“I don’t think Vinnie would cheat,” I admit, sighing. “But you know, in the back of my head is always a part of my brain saying never to completely trust a man.”
“That part of your brain is called your common sense,” she surprises me by saying. “You can’t trust all men, and sometimes even good men mess up. You just have to go with your gut, honey. I think Vinnie is a great man. I’ve known him for many years.” She lowers her voice. “But you have to handle men in a way they don’t know they’re being handled.”
I laugh at that. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“I do okay,” she replies, looking over to where Clover is asleep on the bed. “She’s so excited to be a big sister.”
“She’s such a great kid,” I say, smiling at her sleeping form. “You’ve done such an amazing job. I’m going to come to you for advice if I ever have children.”
“Aunty Faye will be more than happy to help,” she says, grinning, then studying me. “Now what do you want to talk to me about?”
I open my mouth, then close it. “How did you know that I—”
“I wasn’t born yesterday,” she says, cutting me off. “Is everything okay? Tell me.”
So I tell her everything that’s been on my mind.
* * *
“What on earth are you doing?” I ask Rake, who is looking into the oven like there’s a monster in there.
“I’m hungry, so I put something in the oven and now it’s burned. And Bailey is at work and isn’t here to make me something.”
Seriously?
I blink slowly. “You’re spoiled, you know that?”
“What I am is hungry,” he groans, rubbing his abs. How he stays that muscular with the amount he eats I have no idea.
“Do you want to do a food run?” I ask, feeling a little hungry myself.
“Are you allowed to leave the house?” he asks, closing the oven with a slam. “I could go for a burger and fries. Or some fried chicken.”
“I mean, I’m not not allowed to leave the house,” I hedge, shrugging and flashing him my best puppy-dog eyes. “I’m just meant to stay hidden a little. I’m sure no one will spot me going through a drive-through.”
“True. Yeah, all right, let’s go then.”
“I’ll even drive, so you can eat in peace,” I offer, being the kind person that I am, but all he does is laugh.
“Fuck no. I heard how you drive, and I’d like to survive to see my daughter grow up, thank you very much.”
I found it adorable how he calls Cara his daughter, even though she isn’t his biologically.
“Fine, you drive then,” I say, rolling my eyes. I’m not that bad a driver, these men are the biggest exaggerators. “Maybe we can go do some shooting practice when we’re done?”
“Dying to get out of the house, are we?”
“I’m going to kill someone,” I admit, shoulders sagging. “I’ve studied, cleaned, and taught Colt every trick I can think of. I also baked cupcakes.”
I continue before he can even open his mouth to ask. “Everyone already ate them.”
“You could save me some next time,” he grumbles, lifting his chin. “Let’s go. I’m starting to get hangry.”
I follow him out to the four-wheel drive, sliding in when he open the doors. “Chicken or burgers?”
“Let’s get both,” he says, putting his seat belt on. I do the same, realizing that I’ve never really been alone with Rake before, and I have no idea what to talk to him about. He takes care of that though, making me feel comfortable. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is as awkward as me.
“Well, we can’t go shooting,” he says, looking straight ahead.
“Why not?”
“Because I forgot to bring a gun, unless you have one stashed away in that purse of yours.” He pauses. “Why did you even bring a purse? If you try to pay, I’m throwing you out that window. You’d probably fit through it too.”
“You don’t have a gun in the car?” I ask, opening the glove box. “What kind of criminal are you?”
He gasps, pretending to be hurt. “Is that what you think of me?”
“There’s no gun in there but there’s a shitload of condoms,” I say, pursing my lips.
Rake chuckles, glancing at me for a second before returning his eye to the road. “Priorities, Shay.”