“I love chicken, and if I’m not mistaken I smelled mashed potatoes also.”
“You’re not mistaken. I got some gravy for the potatoes too. My mothers recipe, all the way up from Texas.”
“I bet it’s great, I can't wait to try it."
Erin made her way back to the kitchen with a smile on her face. Jack seemed more relaxed than usual, and appeared less intimidating to her also. She was glad she’d made the brave overture and invited the man to dinner. Yes, she was quite glad indeed.
“Do you need some help over there,” Jack called from the living room. “I can’t cook, but I got steady hands for carrying things.”
“I’m fine, but thanks. Why don’t you have a seat at the table and I bring the food over.”
Jack nodded and made his way to the dinner table. Erin was raised old fashioned, and old fashioned in her family meant the woman served the man. Sure, the man might be able to help out with dishes, on occasion, but for the most part she was taught to treat the man of the house like a king, and while Jack technically wasn’t the man of the house here, she was hoping to change that soon. Not only was Jack deviously handsome and made Erin feel safe, he was also quite handy and strong as well. Having him around the house during renovation wouldn’t be a bad thing, not by a long stretch. So while Erin was interested in the man’s heart, she also recognized his utility as a male as well. While being a self described ‘independent woman,’ Erin also understood the innate difference in how men and women thought, and would feel fortunate to have a clever man at hand as she built her new business from the ground up.
“Dinner’s ready,” she called out and began bringing dishes over. First the roasted chicken breast, then the mashed potatoes (with skins, just like Momma) and finally the gravy.
“Looks delicious,” Jack said as he waited for Erin to be seated. She sat across from him and when their eyes met asked if he would like to say grace. He nodded and opened the palms of hands and waited for Erin to take the hint and hold his hand. She did and he began.
“Some have meat, but cannot eat because they are sick. Some are hungry, but have no meat because they are unfortunate. We have meat, and thanks to your good grace My Lord, we can eat. And for that, we thank you.”
“Thank you lord,” they said in unison and opened their eyes. Erin felt a shudder go through her and for the first time realized she was falling in love with the man across from her. She knew it was ridiculous of course, to love a man you barely knew, but it didn’t change the feelings she had. Before Jack had said Grace, she was just assuming she was horny, but after holding his hand and listening to the man speak of God and of those less fortunate, she knew it was more than that.
She watched as he took his first bites of food and smiled when she saw the satisfied look on his face. Erin decided to press the man a little and see what he gave back. “You know Jack, you don’t have to knock before you come in, because this is your home too.”
Jack eyed her and finished chewing the chunk of chicken in his mouth. “I like it on the road just fine,” he replied in a frigid tone. “And this is your home Erin, although I do appreciate the effort your making to say otherwise.”
Erin nodded and smiled. “Sure thing Jack.” She hoped she hadn’t crossed over some boundary by pushing him to feel more at home. She didn’t mean to offend him of course, but as Erin sat and watched the rugged roughneck eat his dinner she worried she may have.
“This gravy is delicious Erin. You have really outdone yourself tonight, this is the best meal I have eaten in a very long time.”
“Thank you Jack, I’m glad you like it. It’s an old family recipe, and I’ve been making this gravy since I was yay big.” Erin gestured with her hand and showed Jack she was just a little thing when she first started making the gravy he was so thoroughly enjoying. It was true too, Erin’s mother had started her cooking at a young age, and for that Erin was grateful. Most of the women she knew would have a hard time serving up a warm plate of spaghetti if the occasion called for it, but Erin could cook just about anything with no fuss at all. Perhaps, she wondered, if I can’t seduce him with my looks, I can do it with my cooking. Erin shook her head in astonishment at the crazy thoughts that were running through her head and Jack asked her what was wrong.
“Oh, nothing,” Erin replied. “I was just thinking of something, don’t worry about it.” Jack nodded his head and cut into his chicken breast. Erin was surprised. In her experiences, when you told a man you were “thinking of something” they would do everything in their power to pry it from your mind. Jack, on the other hand, seemed to either not care very much or just accept Erin’s answer at face value. The man continued to surprise her. He was not like anyone she’d ever met and her cravings for him were starting to take over her life. She decided to probe the man again and see what sort of information about himself he gave up.