AllFreeNovel
Share Us
JO
Again,the smell of bacon woke me. I opened my eyes to my childhood wallpaper. Then I heard a deep, throaty laugh. Lucas. He was here, and he loved me.
I dressed quickly and brushed my teeth.
“Good morning, everyone,” I said and strolled into the sunny kitchen.
“Good morning, Sweetness. Eggs? I scored them this morning despite stories your father told me about chicken snakes that would swallow my hand to get the egg in it.”
I gave my father the side-eye. He winked.
“When did you get up?” I turned back to Lucas.
“A couple of hours ago.”
“You couldn’t sleep?”
“Nah, I kept having the same dream.” His eyes glittered, and I remembered the one he described about me riding him. I wasn’t sure we had entirely made that dream a reality yet. That was now my priority.
“So, I got up, made coffee for your mom and dad, gathered the eggs, and listened to stories about some recipes you guys created from your restaurant touring days,” Lucas said.
Mom rose from the table and piled the dishes near the sink. “Help yourselves, kids. I’m getting ready for church.”
Dad stood with a nod and followed Mom down the hall.
“What time is church?” Lucas asked.
“Ten.” I leaned into his warm embrace. “Are you sure you’re up for it? You’ll have eyes on you the entire time.”
“As long as you’re beside me, I can do anything.” He didn’t wink or give me that flirty smile. He meant it, and I swooned a little inside.
“Dark jeans and a T-shirt, okay? It’s all I have,” he said.
“Sure. You’re from out of town. Only the bittiest of old ladies would comment. I think it’s safe.” I rose to give him a chaste kiss, but Lucas held me tight and took it deeper.
“When can we go home, baby? I need your skin next to mine.”
“We can check the flight schedules for tomorrow. How’s that?”
“Or I could call the service that flew me out and get another flight home tonight.”
“You came here on a private plane?” I whisper-yelled at him, trying to express my outrage but not wanting my parents to hear.
“Yes, I had to get to you and keep you from taking that job and making the biggest mistake of your life.”
“Ah, there he is, the cocky ass I love.”
He gave me the panty-melting dimples, and of course, mine melted. “I love you too,” he said. “You’re worth a private jet and so much more. Wanna fly back in one, join the mile high club?” He waggled his eyebrows.
It was ridiculous. An incredible waste of money. There was absolutely no good reason to take a private jet back to Perry Harbor.
“If you insist.” I sighed a long exhale.
“I can’t eatanother bite. Thank you, Mrs. Patree. It was delicious,” Lucas said.
“Call me Brenda. I’m glad you liked it.”
Once again, Mom brought her A-game for Sunday dinner, the noon meal after church. Fried chicken and biscuits, fried okra, creamed fresh corn, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers and onions in sweetened vinegar. It was a Southern version of the Holy Trinity. Sunday school, church, and chicken. Everyone was back for this meal, too.
