Chapter 15 Kamryn
Kamryn
Kamryn let out a startled squeal when Tariq pulled her back down onto the bed.
“Where’re you going, baby?” he murmured as he trailed kisses along her jaw, neck, and shoulder.
Giggling, she snuggled closer in his arms. “I was going to get the cake started because I want to get to your parents’ house
a little early to help Mama Yvonne. I know she likes to go all out for the family dinners, but there are more of us now, and
I don’t feel right letting her do all the cooking.” Her mother-in-law always turned down offers for assistance, saying that
she loved preparing meals for her family. Kamryn had learned over the past seven months that it was easier to just show up,
roll up her sleeves, and jump in rather than ask. Her home training wouldn’t allow her to sit and be waited on as if she were
some kind of queen.
“It’s a Saturday, sweetheart. Dinner isn’t until six, and it’s only nine. You need to learn how to relax sometimes, Kam. You
and Theresa have been putting in a lot of hours to try to get the new center ready by summer, and I don’t want you burning
out before the doors open.”
“You always say that.” She’d left her other job around the Christmas holiday, then hit the ground running at the beginning of the year.
They’d been meeting with contractors to renovate the building Theresa had found and leased, working on grants, securing donations, making lists of supplies, and doing a whole host of other things.
Many days, she was out the door by six in the morning and, at least two days out of the week, didn’t get home until after six in the evening.
“Because you always do it.”
She glared at him. “There’s a lot to do, Tariq. What am I supposed to do—let Theresa do it all alone?”
Tariq groaned and ran a hand down his face. “That’s not what I’m saying, and you know it. I’m talking about balance. We’ve
had this discussion before, and you said you’d do better.”
Kamryn released a deep sigh. She couldn’t stay angry at him, especially since she’d promised to work on finding a happy medium
between work and home. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m anxious to see everything come to fruition, and I get
a little carried away sometimes.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “A little?”
A twinge of guilt hit her because she knew it happened more often than not. She had to get herself together. “Okay, I get
it. I’m making another promise to do better.” Kamryn snuggled closer to him. It was one more thing she loved about her husband.
Tariq always put her well-being first, and she knew she couldn’t have had a more supportive partner in life. “It just means
I get to cuddle with you a little longer.” They’d gotten up a little while ago to shower, then crawled back into bed. He idly
ran his hand up and down her back, the soothing motion relaxing her even more.
Tariq kissed the top of her head. “My favorite pastime. What kind of cake are you making? You know Vince will probably bow at your feet if it’s the pound cake.”
She laughed. “I know. I love his exuberance, though.” Vincent asked about the cake every time the family got together. “I’m
thinking about doing the 7UP cake this time. It’ll be just as good.”
“I know, and I’m getting the first piece.”
Kamryn reached up to stroke his face. “How about I make you a mini one to have here?”
“How about I show you how much I love that idea and how much I love you?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Oooh, I’m down for that.” Making love with him was one of her favorite pastimes. One touch, and she’d go up in flames . . . like now. A moan slipped out as his hands reached beneath her
shirt and caressed every part of her body, lingering longer in some places and increasing her pleasure.
“I love touching you, kissing you, licking you.”
She liked it too. So much so that by the time he entered her, she was halfway to orgasm, and it didn’t take long for the release
to send her soaring, and he was right behind her. It took several minutes for their breathing to return to normal. “If this
is what happens when I stay in bed on the weekends, count me in.”
His deep, rumbling laughter filled the room. “Mmm-hmm, that’s what I thought.”
They lay there quietly a while longer, then got up to shower.
Kamryn dressed and went to the kitchen to start the cake.
She smiled and also decided to make something special for Taylor, who had mentioned loving s’mores during their conversation about favorite desserts when they went out for lunch last Saturday.
Instead of the gooey confection, she planned to make a batch of her s’mores truffles.
Then her new sister-in-law could have them at her leisure.
She added the 7UP to the cake mixture, then stopped the mixer.
“Why are you frowning, baby?” Tariq asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
Kamryn startled a little because she hadn’t heard him enter the kitchen. “Just thinking about lunch last weekend and how I
wish I could figure out Giselle’s issue with me.” She’d shared with him what happened after returning home, and he’d encouraged
her to keep trying. However, she didn’t know how much longer she could deal with the snide comments and one-word answers to
questions, not to mention the subtle flirting with Tariq. It was the one thing that always put a damper on her visits with
Tariq’s family. She kept a good face on while there, but most often she was ready to leave shortly after arriving. Only when
Shawn and Giselle missed a gathering was Kamryn able to relax and fully enjoy herself.
