Chapter 10 #2
Less than three minutes later he was standing at Riley’s front door, knocking on the door instead of ringing the bell, in case anyone was still sleeping.
His ears could pick up the sounds of clanging pots in the kitchen, and the murmur of voices from somewhere near the back of the house.
As he listened he detected footsteps coming toward the front door.
Remi stepped back a bit so he wasn’t right up against the doorway and could be easily seen through the peephole.
He heard a feminine growl, then the lock turning and the door opening.
Cristie stood there, obviously having just awakened.
Her hair was a mess — one side of it still tangled in a ponytail, with the other side falling down straight beside her cheek.
There were even a few pieces sticking straight up out of her ponytail holder.
She wore a ratty old bathrobe that threatened to come apart at the seams, a tank top, and a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, with her feet shoved into house slippers that had seen better days.
She stood there bleary-eyed, glaring at him as she tried to blink away the sleepiness that still hung heavily over her.
He smiled at her as he realized this was the most beautiful he’d ever seen her look.
“Morning,” he said.
“Mmhmm,” she said, scowling at him.
He raised his hands, presenting her with a coffee and her habitual sandwich.
Her eyes widened and she looked from the coffee to Remi. “Why?” she asked.
“Because you come get it every day. I knew you weren’t going in to work today and thought I’d bring it to you.”
She started to reach for the cup and the sandwich, then hesitated.
“I’ve already put your favorite creamer in it and so much sugar it might give you diabetes.”
She stifled a smile as she took the coffee and sandwich from him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Who’s at the door, baby?” Riley called as he came out of the kitchen.
“Remi,” she answered, then took a deep drink of the coffee. “Ohhh,” she sighed, hugging the coffee to her chest. “So good.”
Riley walked up to stand beside Cristie.
Cristie looked at her father. “This is coffee. Not that stuff you make.”
“There is nothing wrong with my coffee,” Riley said defensively.
“It’s bitter,” Cristie said.
“That’s the chicory. It’s supposed to be bitter,” Riley said, then looked at Remi with a look that said, ‘you understand, don’t you?’.
“I don’t like it. Remi saved me from having to drink it,” she said, holding up the to-go cup from the store.
“Did you say thank you?” Riley asked.
Cristie focused on Remi again. “Thank you, Remi. I was about to have to choke down the stuff my dad drinks. It’s bad.”
“It is not!” Riley called after her as she walked away. He was still shaking his head as he faced Remi again. “You busy?”
“No, sir. I helped Richie get the store ready, then decided to bring Cristie her usual breakfast when I was done. I figured I’d just go back home and wait until time to come over.”
Riley shook his head. “Consider this time to come over.”
“Okay,” Remi said.
Riley reached out and grabbed Remi, pulling him into the house. “You know how to barbecue?”
“I do,” Remi said.
“You know how to make Kaid’s famous barbecue sauce?”
Remi grinned. “I do.”
“You got a problem teaching it to me?”
“I don’t see why. I already gave my mother’s recipes to Richie. I’m more afraid of her than him, to be honest.”
“I would be, too. Come on in, let’s get this party started.”
Remi followed Riley down the hallway as Riley pointed to things as he went.
“Living room,” he said, pointing left. “Office where Maia takes care of the books, extra bedroom beyond that,” Riley said, pointing right.
“Staircase,” he said with a snicker. “Bedrooms up there. Bathroom in there, under the stairs,” he said, pointing as they passed it.
“This is the kitchen,” he said. “We eat all our meals in the kitchen, even formal holiday ones,” he explained as they walked into the kitchen. “Look who’s here, my love,” Riley said.
Maia looked up from where she stirred a pot of something steaming on the stove top. “Remi!” she exclaimed, setting down her spoon and coming toward him. She hugged him tightly, then smiled up at him. “I’m so glad to see you. Glad you’re here.”
“Thank you, Maia. I’m glad to be here.”
“I heard you’ve been busy,” she said.
“I have. But busy is good. I like it. Richie is nice and appreciates the help, so I don’t mind.”
“How is it that you met Richie before we even knew you were here?” she asked, knowing full well how, but wanting to get her point across anyway.
“I got here about three in the morning. I didn’t want to knock that early, so I just parked outside the gates and took a quick nap. Richie woke me up when he was walking to work and asked if I was Remi and if I was, did I know how to cook.”
Maia laughed. “And we all know you can’t have the mother you do without knowing how to cook.”
“Exactly. I figured I’d help out with construction, but I’m actually enjoying the kitchen. It’s a change from what I usually did.”
“Good, I’m glad you’re liking it. But I want to make one thing clear.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Remi said, waiting for Maia to make her point.
“Don’t ever hesitate to knock on this door or come right in here. You’re a part of us. Don’t act like a guest.”
“Further to that point,” Riley said, getting up and going to a pegboard hanging near the back door. He took a key off one of the hooks and handed it to Remi. “This is a key to the house. All of my Pride members have one for whenever they might need access.”
