Nice & Naughty Read Online Free PDF Page B

impressed with her strength and quick thinking, but he decided to save the compliments for later. He put it on the floor in the corner, about to tell her everything was all right when she turned to him with her eyes brimming.
    “I thought I could finish making the omelets for you. I made eight more, just like you showed me except one at a time. There was some egg left over and I didn’t think it would keep so I was making a thirteenth one, but I must have put too much butter because I figured I’d just use it all up rather than throw it away. But there was a lot in the pan and when I flipped the omelet, it splashed and the stove went on fire and there was all this smoke and flames shooting in the air…” She looked up at him from under the brim of her baseball cap, tears streaking her face.
    It was a pretty amazing story. She’d actually finished making the breakfast all on her own. Scott opened the oven and sure enough, there was the sheet pan filled with omelets. Some were thinner, others fatter, a few a little browner, and one was broken in the middle, but all in all, they didn’t look too bad. He was impressed.
    “I’ll take care of getting those on the table, Scotty. Since you’ve got your hands full here.” Troy tilted his head toward Alexis with a smirk and then grabbed two potholders from the hook on the wall. “Everybody to the table. Bacon and eggs on the way.”
    Scott was more than happy when the crowd followed Troy and the food to the dining table in the adjoining room, leaving him alone with Alexis in the kitchen.
    He stepped closer, hoping to convince her it was really all right, when she blurted out again that she was sorry, dodged around him and took off through the door. He followed her down the stairs, barely getting hold of her arm before she got out to the street. Damn, she was fast for a little thing. Good thing he was well practiced at running in his boots.
    “Wait. Alexis, this is nothing to be upset about.”
    She finally stopped and spun to look up at him. “Nothing to be upset about? I almost burnt down your firehouse.”
    He stifled a smile. It was pretty ironic, a fire in the firehouse. “But you didn’t. You were smart enough to use the extinguisher and put it out.”
    “Maybe I’d make a good firefighter, because I sure as hell can’t cook.” She shook her head and plopped down on the stairs.
    “We’re always looking for new recruits.” As if that wouldn’t be too distracting. Alexis next to him at work every day, and in the next bunk at night...
    “Great. Thanks.” She rolled her eyes at his suggestion.
    “Seriously, Alexis. The omelets you made looked great. You did that all on your own with no one to help. I’m very proud of you.” He lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. “So what do you want to learn for your next lesson?”
    “You’re still willing to teach me after this?”
    Oh, there was plenty he’d like to teach her, and only some of it involved cooking. “Of course. I told you, I don’t frighten easily.”
    She hesitated. “I would like to learn how to make some hors d’oeuvres and appetizer-type things. Can you do that?”
    The demand for hors d’oeuvres was not so big in the army or at the firehouse, but no need for her to know that. “Of course I can. I’m the appetizer king. I’m off tonight. Your place or mine?”
    “Mine I guess. I have all this cooking stuff people have given me. Half of it’s in the boxes still. I guess I should learn how to use it.”
    “Perfect. What time?” Yeah, he didn’t sound too anxious. Sure.
    “Five-ish I guess?” She shrugged.
    “Great.” Scott thrust his cell phone at her. “Put your number and address in the contact list.”
    He tried to control his smile as she did. Yeah, baby. Alexis’s apartment tonight .

    After Scott had watched Alexis drive away he ran up the stairs two at a time, his cell phone still clutched in his hand.
    He blew into the dining room and came to a halt before the