Chapter 30 #2
“It’s chicken pot pie,” she says, pointing at the plate in my hands. “Roman made it for you off the menu.”
I carefully peel back one side of the foil, and the space instantly fills with the most mouthwatering smell.
“Smells so fucking good,” I say, swallowing saliva in my mouth.
“It does.” She smiles. “It’s Granny’s old recipe she doesn’t let us use in the diner, so Roman doesn’t cook it there.”
I feel my brows draw together in confusion. “Why? I bet it would be a killer.”
Nora’s face softens. “Because it’s reserved for special people in her close circle.”
My throat instantly clogs with a giant lump I can’t swallow. It doesn’t let me talk or breathe. It takes a few attempts to clear it before I can form words again.
“Thanks,” I say, then quickly add since I don’t want to jump to conclusions, “I mean for cooking it and all.”
Her face stretches with a small smile. “I’ll tell him.”
I nod, and we stare at each other again until I finally decide to break the ice. “I like your grandma’s recipes.”
“She likes you.”
I grunt. “That woman terrifies me.”
Nora laughs, soft and real. Relaxed. Even her shoulders drop a little, losing the guarded stance.
And for a minute, the ache in my chest eases.
She walks to the tall stool at the kitchen island and eases onto the seat, and it gives me hope she wants to stay a little longer.
“She terrifies a lot of people around here.”
“I don’t doubt that.” I place the plate on the counter and pull the foil off completely, then I brave the question that might not have a place right here and right now, but I must ask it. “Does she terrify Dick?”
I’m acting like a fool. I know that by the way her face changes instantly. How her usually full lips thin, forming a straight line.
“Nothing terrifies him,” she replies with an even tone that loses all the warmth she had before. And I can’t stand that. I want to give her the reassurance and support she needs, even if she doesn’t know that. “Because he’s a narcissist and thinks the whole world bows to him.”
“That’s about to change,” I vow quietly, making her brows slowly rise.
“Is it?” She rolls her lips like she wants to ask something else but doesn’t want to let it slip.
I start slowly walking toward her around the island. She’s maybe ten steps away, but I take them deliberately slow.
“It is.” I nod. “I’ll make sure of it.”
She starts smiling. “Will you?”
“I will.” My voice is laced with confidence. I know I can back it up. It just depends how far I’m willing to go to deliver my promise, and this is where the understanding settles in—I’m willing to go very far for her. Maybe even further than I went for my brother.
“You don’t like Richard that much, huh.” She bites her lips while her eyes narrow a little.
Richard . Not Dick. Richard.
I stare at her, taking the last step that’s separating us.
“Nora—” I growl a warning.
“Yes, Jericho?” There’s a mischievous light in her eyes. “You don’t want to talk about Richard at all.” She bites her lower lip, placing her hands under her thighs.
“Nora.” My voice is lower.
“Yes, Jericho? Why don’t you like him?” Her lips twitch so much, she can barely contain her laughter. She knows what she’s doing, and she’s damn well enjoying it.
My pulse slams behind my ribs. My hand jerks forward and wraps around her throat. Not hard. But firm enough to hold her in place and feel her swallowing under my palm.
“Nora,” I growl into her face. “Shut.” I lean a hair closer. “The fuck.” Even closer, until our noses almost touch. “Up.”
She lets out a loud exhale, and I catch it with my mouth. Without hesitation, my tongue meets hers. She’s warm. Welcoming. She tastes like sunshine and cozy evenings. Like a favorite drink during a drought.
My free hand lands on her stomach, feeling the softness of it. I like it. I like how I can dig my fingers into her flesh. I like imagining how her softness will be molded onto my hard ridges.
My hand moves lower. To her thigh. And pushes it open. I step forward, and both her legs are now on either side of me. And I fucking swear I can feel the heat between them inviting me over. Her arms land on my sides and then move to my back.
I like how they start tracing my muscles. How hungrily they touch every single ridge. How hard her fingers dig into my skin.
She shivers, and I feel it in my body. I intensify the kiss, molding myself closer to her. Her legs wrap tighter around me. My hand releases her throat and moves to her back because I want her to be tighter against me. Closer. I want her to be one with me.
My hands slip under her sweater, and the warmth of her skin burns mine. I angle my face for a deeper?—
A loud crash on the window makes us both jump. I grab her and shove her behind me away from any danger. Years of being on high alert have trained my body to react without thinking.
“What the heck was that?” Nora whispers behind my back.
A loud cock-a-doodling makes me see red. The damn rooster is sitting on my windowsill with his eye focused on us.
