An Uncommon Sense by Serenity Woods Page B

the bathroom, and I never went back. I left a note on his pillow. He didn’t even ring me.”
    “I’m so glad,” he said, obviously relieved. “And before him?”
    “Are you trying to ask how many guys I’ve slept with?”
    “I’m trying to build up a picture.”
    “Of my sex life?”
    He smiled. “Of you.”
    She sighed. “Before Todd was Leon. He left me to go around the world with a circus.” She shook her head at his raised eyebrow. “Don’t ask. And before Leon was Ricky. I came home early from work one day and found him in my underwear.”
    “Ah.”
    “Yes.”
    “So wearing your underwear’s out. Check.”
    She smiled. “Are you making fun of me?”
    “God, no.”  
    “Anyway, I didn’t leave him because of it. He looked quite good in black lace, actually.” She smacked him. “Stop laughing. I’m trying to explain. He left me. I was upset at the time, although it was quite nice to be able to keep my knickers to myself.”
    He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her. “You said ‘I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with another lunatic again.’ I wondered what you meant. Now I get it.”
    His arms tightened and she buried her head in the crook of his neck. He still smelled of warm biscuits. It was a comforting smell. She couldn’t imagine anyone that smelled of warm biscuits ever doing anything to hurt her.
    Oh no. She wasn’t going down that road. This is all about sex, kiddo. Don’t fool yourself.
    She cleared her throat. “I’d better get up.”
    He pulled back and sat up as she quickly popped the buttons underneath the body and then got to her feet. She collected her clothes from the hall and started to dress. He sighed. “Don’t go.”
    “I should.”
    He stood and zipped himself up. “I was just about to make dinner, if you want to stay.”
    She hesitated. “Dinner?”
    He looked up at the clock. It was five thirty. “An early dinner.”
    Grace studied him. “You mean you’ll cook?”
    “Of course. I’d like to. I haven’t cooked for anyone except Jodi for ages, and all she ever wants is Chinese food.”
    Grace couldn’t stop her lips curving. “So what would you cook, if I stayed?”
    “Oh, it wouldn’t be like a four-course meal or anything. It’ll have to be something easy.” He ran his gaze down her figure. “I won’t be able to concentrate knowing you’re standing there with that lacy thing on beneath your skirt.”
    She met his eyes and smiled. Well, Mia had told her to find out more about him. “All right.”
    He grinned then, so obviously happy at her decision it made her laugh. “Where’s my T-shirt?” he asked, turning and scanning the floor.
    “In the hall.” She watched him retrieve it, cheeks warming at the thought of how she’d ripped it off him, how abandoned she’d felt. He made her forget her inhibitions and her self-consciousness. She never thought she’d meet a guy she’d feel so comfortable with.
    He came back in with her glasses and handed them to her before pulling on his T-shirt. She slid the glasses on and followed him out into the kitchen. He patted the worktop, and she lifted herself up onto it as he opened the fridge and frowned, studying the contents.
    Grace watched him take out tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and zucchini, noticing the way his T-shirt stretched across his muscular arms and chest as he reached up to grab some pasta from the cupboard. He was so gorgeous. She still couldn’t believe he was interested in her.
    “What are you thinking about?” he asked as he began to chop an onion.
    “That you could star in one of those Hollywood movies about Roman gladiators or Viking warriors. You have impressive muscles.”
    He gave her an amused look. “Thank you.”
    “Do you work out?”
    “I try to keep fit. Healthy body, healthy mind, you know?”
    “Hmm.” She watched him put half a dozen tomatoes in a bowl, then pour boiling water from the kettle over the top. “What meat are you going to use?”
    He