Chapter Thirty #2
“And what’re you?”
She lowers her eyes. “The gullible one, I suppose.”
I frown. “That’s not true. You’re the sweet one.”
“Sweet and gullible,” she counters.
“Sweet and gorgeous,” I correct, flashing her a wink.
She tilts her head with a smile. “I guess I’ll take it.”
“Good. Now, I’m gonna make you the best meal of your life.” I drizzle the oil, then add the pieces of steak.
“And what masterpiece are you creating tonight, Chef Tyler?”
Fuck. She just made that sound so goddamn sexy.
I tell her while adding seasoning, and I swear her mouth waters.
“And for dessert…” I hold up the cheesecake I bought.
“I think I just had a food-gasm. It already smells delicious.” She hums.
My cock jerks at the sexy noise, and I quickly shift so she doesn’t notice. As much as I’d love to feel her come on my fingers again, tonight is about us starting over.
It takes an hour to cook, and we chat the entire time.
There’s no awkward silence or weird tension and being with her feels as easy as it did before I left.
Gemma relaxes, and I grin every time I hear her sweet laughter.
She teases me, and I love every moment. As she watches me move around the kitchen, she offers to help, and I replay the memory of her disastrous attempt to make grilled cheese sandwiches last weekend.
“I got it,” I insist, plating everything before we sit.
“Wow, Tyler.” She closes her eyes as she moans around a forkful of food. “This is seriously so good. I think it’s my new favorite meal.”
“Yeah? That makes me happy to hear. I’m not quite up to the level I was at before prison, but I’ll get there eventually. Especially if you keep letting me cook for you.”
She smiles sweetly, and my gaze lingers on her lips that I’m desperate to kiss again.
“There’s no way you were better because this is a ten outta ten. Maybe even an eleven with dessert.”
“It’s nice having someone else to cook for. I mean, if you don’t count my mooching sister who literally takes food off my plate.”
“What about before? Did you cook only for yourself then?”
“In Vegas, yes. When I was with Maddie and Liam, I was in the kitchen a lot. It helped the slow days go by as we played the waiting game. Maddie was a dancer in college and always sucking down protein smoothies, so I tried to help her break that habit.”
“I bet she loved it.”
“Oh, she did. Then when I stayed with them for a few weeks after I got out, I spoiled them with breakfast and dinner a handful of times. At first, it felt strange, but it’s like riding a bike. Plus, it helps that I can follow directions.”
“Well, if this meal is any indication, I think so too.”
Gemma and I talk and laugh through the rest of dinner, then decide to save dessert until after the movie since we’re both stuffed.
“You sure you’re ready to watch this? It’s a scary one.”
“Do I have a choice?” she mocks, curling up on the couch with a blanket.
“It’s not scary scary…more a psychological thriller.”
“If I have nightmares tonight, I’m blaming you.”
“Oh, don’t be a baby. Jack Nicholson is amazing in this film.”
“Hmm…we’ll see.” She smirks as I press play and then plop down next to her.
“Just by his expressions, I can tell he’s crazy as hell,” she says after a while.
I wrap my arm around her and pull her against my chest. “Here, I’ll protect you.”
Gemma beams, then snorts. “Smooth.”
“Hey, gimme a break. Like my cooking skills, my game is a little off.”
Gemma bursts out laughing until tears form in her eyes. “How do you always make me smile? After the past couple of weeks, I should be in a sour ass mood. But I don’t think I’ve been this happy in months.”
“You should always be laughing and smiling, Gemma. It’s a beautiful sight to see and sound to hear.” I brush my thumb over her jaw, then pluck her bottom lip from between her teeth.
“Thanks for being here.”
“Thank you for agreeing to hang out.”
“No, I don’t mean just tonight. I mean, for coming back. I know you didn’t do it for me, but I’m glad you’re home.”
“I wasn’t sure it would be the right choice, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in years.”
She stares at my lips, and I battle with my head and heart on what to do next. Before I decide, a loud scream comes from the TV, and we both jump.
“Jesus.” She rests a hand on her chest. “That scared the shit out of me.”