“How the fuck is that cockblocker standing there?” I mumble under my breath, making Nora press her face between my shoulder blades with silent laughter. “It’s time we finish this motherfucker.”
I normally don’t curse that much around ladies, but the stiff rod in my pants is making my mood sour. I walk to the window, hearing Nora’s footsteps behind me.
“He’ll run away as soon as you open that window. He’s not dumb,” she says.
“Whose side are you on?” I throw grouchily over my shoulder.
She throws her hands in the air in a surrendering gesture. “Just saying. I’ve been hunting that thing for months.”
With the determination of a bulldozer, I stride to the window.
The bastard cocks his head with beady eyes to the side as if mocking me.
I stop right before the glass, understanding that Nora’s right.
The moment I pop that window open, he’ll run off only to torture me again, so I backtrack, keeping my eyes on the target.
“What are you doing?” Nora asks while I head to the door.
“I’m gonna get him outside.” I point my finger at her. “Keep his attention on you.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“I dunno.” I shrug, unlocking the door. “Just do it.”
Closing the door softly behind me, I tiptoe around the house, trying not to make any noise.
But the snow crinkles under my boots, making it impossible for me to be stealthy.
Once the rooster appears in my vision, I lighten my footing.
I’m getting this cockblocker once and for all, and it’s happening tonight.
His attention seems to be focused on the window judging by the way he moves his head sideways—whatever Nora’s doing must be working.
I make a beeline for him, making sure to stay out of his vision.
Even with my snow-shuffled footsteps, the bird doesn’t seem to know I’m right behind him, so I become curious about what’s keeping his attention so firmly.
And this is where I make a grave mistake—I glance inside the house.
What greets me makes me lose my footing, and my giant boot steps on something loud.
The rooster jumps off the window and takes off running while I’m faced with what can only be described as the loveliest picture of all time.
Nora’s holding her sweater up, revealing her gorgeous tits barely contained by a red bra.
I’ve seen them before. In fact, I met them before I met the rest of her.
But it was different. I was mad and grumpy about the looney in my backyard.
But now they are getting the full attention they deserve.
Letting out a loud exhale, I try swallowing more saliva than was produced when I smelled that chicken potpie. My hands turn sweaty, and I rub them on my jeans.
Then she notices me watching her. Her eyes widen as she drops her sweater down. But it’s too late. The image has been imprinted on my retinas for the rest of my days. With still round eyes, she watches me for a few moments before she doubles over and starts laughing.
I get myself together and take off running like the bird did moments ago. Inside, she greets me with a wide smile. “You said to keep his attention.”
“I guess I did,” I say, enjoying the lightness of her voice. “You still managed to take me by surprise. ”
She rolls her lips. “You blush?”
“Internally,” I say.
She laughs, walking up to meet me halfway. “I’m not surprised.”
I lean in, savoring being in her space. “Why’s that?”
“Because I think I’ve figured you out,” she whispers softly.
I hope to God she hasn’t. “You think so?” And I know no matter how she answers, I’ll want to be closer to her.
Nora’s eyes crinkle, and a knowing smile tugs at her lips. “Yep.” She gently places her palm on my cheek, stopping me in my tracks.
“I’m afraid to find out what you think,” I say. I’m also damn curious. But mostly afraid.
She touches my nose with hers. “I think, Jericho, that you are a big, warm cinnamon roll while you pretend to be a dry piece of bread.”
I stiffen in her arms. “I’m unsure if that’s a compliment or an insult.” It sounds like both. A little more like an insult. Maybe a lot more like an insult.
“A compliment.” There’s no hesitation in her voice, and it softens the edges of my insecurity. She smiles, gently rubbing my cheek.
We stare at each other. A silence falls between us.
Not an uncomfortable one. Just loaded with something I can’t name yet.
But I know it’s there even if I don’t know its name.
It settles in my chest, scratchy and overwhelming.
I lift my hand, fingers grazing her jaw.
She closes her eyes for a second, leaning into the touch.
“I was really close,” she whispers, peeking from under her eyelids, laughter playing on her lips.
“Close to what?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Knowing she’s about to push me. Knowing I’ll like where she pushes me to.
“Showing him my boobs. ”
It’s exactly as I expected and nothing like I expected. Touching my forehead to hers, I begin laughing. “Damn. I should have waited outside.”
“You should have.”
Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, I pull back half an inch. “Let’s go eat that pie while I pretend it’s made of the rooster.”
“You are evil,” she giggles, and the sound is like sunlight in the darkest of places.
“I just might be.” With that, I throw my arm over her shoulder and lead her toward the kitchen, trying to calm my internal thoughts that would sure make her blush.