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He’d never thought much about it; now that she mentioned it, though, he saw how facing the door could be beneficial. “Makes sense.”
“Drives my mom crazy when we go out to a restaurant, but she’s used to it. Reese finds it funny, and usually wants to sit next to me.”
“Your niece invited me for pizza and ice cream today, right before I picked you up.”
Taylor smiled at the mention of Reese. “She loves people. You could’ve been with someone she’d never met and she would’ve invited you both along. Her teachers always tell us she’s the most caring student in class.”
Us? Did she mean Priscilla and her, or was Reese’s mother included in the statement, too? Priscilla had mentioned having another daughter, and he guessed she was Reese’s mother. During dinner, though, Reese never mentioned her mom, and it was evident Reese lived with Taylor and Priscilla. Did her mom live there, too? He didn’t think so. While it wasn’t any of his business, he wondered about their family dynamic.
“We need more people in the world like her,” he said before he tasted the pie. Or maybe he should say, tasted something fit for the gods. When Taylor said their pies were unbelievable, she hadn’t been kidding. He dug his fork in for more.
“Told you it was incredible.”
“I’m going to get a whole pie to take home with me.”
Taylor leaned her chin on her hand. “That might not be safe. You might find me climbing through a window in the middle of the night to steal it.”
Curt pictured her shimmying her way through a window. In his mind, though, it wasn’t the kitchen she found herself in, but his bedroom, and it wasn’t pie she was looking for. “No need to sneak in. Just ring the bell and I’ll share with you.”
He reached for his coffee and forced the erotic images from his head. He’d never been a player like his cousin Trent, but he dated. He’d even been in a few long-term relationships. His last relationship, though, had ended five months ago, and he hadn’t been with a woman since.
She snapped her fingers. “Darn it. I should’ve recorded you saying that in case I show up at ten o’clock tonight, and you’ve changed your mind. Maybe I’ll play it safe and buy one, too.” Finally Taylor reached for her fork. “Of course, if I do, I’ll need to get at least a slice of chocolate chip pie or some cookies for Reese. She’d never forgive me if I came home with pie for Mom and me but nothing for her.”
Her statement confirmed his previous suspicion. Reese’s mom didn’t live with them.
“She was getting ice cream and pizza today,” he reminded her.
Taylor smiled, and a dimple appeared in her right cheek. “You don’t spend much time around kids, do you?”
Curt thought about his answer before he spoke. “The only children I’ve been around are my cousins’ kids, and they’re still young. The oldest will be two in the fall.”
“Well, trust me, Reese could’ve stopped here and had chocolate chip pie after eating ice cream, and she’d still be disappointed if I brought home pie for myself and nothing for her.”
They ate in silence for a few seconds before Taylor put down her fork and reached for her coffee. “You mentioned your cousins. Do you have a big family?”
He’d been the one to open his mouth and bring up his family. If he hoped to keep everyone from learning who he really was, he needed to watch his words more carefully. “Oh, yeah. My dad is one of four and my mom is one of seven. I have more first cousins then I can count, and now they’re starting to have children.”
“One of seven? I hope your mom had more than one bathroom growing up.” Taylor laughed, the sound rippling across the table, and he laughed, too. “My sister and I were always fighting over ours. There’s only one full bathroom in the house, so we had to share it with our parents, too. Mom had to make a schedule when we were in middle school and high school so we both got ready on time.”
Curt thought of the estate his mom grew up on and where his grandparents still lived. “They had more than one.” Truthful and to the point. “What about you? Do you have a big family?”
“Average. My mom has a sister and brother. Both live nearby. My dad had two sisters. One lives in town, and the other moved to Arizona a few years ago. My cousins are spread throughout New England.”
“Do you only have one sister?”
Taylor’s eyes grew sad, and she reached for her fork again. “Yes. Eliza is a year older than me. You’d think since we’re so close in age we would’ve had a lot in common, but we’ve always been complete opposites.”
He knew all about that. “I’ve never had a lot in common with my brother, either. I’d do anything for him and he’s the same way, but it’s hard to believe we have the same parents. I have more in common with my sister.”
“Family can be complicated.” She shook her head ever so slightly. “Let’s talk about something other than family.”
Curt had no complaints there.
They discussed her work with the DEA while they finished their pie and first cups of coffee. Then, he answered her questions about why he’d become a writer and where he got his ideas. Unwilling to end their time together, he bought them another round of coffee. He also purchased a whole mixed berry pie to take home with him.
“I noticed the dumpster outside the house when I went running this week.”
“Started tearing apart the kitchen this week. It seemed like the best place to remodel first,” Curt answered. “I can’t grill outside forever.”
