Ashia Read Free

had just headed to his place.
    Ashia opened the car door and got out. She closed the door, headed up the walk to the house then pressed the doorbell. The sound of barking came from inside the house then footsteps. She could sense Reid peeking out of the door and with her acute hearing, she heard him swearing softly. Ashia bit her lip, holding back a chuckle. A few moments later the door opened. Reid stepped into view and she couldn’t help but laugh. He looked like something had exploded on him. Bits of what looked like food were dripping from his hair and had stained his shirt and pants.
    “The recipe said ‘easy’. They didn’t take into account the dummy in the kitchen factor.” Reid pursed his lips, his eyes twinkling.
    “You’re so adorable,” Ashia replied.
    Reid rolled his eyes.
    She stepped forward and he backed up, letting her into the house.
    “Go get cleaned up, and I’ll make us something for dinner.” Unerringly she headed to where she felt the kitchen was.
    “Ashia.”
    She paused, glancing back at him as Reid strode towards her.
    Ashia stifled a moan at the lazy saunter of his gait. He stopped inches away from her. “A man doesn’t like being called cute or adorable,” he rumbled in his deep, bassy baritone.
    Reid turned on his heels, strode towards the staircase and loped upstairs.
    Ashia stared after his disappearing pert ass. She wanted to feel it in the palm of her hand. Her stomach had a weird fluttery sensation and she pressed her hand there to smooth her nerves. Ashia blew out a shaky breath and continued on to the kitchen to prepare some dinner. Reid might not like hearing he was cute or adorable but that was what he was. And sexy as hell.
    She hoped she could control herself through dinner and get out of there afterwards. There were varying opinions on what was customary for human dating. From what she had read, one did not put out on the first date. Although it was acceptable to kiss if you felt like it. With Reid a kiss wasn’t going to be problem. The issue would be keeping herself from ravishing the man. That was another thing. Human women waited for the man to make the first move.
    Ashia growled in frustration at these weird human dating rituals. She wanted to be with him in the shower. Ashia glanced towards the stairs. Should I say to hell with it and join him?
     

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    Ashia turned over the chicken in the pan. Thankfully Reid had only managed to make a mess of the veggies. She glanced at the blender in the sink. She’d found it on the counter with the lid off and a mushy mess that was some sort of vegetables all over. She couldn’t figure out why he’d had them in the blender.
    “Oh…you didn’t have to clean up. I would have done it,” Reid said, coming up behind her.
    Ashia glanced back, a soft moan escaping as she spotted him. He wore a blue button-down shirt open at the neck and matching shorts. Reid came around the island and she saw he was barefoot.
    “What can I do to help?” Reid offered.
    “You can chop the vegetables.” Ashia gestured to the vegetables on the cutting board that was on the island.
    “At least this time I will remember to put on the cover.” Reid glanced at the sink.
    Ashia viewed the blender then retuned her attention to him. “Why would you blend the vegetable for a stir fry?”
    Reid flushed. “The recipe said to chop but I have a problem with knives.”
    “Which is what?”
    “They have a vendetta against me. They are always trying to slice off my fingers.” Reid showed her his hands.
    A bandage was on his left index finger.
    Ashia stifled a chuckle. “You do know you are the one who is wielding the knife. Show it who is boss.”
    “Tsk. Tsk. No need to patronise me. Let me hear it. No one believes me when I say knives have it in for me,” Reid said mournfully.
    Ashia did laugh at that. She turned down the heat on the chicken searing in the pan. She moved to the island and picked up the knife.
    “You just