Page 52 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

She grabbed her suitcase and headed to her bedroom.Rather than unpacking, she walked back into the living room.She took the bag of meat from where they’d left it in the foyer and put it in the microwave to thaw.She’d fix the meatloaf for dinner since she didn’t feel like painting and needed something to do.She unpacked the bag with the other fixings for their dinner.

It was six o’clock.She hadn’t realized how long they’d been in the office with those women.What time would he be back and would he want to eat then?

Meri pulled the hamburger and sausage out of the microwave and opened them into a big silver bowl.Then she added ketchup, egg, salt and pepper.She mixed that all together with her hands.After which she pulverized some saltine crackers and added that to the mixture.Taking the raw meatloaf, she formed a large loaf and placed it on a cookie sheet and into the oven.

“Okay.”She washed her hands in the sink.That needs to cook for about an hour.The rest of the meal will only take about twenty minutes, so she had time for a glass of wine.She set the timer for one hour and sat on the sofa with a glass of Malbec.By the time she finished with the side dishes, the meat will have rested for long enough.The juices will have gone back into the meat and not on the serving platter.Most people didn’t let meatloaf rest, but her mother and grandmother taught her differently.She wondered if the dislike for meatloaf among the people she knew stemmed from its dryness.With her method, it never was.

The timer went off.

She stood and went to the kitchen, where she removed the meatloaf from the oven, turned it off and set the food on top of the stove.It would probably cool by the time that Chase arrived.

Meri went back to the sofa and had another sip of wine.She had to admit she was tired, exhausted was more like it.After taking yet another sip of wine, she snuggled down into the couch and laid her head on the back.Just for a few minutes.She had time.

A knock sounded.

Meri sat up.She was still on the sofa and must have fallen asleep.She noticed it was dark outside.

“Just a minute,” she called.She yawned as she walked to the door.She looked out the peephole and saw Chase.She turned the lock and opened the door, staying behind it while he entered.“Hi.I’m glad you made it back.”She locked the door behind him.

“Did you doubt me?”He set a small suitcase on the floor.

She shook her head and yawned again.“Just a comment, that’s all.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Her sleep-addled brain had just registered he was back before he ended the kiss.

He walked in and sat on the sofa.

She followed him into the living room.“Can I get you a drink?A glass of wine?I have a nice Argentinian Malbec.”

“That would be great.”He leaned back and spread his arms wide along the back of the sofa.

Meri returned with his wine and sat next to him.

He dropped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close.“Do you want to watch TV?”

She shook her head.“I don’t watch much TV, the news mostly, when I’m in bed.I have a TV in there.I usually go to sleep with it on.”

Chase took a drink of his wine and smiled.“Sounds like you just need to be more tired when you go to bed.”Then he waggled his eyebrows.

She let out a laugh.“Very funny.”Then she got serious and wrapped both hands around her wineglass.“I’m not ready for that commitment, and I don’t think you are, either.I take having sex very seriously.I know it’s fun, but after being cheated on, I don’t treat it casually.I hope you understand.”

He put his hand, palm up, on her thigh.

She let go of her wineglass with one hand and placed it in his.

“I understand that, and I don’t want to push you into anything you don’t want to do.I take it seriously, too, regardless of my flirting.”Then he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles one by one.After which, he kissed the top of her hand.

Electricity shot through her from his kiss.Just kissing her hand and she was so turned on, she almost forgot her rule, took him to the bedroom and told him to take her.But she liked he didn’t push her and yet still seemed interested.A lot of men she knew would leave.He always respected her boundaries and never made her do something she didn’t like.Jared had disrespected her often enough.

“Thank you for thinking enough of me to not push me.You can’t imagine how much it means.”

“We all deserve to be valued.”

She sipped her wine.“When do you think there will be an attack?You know he’ll try something.”

“I don’t know.We don’t know for sure that he’s watching your place, but it’s the most likely scenario.Getting into my apartment is nearly impossible for anyone without my handprint.Of course, there are ways to get around it, but it would take a lot of money and a superb hacker.”