Free Bound for Christmas by Yvette Hines Page A

when she’d had the thought of cooking for him if he’d bulk at the offer or not. Evan was the type of man that carried his deeper thoughts and emotions close to his chest.
    “Great. Follow me to the kitchen and you can pour the wine while I get the plates prepared.”
    He pulled his coat off and laid it on the back of the couch then smiled at her. “Lead the way.”
    Crossing the living room they entered her spacious kitchen. For an apartment it was a nice size and even had an alcove for a four person table. The only thing that would have made it even better is if they would have moved the large window by the sink to the wall where her table sat so she could enjoy breakfast with sunlight.
    “Your apartment is nice.” Evan said, picking up the bottle of red wine from the counter.
    She handed him the corkscrew from a drawer. “Thanks. I like it. Even though I’m rarely in it.” She gazed at him over her shoulder as she pulled plates from the cabinet. “I’ll confess that was also another reason I suggested we eat here, I don’t get to spend much time here and I never entertain. Except occasionally when my fellow nurses come over for the girls night of munches and movies every other month when schedules allow.”
    “Well, I’m glad this night will satisfy us both.”
    It was the way he said it that caused her stomach to clench with desire again. Damn, this man is a walking, talking aphrodisiac. All he had to do was say a few suggestive words and she was hot and horny.
    “What’s for dinner?” He poured wine into the glasses she had on the counter and walked them over to the table and set them down next to the two cloth napkins and silverware.
    “I brought a little Texas cooking to North Carolina if you don’t mind.” She placed the slices of meat with caramelized carrots and onions onto the plates and added a scoop of sides to them both. “I made Coca-Cola braised beef brisket, loaded mashed potatoes and green beans. I hope you like it.”
    “Like it, I’m already drooling now.”
    She laughed as he wiped his mouth for effect then took both plates from her and carried them to the table. Evan pulling her chair out and waiting for her to be seated before he sat down made her blush. Men she dated weren’t that caring and gallant. True she’d only really dated Winston. He didn’t care for anything that didn’t benefit him. In just the time she’d known Evan he’d shown her how much life she’d wasted on Winston.
    After he took his first bite, she asked, “What do you think?”
    “I think this is the best beef I’ve ever eaten.”
    “I try.” She started eating her own food and agreed with him that the meat had turned out extremely tender, juicy and flavorful.
    “No, you succeed,” he declared.
    Soon they were both digging into their meal and making small talk about Evan’s flights to Chicago, Seattle and Denver.
    “I think it’s pretty fantastic you get to see so many different cities in days.”
    “I get to see a bunch of hotels in cities in days. Usually I’m sleeping until the next flight. On occasion, I might arrive in a city with some time to see the sights for a few hours before I crash, but not often.”
    “Well, that sucks.” She scrunched her nose. What was the point of traveling if you got to see nothing?
    He reached out and tweaked the tip of her nose. “Once I’m passed my probation period then I’ll be able to swap flights and take my down days in another city and get around.”
    “Oh.” Finished with most of her food she set her fork down and lifted her wine for a sip. “What will be the first place you go?”
    Silent for a moment, he ate his last bite of potatoes. After swallowing he confessed, “I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it much. Where would you go?”
    “If I wasn’t horrid most days with the idea of flying?” She laughed.
    “Don’t beat yourself up. You did fine the last time.” He leaned forward and stroked her hand resting on the