Hey, Chef Deek. What’s cooking for dinner at your house tonight?
He smiled. Hi, princess. Nothing fit for royalty. I’m serving slop.
Slop???? Served in wooden troughs? And eaten with your hands? Like Henry the VIII style? I guess if it was good enough for a king, I could hang with that.
No. As in sloppy Joes for ten rowdy Cub Scouts. It’ll look like a pigsty around here after they go home. Do princesses ever get on their knees and scrub floors?
You’ve seen what I do best on my knees. And it isn’t cleaning.
Yes. Quite memorable. How about tomorrow night? I’ll cook whatever you guys want.
Can’t. Emily has her soccer team coming over for dinner. We have to come up with a fundraiser before the season starts. Those out-of-town trips aren’t in our budget.
He hated how Lori had to struggle with money, school, and work. She deserved a break, not one more task to add to her life. I’d be happy to fund Emily’s soccer trips.
Nope. That’s nice of you, but we’ll work it out. The only thing I’ll let you buy me is dinner. How about Friday?
Annie wanted a million bucks for a dig, and all Lori asked of him was dinner. Absolutely. Asher just asked if he could spend the night at his friend John’s house, so you and I could have a spend-the-night too.
Perfect. It’s supposed to snow again on Friday, so we might have to work around the weather.
I’ve been dying to try out my new sous vide machine. Want me to make you the best steak you’ve ever had right here? Then after, we can watch a movie in my home theater. Six thirty work?
Yes. I’ll pack my new sexy lingerie. And my kneepads. :0)
He smiled as visions of Lori in sexy lingerie filled his mind. Friday couldn’t come fast enough for him.
Lori was still trying to decide which of her new lingerie to pack on Friday afternoon when Rachel flopped onto Lori’s bed. “What are we telling Emily about why you’re not coming home tonight?”
“I couldn’t bear to lie to her, so Mom is going to call and invite her for a sleepover in a bit.”
Rachel’s eyebrow arched. “You told Mom you’re having a sex date and won’t be home until tomorrow?”
“No!” Lori threw a pillow at Rachel. “And it’s not a sex date. I mean, there will be lots of that, but we’re having dinner and watching a movie too.”
“What are we telling Mom?” Rachel threw the pillow back, even harder.
“Nothing. If all goes well. I mentioned Emily would love an invite, and Mom was super excited to have her. I told her I had a date, so you’d be here when she picks Em up at seven. Emily is never ready to end the fun before eleven the next morning, so I’ll pick her up on my way home, and Mom will never be the wiser.”
Rachel laughed. “You’re a grown-up now, and could tell Mom the truth. She knows we have sex sometimes. You’re just a whole lot louder about it than me.”
“You heard that the other night?” Heat rose up Lori’s neck. She had to look away before her sister saw the full-out blush.
“The neighbors must’ve heard it. I’m sure they said, ‘Hallelujah! Lori is finally getting some!’ Then they probably put their earbuds in and cranked the music like I did. You’re lucky Emily and Asher sleep like the dead.”
Mortified, she slumped down on the edge of the bed. “It’s just that Deek is a fantastic lover. It’s like you feel safe to just…let go.”
“Obviously.” Rachel rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “It’s the same with Marcello and me. You made me miss him. And that. I finally answered when he called this afternoon.”
“And?” Lori stood to finish packing. “Did you tell him about the babies?”
“No. Not yet. I just missed him and wanted to talk. He said he loved me, and as soon as his movie wraps, he wants to spend a whole month with me. He said he’s already cleared his calendar. No easy feat for him.”
“Did you tell him you loved him too?”
“I tried. But I couldn’t. I’ve never told any man I love him.” Rachel closed her eyes, but her tears leaked out anyway. “Damn these pregnancy hormones. They’ve turned me into a blubbering weakling.”
“Crying doesn’t make you weak.” Lori sat down beside her sister again. “And neither does confessing your love for someone. It can actually be freeing.”
“Maybe. But what if he’s just saying that? What if he’s just upset because I left him? He said once that no one has ever broken up with him. He’s always the one who does it first.”
“I don’t think he would have made all the effort to spend a month with you just because he has a bruised ego.”