Dark Desire in Elk's Crossing [Sequel to Ecstasy in Elk's Crossing] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free

around the house. Can’t imagine what I’d do around here without them.”
    Moments later the Johnsons returned to the dining room pushing a cart with three plates, each with a steaming pound-and-a-half T-bone steak, a baked potato roughly the size of a football, and a mound of green peas slathered in butter and redolent with fresh garlic.
    “Good lord,” Annika said in a kind of awed exclamation, looking at the steak on her plate, “that’s what my father would buy to feed our whole family.”
    Sven chuckled softly and added, “You are a generous man, Joshua. I will say that for you.”
    “This is cattle country,” Joshua replied. “Some of the finest steaks in the world come from here. That’s prime Charolais on your plate. I took the liberty of having them cooked medium-rare. I hope that’s to your liking.” He smiled. “I had to make a few assumptions because of time restrictions.”
    Annika nodded, and Sven said, “Yes. Exactly as I like.” He cut a slice of the steak, chewed the meat slowly, swallowed, then sighed. “My English is not good enough to say how delicious this is.”
    When Annika tried the steak, her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and she felt her mouth water. Never in her life had she tasted a more flavorful, tender, juicy steak.
    “This is incredible,” Annika said truthfully. “I’ll have to watch my waistline when I’m in Elk’s Crossing.”
    “When you’re here, why not splurge a little?” Joshua said, the timbre of his voice low and pleasing to Annika in ways she was a little uncomfortable with. “Let me indulge you.”
    Annika looked at her host then quickly looked down again at her plate. She tried to tell herself that Joshua’s comment had been innocent enough, but the blue gleam in his eyes made her wonder whether he was flirting with her. And there was something so lascivious about the word “indulge,” whether he meant it lewdly or not, that was like a secret caress to Annika.
    “Your waistline has nothing to worry about,” Sven said then frowned. “I am not sure I said that right.”
    “Your English was fine. I’m just not entirely certain the statement was valid. I have to watch what I eat.”
    Annika munched on steak slowly to savor all the flavor that was possible. As a child, she had weighed more than she had wanted, and though she wasn’t overweight as an adult, she was endlessly conscious of her weight and leery of gaining any more.
    Forty-five minutes later, as the meal was winding down, Annika very nearly brought up a business-related question before silencing herself. This wasn’t the time to talk business, she told herself. If business was an appropriate topic of conversation, then the men would surely have spoken of it before now.
    “This is the best meal I have had in a long time,” Sven said, setting down his knife and fork. Only a bone and some remnants of a baked potato remained on his plate. He patted his stomach then tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
    “You should call it a night,” Annika suggested. “You worked through most of the flights and didn’t get a wink of sleep the whole way.”
    Sven smiled and gave her a slight nod. “I am tired, it is true. You are not tired?”
    “I slept on the plane, remember? I’m fine.”
    He glanced at Joshua then looked back at Annika. “You will be all right?”
    “Yes. I think I’ll have a nightcap with Joshua then I’ll call it a night, too.”
    Joshua pushed his chair back. “Shall I walk you to your room?”
    “Unnecessary. Stay and keep Annika company. You are a gracious host, and I appreciate that very much.” He smiled. “Take care of Annika for me. She means everything to my company.”
    Joshua hesitated only a moment before asking, “And to you?”
    Annika held her breath, waiting for the answer, but the big Norwegian said nothing before exiting the room.
     
    * * * *
     
    The gin and tonic was the ideal after-dinner drink, but Annika warned herself to only have one.