“I can talk to Shawn about it if you want.” He eased back so she could spoon the cake batter into the pan and place it into
the oven. “I’m sure he’d be happy to help.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want this mess to spill over to your relationship with him. I couldn’t take it if the
two of you ended up at odds.”
He chuckled. “That would never happen. I know my brother, and he would definitely be on board. Like me, he’d want to do anything
and everything to get to the bottom of the problem.”
“If you think it would help, please do,” she said. She went to the pantry to gather the ingredients for the truffles.
“I’ll talk to him today.”
“Thanks. Maybe he can find out the problem.”
“What are you making now?”
“S’mores truffles for Taylor.”
Tariq shook his head. “You’re always coming up with something else.”
She smiled. “I know, but she’s a little nervous about telling everyone they’re married, so I wanted to do something special
for her. I cannot wait to see everybody’s faces when she and Austin drop that little bomb.” Kamryn paused and faced her husband. “Do you think Giselle
is going to be upset that she didn’t know about or wasn’t invited to their wedding?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea, but that’s not your problem. It was Austin’s decision, and everybody will just have to be okay
with it. I’m sure my mom will fuss for a few minutes, but as soon as they let her know about the reception, she’ll be fine.”
“If you say so. Poor Vincent. He’s the only single one left, and I know your mother is going to be all over him.”
“Probably,” he said with a laugh.
“I wonder what happened to the woman who worked with him he mentioned last year. He hasn’t said anything since then.”
“I wouldn’t either, especially around my mom. She’d have him at the altar before the introductions were complete.”
Kamryn burst out laughing. She couldn’t deny that truth. Mama Yvonne made it no secret that she wanted all her “boys” to find
good women and settle down. She made the truffle mixture, rolled it into bite-sized balls, and placed them on the parchment-lined
baking sheet. After removing her gloves, she stuck the tray in the freezer for a few minutes. Without saying anything, Tariq
started washing the dishes. “Thanks, babe,” she said, leaning up to kiss him. “As soon as I’m done with these, I’ll make us
a late breakfast, or I guess we can call it brunch.”
“Don’t do too much. You know Mom will cook enough for thirty people.”
“Mmm-hmm, and you want to save room for every dish she cooks.” She dried the mixing bowl and paddle and put them back on the mixer stand.
Tariq chuckled. “Yep.”
Kamryn melted some chocolate, dipped the s’mores truffles, and placed them back on the cookie sheet. “Okay, I’ll let these
set in the fridge for a bit and get the food started.”
She decided on something simple—scrambled eggs, grits, bacon, and toast. Because he loved to cook, Tariq turned on some music,
then jumped in to help with the preparations. As usual, it took longer because they sang and danced around the kitchen. Spending
time with him this way never failed to put a smile on her face. Afterward, the truffles were set, and she put a few in a nice
gift box. She’d take the extras to add to the dessert table, minus a few that she saved for herself.
“Want to taste one?” Kamryn fed it to him and waited for his reaction.
“Okay, I can get with these. I would’ve never thought of making them this way. I can eat my s’mores without all the sticky
mess.”
The oven timer went off, and she went to check the cake. It was ready, and she set it on a trivet to cool.
Tariq groaned. “That smells so good. Pretty soon, Mom is going to just let you handle the dessert part of the meal.”
“And I’d gladly do it. She works so hard preparing everything else, and it’s the least I can do.”
Once the cake cooled, Kamryn added the glaze, then went to get ready. When they got to her in-laws’ house, she didn’t see
any other cars.
“Looks like we’re the first to arrive,” Tariq said as they started up the walkway. “I thought for sure Vince would’ve beat
everybody here.”
“I hope he’s okay.” In the year that she’d been part of the family, no matter how early she and Tariq came, Vincent had always gotten there first.
“There she is,” Mama Yvonne said when she opened the door. “I knew you were going to bring something good.” She hugged them
both. “Come on in.”
They followed her to the kitchen and greeted Papa Aaron, who was removing what looked like prime rib from the oven. “Hey,