Free Sweet Escapes: Romance Story Boxed Set by Leighann Dobbs

my address. I'd like to treat you to dinner this time."
    "Ooh, your place. Should I bring chocolate? Or are you partial to whipped cream?"
    Snorting, Olivia rolled her eyes and smacked him playfully on the arm. "Oh, stop, you moron. See you tomorrow at seven."
     
    * * *
     
    "Okay," she mumbled aloud. "Everything's done I think."
    She frowned, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she checked over the food she'd just finished preparing. Something was missing.
    "Ah!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "I forgot the flippin' garlic toast!"
    With an exasperated sigh, she grabbed the loaf of french bread from the counter and a serrated knife from the block by the stove.
    "Time?" She checked her watch and her eyes widened. Jordan would be here any second, and she still hadn't changed clothes!
    Muttering beneath her breath about how out of it she was, Olivia left the bread on the counter, turned on the oven to let it pre-heat, and then rushed upstairs to change out of her shorts and tank top and into a comfortable summer dress.
    Simple and blue, it just happened to be her favorite.
    She kicked off her shoes and socks and slid her feet into a pair of white sandals, swept her hair up into a loose knot and then hurried back downstairs to the kitchen.
    No sooner had she begun to slice the bread than the doorbell rang.
    Olivia gave a little cry of dismay. Distracted beyond belief, she hurriedly arranged the bread slices on a pan before shoving them into the oven and rushing to the door.
    Dashing from the kitchen to answer the door, she called out, "Just one second!"
    She snatched open the door. "Ah, Jordan. Hi. Um. I've got bread in the oven so you'll have to excuse me for not taking this a little slower, but if I don't get back in there I'm afraid it'll burn and then dinner will be ruined and I'll never forgive myself. So just come on in and I'll be right back."
    Before Jordan could so much as blink, she disappeared around the corner.
    Glancing down at the flowers in his hand, he arched his brow. Well, that's a first, he thought. I've never come second to food before at least not like this.
    He stepped inside and shut the door, catching Olivia just before she crossed the threshold into the kitchen. Grabbing her by the elbow, he whirled her around to face him and her girly squeak of surprise was swallowed by his kiss.
    She tensed in his arms at first, but quickly relaxed.
    Jordan broke the kiss and smiled down at her. "Hi, Olivia. You look pretty this evening. I brought you flowers, and dinner smells amazing. I do have one question, though."
    Gaze guarded, she drew back in his embrace. "What?"
    Leaning his forehead against hers so they were looking at each other kind of cross-eyed with the tips of their noses touching, he asked, "Can we keep kissing and eat later?"
    Olivia laughed. "As tempting as that is, I'm afraid not. You see, I put too much into this dinner for it to get cold on account of your and I'm only guessing here insatiable appetite for kissing."
    Jordan pouted playfully. "How about just one more kiss, then?"
    Olivia pretended to be in deep thought. "Hmm. Oh, I suppose one kiss wouldn't hurt."
    The second before their lips touched, however, she pulled away and frowned. "Do you smell something?"
    "Smell what?" Jordan asked, disappointed at having her lips anywhere but against his.
    Her eyes flew wide. "Oh my God, the bread! It's burned!"
    She whirled out of his arms, dashed over to the oven, and pulled the pan with the charred bread from it, leaving Jordan standing alone in the middle of the kitchen.
    Uncertain how he should feel about being brushed aside for bread for the second time this evening, Jordan followed her. He knew how he felt about it, but he wasn't quite sure what he was feeling was appropriate. It was only bread, after all. Nothing to get worked up over.
    Perhaps the garlic toast was jealous, he chided, and had come up with a self-mutilation plan to snare Olivia's attention. He knew he would have...