A Quiet Kind of Dominance novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Counter

Both results came in at four that afternoon, in two texts, seven minutes apart.

Negative across the board.

I showed him mine at the kitchen door, and he showed me his, holding the phone out with a hand that wasn't quite steady.

"So," he said.

"So tonight is a different night."

He had brought his own pan in a canvas bag, and a paper sack of fish, butter, leeks, and cream.

I sat on the stool by the window, with my glasses on and my sleeves rolled to the elbow.

He stood at my stove in his black trousers and a white undershirt.

"First course," I said. "Leek soup."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't call me that. Call me Audrey, in the voice you use when you mean it."

"Yes, Audrey."

"Better. Start."

He cooked.

He cut the leeks with that quick, clean knife work I had watched him do a hundred times, and I watched his forearms flex.

The butter hissed in the pan.

"Take off your shirt," I said.

He stopped with the knife in his hand.

"Now?"

"Now. Don't stop chopping."

He stripped the undershirt off over his head with one hand and dropped it on the floor.

He was broad and pale, with the burns on his arms and a dark line of hair down his belly.

He went back to the leeks.

I sat and ate the soup in small spoonfuls, when it was done.

It was warm and sweet, with a bite of pepper.

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