I know Serena sees it, and I think that’s partly why she’s so reluctant to take money from me, but it feels like an unofficial stalemate. We agreed to take this as far as it might go, yet everything to do with Joey is progressing at a snail’s pace.
“What time is everyone arriving?” she asks as we putter around the kitchen.
“I told everyone drinks and appetizers at six, dinner at seven.”
She nods, a determined look in her eyes.
“You’re going to smoke me, aren’t you?” I ask, laughing and pulling her in for a kiss. She returns the pressure but then playfully pushes away.
“You bet your ass I am. And don’t try to distract me by making my personal loins flutter with excitement.”
“Well, it’s only fair,” I quip, “since you always make my manhood sit up and pay attention.”
She laughs and wrinkles her nose. “Okay, I’m doing the prep work now and then I’m going to get ready before I start cooking. Are we still doing the goat cheese and date appetizers?”
I nod. “And I bought a surprise.”
“I don’t get to know what it is?”
“Nope.”
She just shrugs. “Okey-dokey. I have a surprise dessert, so we’re even.”
We work in companionable silence, though she hums a lot. I think it’s a Taylor Swift song, but it’s hard to tell. Her hair is up in aponytail and she’s wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt, but she looks absolutely stunning.
Maybe it’s because she’s right at home in my kitchen, cute little ass swaying as she works. Contentment washes over me as I watch her, and it occurs to me that it had to be fate that brought us together.
“Okay, now don’t touch my stuff,” she says primly, eyeing me suspiciously. “I’m going to shower, but I do have eyes in the back of my head, so I’ll know if you try to sabotage my meat.”
I snort out a laugh. “All your back eyes are going to see is the other side of my shower, but sure, I’ll stay away from your…meat.”
Our eyes lock and we laugh.
“Would you just make sure Joey doesn’t wander outside?” she asks, wiping her hands. “He’s coloring with Lindy but you never know how long that will last.”
“No worries. Go take your shower.”
She smiles and disappears up the stairs.
I follow her into the living room so I can watch her retreating figure take the stairs before going back into the kitchen to clean up the rest of my mess. She’s efficient in the kitchen, working quickly and faultlessly. I’m pretty good but she has a professionalism that I assume came from attending culinary school. It’s impressive and I’ve already learned a lot from her.
I don’t know who’s going to win tonight’s challenge but I’ll be just as happy if it’s her. We’re going to have fun with it, using two different colored paper plates for the meat so people can anonymously write their vote on a piece of paper. We’ll divulge the winner during dessert. There’s going to be a lot of food, wine, and bread, so I’m looking forward to the evening.
I’m completely lost in thought, prepping the puff pastry for the goat cheese appetizers when I hear a crash and then a cry.
Joey!
Shit.
“Joey? Lindy?” I call, rushing into the den where they were coloring.
“I didn’t mean it!” Lindy cries, tears streaming down her face. “It was an accident!”
“Mommy!” Joey’s on the floor wailing, holding his foot.
It only takes a split second for me to realize what happened. Someone—apparently Lindy—knocked over a glass that shattered on the floor. And Joey stepped on some of the shards. Jayne isworking at the library, Bodi and Vik are at the gym, and I’m pretty sure Simon and Felix are still in bed.
With Serena in the shower, that just leaves me to handle the crisis.