Free My Heart's Passion by Elizabeth Lapthorne Page A

swallowed the brief flare of panic she felt at the heated lust raging in Samuel’s eyes. She sincerely hoped she wasn’t playing with the proverbial fire. A girl would have to be blind not to notice the stupendously erect cock inside his jeans, and from the look of wild lust shining in his eyes, Samuel was more than ready to explode at any given second.
    The scent of tomatoes and meaty pasta wafted into the small living room from the kitchen. The normal, delicious scent helped her regain her equilibrium, and gather her nerves tightly under control. Sniffing appreciatively, she smiled as she turned back to her host, nerves fully under control.
    “That smells delicious. I didn’t realize you could cook.”
    Even though the grin Samuel gave her was half-hearted, it still took her breath away. Damn the man for being so sexy, I can’t keep on losing my mind every time he looks at me.
    “Gramps made sure all four of us could cook. Insisted it was a life skill. That’s my infamous lasagna you smell. A rare treat indeed.”
    Chloe smiled. “Well, I am truly appreciative. Let’s eat while we play, hmm?”
    She slowly followed him into the small kitchen, prepared to help out in any way. She noticed the two dinner plates already set out with salads, and stood back to watch as Samuel put on oven mitts and withdrew a huge dish of lasagna from the oven. A flick of his wrist turned the gas off, and Chloe stared at the enormous dish.
    “I really hope you’re eating most of that. It looks fantastic, but it would take me over a week to get through even half of that.”
    Samuel chuckled. “I always make twice as much lasagna as I need. The kids always come over for leftovers—they can scent my lasagna from a mile away—and I, myself, enjoy eating it cold for breakfast or lunch the following day.”
    Nodding, Chloe watched as he expertly sliced two large portions, and took the plate he offered her. With cutlery and napkins, she followed him back into the living room where a coffee table had been drawn up with the box of cards sitting in its middle.
    She took her seat next to him on the couch, at the other end so they both had room to spread out a little and start their lasagna.
    Chloe blew on it a moment, enjoying the fresh, steamy pasta smell. So very fresh from the oven, she knew intellectually it was too hot to eat, but it smelled too good to wait around for.
    Blowing as daintily as she could onto the piece on her fork, she finally decided to risk burning her mouth and she took her first bite. Without even meaning to, she closed her eyes in ecstasy as the meat, tomato and parmesan mixed and melted on her tongue.
    It was delicious! The pasta was soft but not limp, the tomato sauce accentuated the meaty bolognaise making it seem more hearty and richer. Cheese had been liberally strewn over the top and throughout the meaty sauce so it dripped over the side of the slice and meshed with her salad.
    Altogether it was a decadent, delicious slice of lasagna, the best she had ever tasted.
    Chloe swiped her tongue out to catch the parmesan as it threatened to drip out of her mouth. Picking up a fresh roll from the basket Samuel had carried over with him from the kitchen, she dunked it unceremoniously into the meaty sauce oozing out the side of her slice of lasagna.
    Either Samuel had been given help, or he was the best lasagna maker she had ever met. Considering his pride in the dish, she felt it a fair bet to think he had made it from scratch himself.
    After a number of mouthfuls, she managed, “This is fantastic. Is the recipe a family secret, or can you teach me it later?”
    Samuel smiled. “It’s not exactly a secret, but it’s not written down, either. I can jot it down for you and try to show you another time.”
    That said, they both dug back into their respective plates. All too soon she was full to bursting and had to sit back, placing her hand on her belly.
    “If I eat another bite I’m going to explode, but it’s just so