Restless. Tori Carrington

napkin and followed Kevin’s lead.

       “It’s the best home-cooked meal I’ve had in a long time.”

      Only it hadn’t been tears of exasperation that sparkled in her bright blue eyes; rather they were inspired by laughter.

      Nina grinned. “That’s because you probably haven’t had a home-cooked meal in so long you’ve forgotten what it tastes like.”

      Kevin coughed into his napkin. “Actually, that depends on what home you’re talking about. Because in this house, this is what a home-cooked meal tastes like.”

      Laughter burst from the table and created a happy cloud around the three of them that had been sorely missing.

      Gauge was glad for the change.

      Nina stopped laughing first. “God, I’m sorry. I followed the recipe to a T. I don’t have a clue what happened.”

      She picked up Kevin’s plate and forked the meat back into the serving dish.

      “Don’t touch my mashed potatoes,” he said. “I love your mashed potatoes.”

      Gauge felt suddenly like an outsider. Which was something he was getting used to when in the presence of his two friends. He could accept them being a married couple. But he still hadn’t figured out how to deal with it.

      Especially since he couldn’t seem to stop himself from wanting what Kevin had. Namely, Nina.

      “I should stick to café fare,” she said. “Soups and sandwiches I can handle.”

      “Don’t forget baking,” Kevin reminded.

      “Yeah. So long as you don’t mind living on bear claws, I suppose I’m your dream mate.” She rolled her eyes, but her warm smile belied her true feelings as she handed him back his plate. “I’m going to go order pizza. You two clear the table.”

      An hour and a half later, Gauge picked up the empty pizza boxes while Kevin went to change the CD in the player in the living room. He took the boxes into the kitchen, where Nina was opening another bottle of wine.

      “Thanks,” she said as he passed behind her on the way to the garbage bin.

      “You want some help with that?”

      She let out a long sigh. “I swear, I’ve never been any good at popping corks.”

      Before he could weigh the wisdom of the move, he curved both of his arms around her, pressing his front against her soft, hot bottom. “It’s simple. You just have to remember to keep the corkscrew in perfect line with the bottle.”

      Damn, but she smelled good. Like warm, summer sunshine. A field full of wildflowers. Like rain against a hot sidewalk.

      With his help, she popped the cork.

      “Oh!” she said, and he heard her swallow.

      It satisfied him on a level he was loath to admit that his close proximity still affected her.

      Suddenly she went stiff against him. Gauge looked up to find Kevin standing in the kitchen doorway, his fists looking like meat mallets on either side of his legs.

      “Get the hell away from my wife.”