Free My Ex-Boyfriend's Wedding by T. Sue VerSteeg

brief kiss sparked a jolt of excitement through her entire body.
    "Whew." Tony pulled his door shut and put the car into drive. "I was referring to my pasta, but this beats anything I can cook." He turned an ornery side-gaze toward her. "In the kitchen, anyway."
    His house, only a short drive from the church, exceeded anything Jemma could have imagined. A two story all brick home, complete with wooden shake shingles, filled the hillside as they drove onto the long, circular drive. Tony took a small lane around the side and into a three stall garage that branched off of the back of the house. They pulled into the far bay, and she admired the new Jeep Wrangler parked next to them. Hurrying around to her door, Tony grabbed the handle as she pushed it open. He shook his head in temporary defeat and offered her his hand. Jemma accepted it graciously and stood up next to him.
    Their gazes locked as Tony gripped her waist and gently pressed her against the cool metal of the neighboring SUV.
    His eyes narrowed as he dropped his forehead against hers. "You started this. I just want to make that clear."
    Jemma feigned innocence, though obviously not well enough to convince him. Not that she really wanted to, either.
    His lips brushed against hers, and his body did much the same. The room seemed to sway as his lips parted against hers. Fingers inched down her body until they found her hands, entwining with hers. He slowly guided her arms up over her head and pressed them against the glass of the vehicle.
    Jemma released a soft sigh of pleasure into his mouth.
    A beeping noise burst the fragile bubble. Tony stopped kissing her and placed his forehead against hers again. "Chicken's done."
    "Well, we don't want it to go to waste," Jemma said, a weak smile her only attempt to cover her disappointment.
    Letting go of one hand and tugging her along by the other, Tony escorted her through the laundry room off of the garage and into his kitchen. He pulled out a chair for her at the center bar and walked around to the stove to remove the chicken before it burned.
    Jemma soaked in her surroundings with awe. They shared a love for stainless steel in their kitchens. All of his appliances were stainless, as well as his sink and huge exhaust fan over the massive gas cook stove. Dark gray marble countertops accented his deep cherry cabinets. Enormous, the kitchen would take up her whole apartment.
    "Your kitchen is gorgeous." She propped her elbows on the counter, placed her chin in her palms, and watched him remove the baked chicken breasts from the pan and put them onto a serving tray.
    "Thanks. I spend most of my time in here, so I figured I should make sure it was precisely what I wanted. I love to cook."
    Please tell me you love cleaning up afterward, too.
    "If I didn't have to do dishes and clean the kitchen later, I'd have gourmet meals every day."
    Damn, so close.
    "Cooking is not something I've ever really excelled at. I'm not sure where I went wrong. My mother is an excellent cook. Still, I know how to make the basics and can get by." Jemma inhaled the enticing aroma, and a hint of lemon pepper made her salivate. "Is there anything I can help with?"
    "No, as a matter of fact, follow me." Tony reached for her hand, and she laced her fingers with his.
    "Is this because of my cooking comment? I promise I've never killed anyone."
    Tony chuckled in response but kept tugging her along.
    They passed through a dining room with dark blue walls and a large, ornate cherry wood table surrounded by eight matching chairs. A simple, yet elegant chandelier hung over it, the crystals casting sparkly patterns throughout the room. An elaborate china hutch held a set of gorgeous dinnerware embossed with ivy and trimmed in gold. When they entered the living room, Jemma's breath caught in her chest. An enormous fireplace stopped her in her tracks. The stones resembled those of an old castle.
    Tony switched his gaze between her and the fireplace then waggled a