Read Online Love On The Line by Kimberly Kincaid - Free Book Online Page A

and God, who knew he had such a quirky sense of humor?
    Violet laughed, and the gesture warmed her. “I’m all for mixing offbeat flavors, but that’s around the bend in this dish, even for me.” She poured the stock into the pot while Noah stirred, and they fell into a steady pattern of putting the meal together. Even one-handed, he was a quick study, albeit a little stiff with his movements.
    Finally, when the chicken had gone into the pot to simmer and there was a decent coating of flour on the countertop where Noah had ambitiously tried his hand at mixing dumpling dough, Violet reached into her collapsible cooler to unearth a bag of frozen peas.
    “Hold on just a second. What are those?” Noah pointed the spoon at the offending bag with a wary jab.
    Violet stifled a laugh. “They’re peas, Noah. I promise they won’t hurt you.”
    “But you already put one green thing in the pot.” He jerked his chin downward toward the burner, and dammit, it was impossible to tell if he was kidding.
    “Oregano’s an herb. It doesn’t count,” she said, but Noah shook his head, and oh my God, he was serious.
    “Yes it does. It’s green. And you used a lot.”
    Violet’s head snapped up, indignant. “I didn’t use a lot . And the peas add a fresh layer of flavor to this dish.”
    “Nope. I’m not buying it. Nothing tastes better with peas in it.” He turned back to the stock pot, stirring the contents like nothing doing, and Violet’s composure evaporated right along with the fragrant puff of steam lifting up from the stove.
    She jammed both hands to her hips, grinding her boots to the linoleum. “You are so rigid, it’s infuriating !” 
                  Noah’s ear-to-ear smile froze the breath right to her lungs. “I know, but you’re really cute when you’re irritated, and it’s kind of worth pissing you off.”
                  Violet nearly lost her death grip on the peas. “You think I’m cute?”
                  Noah jerked the spoon to a stop halfway over the pot, but didn’t backpedal or recant. “I don’t suppose I would’ve kissed you a couple of New Year’s Eves ago if I didn’t.”
    Shock soaked its way through her chest, flooding her completely. “You remember that?”
    “Of course I remember it.” He slid the mixing bowl full of pillowy, cream-colored dumpling dough from the counter and passed it to her. “This is next, right?”
    Her nod was automatic. “Right. So wait. How come you never said anything?” Good Lord, the bowl felt good in her grasp, and she cradled it to her side, still clutching the peas in one hand.
    “You never said anything either.”
    “You’re dodging the question.”
    “And you’re my partner’s sister.”
    Okay, she had to give him that one. But still… “I’m also twenty-nine. As much as I love my brother, he’d better be able to cope with me kissing somebody.”
    “Even me?” Noah’s stare went from gunmetal to glittering, and she dropped the bag of peas to the counter in a heap.
    Violet swallowed, but her throat made her earn it. “Even you.”
    Oh God, the heat of his body so close to hers in the tiny kitchen was driving her crazy. Desperate for a distraction, she whipped a spoon from the countertop, doling a scoop of dough into the stock pot with a less than graceful plop.
    As if sensing her need for space, Noah angled himself a half-step back, lowering his gaze to her hands again. “You just put the dough in there uncooked?”
    “What? Oh.” The sight of the lazily bubbling stew in the stockpot calmed her, and she nodded. “Yes. The broth is hot enough to cook the dumplings, even at a simmer, see?” She pointed to the lone dumpling bobbing through the creamy, golden-brown broth, and the motions of having food in her hands smoothed over the rough edge of her nerves. She finished the job with growing ease, setting the empty bowl in the sink with a soft clank.
                  “Did you