His eyes protrude from his head as he looks from Wes to me, and then back to Wes. “Sorry, Man. I didn’t see her.” The strange man lifts his hands in the air and retreats backwards away from us.
“You didn’t see her?” Wes asks the man like it’s the craziest thing he’s ever heard. “Then maybe you should pay better attention, Asshole.”
I feel his heart beating a mile a minute against my back as I twist in his hold, and lift my hand to his face to cup his cheek. I bring his face down to mine. “It’s okay, Babe. I’m safe,” I say softly, trying to calm him down.
His eyes close for a brief second as he takes a few deep calming breaths. “I don’t know what got into me. All I saw was how that guy was about to trample all over you.”
“Thank you. You caught me again.” I arch an eyebrow as I peck a kiss on his delectable lips. “Now, I’m hungry, and there’s all this delicious chili around. Feed me, please?”
With a nod, he flashes me a smile and carries me the rest of the way through the crowd. When we finally reach Reid, I’m shocked to see he’s participating in the contest. “Hey, Man. How’s it goin’?” Wes asks.
Reid turns from stirring the mouth-watering goodness in his stockpot to answer. I can’t help the laugh that rushes out of me at his expression. His mouth hangs open with his eyebrows crinkled in confusion, as he looks at me secure in Wes’ arms. “Why are you holding her?”
“She almost got trampled. She’s safer here in my arms.” Wes shrugs his shoulders as if our predicament should be normal. I bounce from the movement. “The damn crowd’s crazy this year.”
The woman inside me who doesn’t like for people to fight her battles wants so badly to roll my eyes at his protectiveness, but I refrain. I pat Wes on his chest. “You can put me down now.”
He looks at me, his eyes searching mine, probably wondering if he should argue with me. Grudgingly, he concedes.
“So, Reid, whatcha got here?” I ask, peeking over the rim of his pot. The smell of cumin, peppers, and chili powder assaults my senses in the best way possible.
“Chili,” he answers sarcastically.
“Well, no shit. That was my roundabout way of asking to try some.” I cock my head to the side in hopes that he has some retort.
He looks at me for a moment before he erupts into a boisterous fit of laughter. Slapping Wes on the shoulder, he says, “Dude, I like her.”
“Me too,” Wes murmurs against my ear as his arms encircle my waist. With an easy smile, I peer up at him through my eyelashes.
“Well, not to brag or anything, but I make some of the best chili in town.” Reid pulls my attention back to him. “Tell me what you think.” He picks up a Styrofoam bowl and fills it with a ladle full of hot, steaming chili. As he hands it to me, he sticks a spoon in it.
I spin the meat and veggie filled concoction with my spoon, blowing on it to cool. Just as I’m about to take a bite, Reid stops me. “You know I’m starving, right?”
“Yeah, you’re just wasting away, aren’t you? Just try it like this.” He grins as he crumbles some cornbread on top.
I start the whole process again, mixing and blending it before I take my first bite. Not caring if he’s going to try and stop me again, I shovel a spoonful of chili in my mouth. I think I’ve just died and gone to Heaven. My eyes roll back in my head as I groan. It tastes even better than it smells. “Oh… my… gosh… this is so good,” I praise him around a mouthful of food.
When I finally open my eyes, Reid stands there with his arms crossed over his chest, and a proud smile across his face. “The best in town, huh?”
“I don’t know about that, but I’ll tell you anything you wanna hear as long as you keep feeding me.”
“See, a keeper,” he says, turning his eyes to Wes.
Wes and I talk with Reid as I finish my chili. When Reid mentions that they are about to judge, we decide to walk around.
“Aren’t you gonna stay and see who wins?” Reid asks with a pout.
“From what I just tasted, I have no doubt that you’ll win.” I lean up and kiss him on the cheek. When I pull back, his cheeks are tinted a light red. “Good luck, even though I don’t think you’ll need it.” Wes grabs my hand in his, interlaces our fingers, and pulls me behind him as we laugh at a speechless Reid.
“That fucker’s gonna win it. I don’t know what he’s so worried about. He’s been competing every year since he was ten.” As we break through the barriers of the crowd, orange and red hues begin to light the evening sky as the sun starts to set.