, we don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Patrick and I tend to eat on the run.”
    “I do think a trip to the grocery store might be overdue.”
    “Ugh. I hate that even worse than cooking.” She picked up her fork and smiled before stabbing a piece of chicken. “But I love to eat.”
    He was anxious to see what she thought of his meal. True, the kitchen didn’t boast a lot, but he’d found plenty he could use to make a simple New Mexican dish like this one.
    She took a bite, and he waited. Again she closed her eyes and chewed slowly. The sensual way she enjoyed food turned him on. Okay, anything she did had that effect on him.
    She swallowed, opened her eyes, and smiled with approval. “That is the most incredible thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
    Don’t you fucking dare think about what else you want to put in her mouth.
    His dick didn’t get the message and strained against his jeans. His body responded to her like a teenager’s. Thank goodness the table hid his erection.
    He speared a piece of chicken and agreed that it tasted pretty good. He enjoyed cooking. A solitary pursuit, but it allowed him to be creative with ingredients. He rarely cooked with a recipe. His sister had taught him as a kid how to be self-sufficient and make do with what they had in the cupboards. His mom was usually at work when they came home from school and often didn’t quit until well after dark.
    “Oh, I forgot. A toast.” She lifted her glass and held it toward him. “Here’s to new friendships and many, many more delightful meals together.”
    Jesus, get me through this dinner and evening unscathed.

Chapter Seven

    M egan wondered why Ryder had become so stiff with her again, but decided nothing would spoil her enjoyment of this dinner. She could quickly get used to having someone see to her needs like this.
    Careful what you wish for, girl .
    Sure, she’d had a fabulous day with Ryder, but she had no business thinking about anything long-term. Friends, yes. She very much enjoyed being with Ryder, but they lived worlds apart.
    He belonged out in the mountains of the high desert. Her photo had captured the way his face relaxed and he exuded a sense of belonging when they were at the tunnels that made it abundantly clear that the rigid man seated beside her now wasn’t comfortable in her world.
    She needed to put an end to his misery and call Adam.
    “I sent Adam a text and told him everything was fine here. You will probably hear from him soon, letting you off the hook. I know you probably want to get home.”
    The expression on his face was anything but one of relief. Had she insulted him by calling an end to his mission, as he called it? While having him here to cook