Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“You’re early.”
“Less than five minutes by now.”
“Still early. I get that you missed me and all, but I’m trying to make you dinner, and it was supposed to be done before you got here. I was a little worried it might be the tipping point for you to find that exit, but I was willing to risk it.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Willing to risk it, huh?”
“It’s inevitable anyway. I’m what most people call irresistible.”
A laugh tumbled from my lips. “You’re pushing it, O’Ralley. Also, I’m fairly certain it’s the other way around. I’m the irresistible one.”
“Eh, you have a great cock.”
I chuckled again. He was good at making me do that. “You burning my dinner or what?”
“Oh shit. I forgot.” He turned around again and started plucking fried chicken out of the skillet. “I’m making you a very Southern meal. These are all Big Momma’s recipes, I’ll have you know. I had to steal them from the box in the kitchen. This may look like simple fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and fried okra, but she had a special touch. I’m not only fraternizing with the enemy, I’m sharing O’Ralley secrets with him again.”
“That’s because you like me.” I kissed his cheek. “Smells good. And look, I brought you flowers.”
“What? No one’s ever brought me flowers before. You must really want to get lucky tonight.”
Or like, right now. That would work too. “Eh, I kind of like you, remember? You need help?”
“No, sit. This is my date.”
I put the flowers in a vase before doing as he said. He finished up the food, and I told him about Amelia.
“Wow…that’s…that’s incredible.”
“Isn’t it? I’m excited to get to talk to her. It makes me feel…I don’t know, a tie to my mom, and I think to my dad too.”
“You deserve that.” Brody walked over and kissed me.
I noticed the scent of apples, and looked over to see the oven was on. “What’s in there?”
“A Ferrari.”
“Funny guy.”
“Dessert.” His cheeks got a slight pink to them. “Isaac might have told me you have a thing for apple crisp.”
It was my favorite. I couldn’t believe he’d gone through all that trouble for me. It was…sweet. Brody O’Ralley had a romantic streak.
He pulled the dessert from the oven, then nodded toward the door. “We’re eating out here.”
“We need to make our plates.”
“I’ll do it.”
Smiling, I followed him to the screened-in porch, and froze the second I stepped out. The table was covered with a red-and-white cloth, with candles in the center. He’d hung red LED light strips around the porch where the wall met the ceiling. And going vertically along the ceiling were twinkling fairy lights.
“Can’t take you to a restaurant. I know you want that—you deserve that—but I hope bringing the restaurant to you will do for now.”
Christ, Brody O’Ralley was going to fucking ruin me.
I cupped his face, leaned in, and pressed another kiss to his lips. “It’s perfect. You do realize I’m going to have to show you up for our second date, right? I can’t have you being better than me.”
“I’m counting on you tryin’, city boy. Not sure you can do it, but I’ll sure as shit enjoy watching you give it a go.”
“Challenge accepted.”
“Now move out of the way so I can wine and dine you. I better get laid after this.”
He could count on it.
Brody pulled out the chair so I could sit down, which I did. He went back into the house, and a few minutes later came out minus the apron and with two plates. He put one in front of me and the other in front of him.
He leaned over, and I noticed a cooler. Brody handed me a beer and then took one for himself. “I was going to go with whiskey, but then I remembered you’re a lightweight. Wouldn’t want you passing out on me tonight.”
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Of course not. You wouldn’t either.”
We each opened our bottles, then clanked them together over the candles.
“To temptations and rivalries,” I said.
“Temptations and rivalries,” he replied.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Brody
That Cohen had even mentioned a second date made me feel like the efforts I’d gone to so we could have an actual date made it more than worth it. He took a whiff of his plate, which was stacked in the way Big Momma might have fixed it for guests back in the day.
“Don’t know that I’ll be able to eat all this,” he said, eyes wide.
“Momma was big on always having enough for leftovers throughout the week, so really, this is the only way I know how to cook. Now get to trying that fried chicken. And don’t forget to put some gravy on it.”
“Already trying to get your gravy inside me, Brody?”
A soft growl slipped past my lips. “Just be careful not to look too sexy while you’re eating it, or I’m liable to dump this nice dinner on the ground and fuck you on the table.”