I chuckle, taking it as a sign. Tonight’s not the night to cross that line.
We finish watching the movie, and when the credits roll, Gemma curses me out for the ending.
“You really thought it’d have a happily ever after like one of your cheesy romance films?” I tease as I cut the cheesecake.
“Well, I was holding out hope.” She crosses her arms.
“Alright so, besides that, what’d you think?”
“It was…interesting. Not something I’d ever watch again, though.”
“That’s fine because you have fifty more to choose from.” I smirk.
“I need a break before suffering through another, okay? Like maybe something with Patrick Swayze.”
“Let me guess, Dirty Dancing?”
“Yep. One of my favorites.”
“I remember,” I say softly. “You and Everleigh went through a whole phase when you were like thirteen and played the soundtrack on repeat.”
“Oh my God, that’s right.” Her eyes light up with excitement. “We tried to learn all the steps, just like Baby and Johnny.”
“I wanted to bash my head into a wall. That was probably why I started going to the gym and taking out my frustrations on a punching bag.”
“Very funny.”
“Oh, I’m serious. Y’all were always so loud, singing the lyrics at the top of your lungs.”
“We were teenagers,” she defends.
“Exactly and, at the time, extremely annoying.” I chuckle. “But don’t worry, I only think you’re a little annoying now. So that’s progress.”
She scoffs with a small smile.
“Alright, let me add the toppings, then we can dive in.” I slice the strawberries, then add whipped cream.
“You ever thought about working as a chef, like for real?” she asks.
“Maybe, but I’d rather get my hands dirty and sweaty in a ring. Perhaps, getting hired at a restaurant will be my plan C.”
“Must be exhausting to have so many talents,” she teases, stealing a piece of fruit.
“It is,” I say dramatically. “Good thing I’ve been celibate for the past five years. Wouldn’t wanna be a complete show-off.”
Gemma chokes and gasps for air. For a split second, I worry she won’t be able to catch her breath, but then she chuckles.
“Jesus, are you okay?”
She wipes the tears from her eyes as she continues grinning. “Yes, but I think you’re trying to kill me.”
“I didn’t realize you were so sensitive.”
“I wasn’t expecting that!”
With a smirk, I shrug. “Sorry. Next time, I’ll make sure you don’t have any food or beverages near your mouth.”
“How generous,” she muses.
Once our desserts are ready, we take them and sit on the couch. That sexy moan that escapes her tests my willpower to be a gentleman.
“So, can I ask about Robert?” I ask carefully, and she nods.
“I haven’t heard from him since last Friday,” she admits. “I hope that’s a good sign, and that he’ll leave me the hell alone.”
“You think he will?” I glance at her.
She sighs. “I hope so. I have nothing to say to him. Most of the town knows anyway, so it’d be pointless to try to ‘fix’ what’s broken between us. Not to mention, I have no desire to give him another chance.”
“Maybe we’ll both get lucky, and he’ll become Victoria’s focus, then they’ll both be out of our lives for good.”
“One can dream, right?” She licks some of the whipped cream from the strawberries, and I quickly look away before she catches me.
“So I have a question, and you can totally say no.”
“I probably won’t.” I smirk. “What is it?”
She sets her empty plate down on the coffee table and faces me. “I’m driving over to Clayton tomorrow to see Noah. I’d really love it if you’d come with me, unless you feel uncomfortable.”
I wasn’t expecting that. Though I have no desire to set foot in a prison again, I’d be on the other side this time.
“Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked. Of course, you don’t wanna go,” she quickly says, then waves it off.
“Gemma, I’ll join you,” I quickly tell her. “Might be good for Noah to see what his life can potentially be like after, and perhaps it’ll give him some hope.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. If you don’t think he’d mind.” Based on what Katie said, Noah hasn’t wanted many visitors, so it may be crossing a line.
“He won’t. I told him about your situation years ago after it happened, and we spoke not too long after you came home. I think you’re right. It’ll give him some peace knowing life isn’t over after prison.”
“Then count me in.”