Remi looked at the key clasped between his fingers, then at Cristie, who watched as she slowly chewed her sandwich.
She didn’t say a word, or give any indication of her thoughts on him being given a key to her house.
“Thank you, Riley. But maybe we should wait on this for a while to see what happens.”
Riley looked at him for a few seconds, then shook his head. “Whether you choose to become a permanent member of this Pride, or go on a path that leads elsewhere, you’ll always be welcomed, and considered family. Keep it.”
Remi nodded awkwardly, then shoved the key down into his pocket. “Thank you, Riley. Really.”
“You’re welcome. Now, what do we need to make that sauce.”
“You got any real good bourbon?”
“I do.”
“Let’s start with that and brown sugar. We’ll add garlic, onion powder, ketchup, Creole mustard, soy sauce, and fresh orange juice and cook that down. While that is cooking we’ll make a spice blend to rub on the meat before we put it on the grill. I’ll show you how to make that, too.”
“Bourbon! I knew it! He said he didn’t use Bourbon!”
Remi laughed.
“But not on the brisket! I like that the way you do it better,” Maia said.
“No, not a thing on the brisket but my seasoning. The sauce is for the chicken and the ribs.”
“Well, on that note, I’m going to take a shower and get dressed,” Cristie said. “Thank you for breakfast, and bringing me decent coffee, Remi.”
“My pleasure,” Remi said.
“It’s not even seven yet. You have time,” Maia said.
“Kind of,” Cristie said. “Everybody’s going to be here. Even Sebastian, Cruz, and Clay came in from school. I’d rather go ahead and take a shower now, then help you get ready rather than rushing later.”
“That’s fine. I already have the red beans started. I’m going to have a cup of coffee and wait for your dad and Remi to vacate my kitchen with their sauce concoction before I go any further. But then we’ll make dirty rice, macaroni salad, and some kind of potatoes.”
‘What about desserts?” Cristie asked.
“I thought we’d make a couple of chocolate fudge sheet cakes, and I’ve got some vanilla ice cream in the freezer. I’ve got a frozen peach cobbler from the last time I made it. I think I’ll thaw that out, too,” Maia said.
“I’ll be back as soon as I make myself boo tee ful,” Cristie said, saying the word beautiful playfully.
“You’re already beautiful. I don’t ever think I’ve seen you look more beautiful,” Remi said, forgetting where he was, and what situation he and Cristie were in at the moment.
Cristie’s head snapped in his direction and it was evident she was trying to determine if he’d made a back-handed comment or not.
Her glare made him realize what he’d said, and he looked around the room as Riley and Maia both waited to see how he’d dig himself out of what he’d just said to make her understand he wasn’t insulting her appearance in any way.
“Um, that didn’t sound right. Let me try again,” he said.
“Please!” Cristie snapped.
Remi nodded. “When you opened the door you were still groggy from sleep. Your face was a little pinked, and your eyes were puffy. Your hair was, and is, a little crazy and sticking up in some places while falling out of your ponytail holder in others. You’re wearing your favorite bathrobe, and you’re dressed casually in what I can only assume is some of your favorite sleeping clothes.
You looked all soft and warm and just, in the moment.
No presenting yourself in a certain way, just you.
And I just thought, wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more simple, pure, natural beauty in my life. So effortless.”
Cristie’s expression had gone from one of accusation, to a soft, almost vulnerable one.
Riley and Maia exchanged a knowing look.
Cristie’s hand came up to rest at her throat, right at her collarbone, as she gazed at Remi. “I don’t know what to say, Remi. I’ve never gotten a compliment like that. Thank you,” she said. Her voice soft and clearly conveying her surprise.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll, uh… I’ll see you a little later.”
Remi smiled and nodded.
She started out of the kitchen, running her hand over her hair as she tugged her bathrobe into place. When she reached the foot of the staircase near the front door, she threw a quick, thoughtful look back toward the kitchen.
Her father was standing at the cabinets he’d installed on that side of the kitchen digging for whatever pots or pans he was looking for, and noticed her looking back toward the kitchen, though he gave no indication of it.
When Cristie hurried up the stairs, Riley grabbed two shallow roasting pans in one hand, then carried them over to the counter beside the stove. He paused briefly beside Remi, holding his hand up in the air, waiting for a high-five.
Remi slapped his hand, somewhat confused.
“Excellent answer, Remi. Excellent answer. Score one for you.”
“I wasn’t looking to score points, though,” Remi objected.
“That’s what makes it so perfect. You honestly saw her that way, and she knows you’re being truthful. Good for you.”
“She’s stunning. How could anybody ever think she’s not. And that’s a part of her, a side of her, that not everyone gets the opportunity to see,” Remi said.
Maia smiled at him as she took a frozen peach cobbler out of the freezer. “And that is why you’ll win her over. You see her, not the image she puts out for everybody that indicates they’re interested in her.”
“I hope I don’t have to kill anybody because they’re too interested.”
Riley and Maia both laughed.
“Sounds like me, chasing you down,” Riley said to Maia.