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“Fine,” he said. “Do you want green beans or cauliflower with your steak tonight?”
“Neither,” she said.
“You have to choose one or the other,” he said.
“I had a salad at lunch,” Nan said.
“False,” Hedra said as she joined them in the kitchen.
Nan growled at her, and Hedra grinned. “I’m not going to lie for you, Althea.”
“Green beans,” Nan said. “Bring them to me at the table, and I’ll snap the ends for you.”
“I can do that.” Boone kissed her cheek again and resisted the urge to kiss Hedra when she brushed past him. “How was your day, Hedra?”
“Good.” She grabbed a fresh dishtowel and pulled a casserole dish from the dishwasher, drying it and putting it away.
“Anything I should know about?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
“I got Wordle in two tries today,” she said with a sarcastic grin.
He growled, and she stuck her tongue out before grabbing the last dish and putting it away. “I’m heading to my room. Enjoy your meal.”
“Have dinner with us,” Boone said.
“You cooking me dinner wasn’t part of the job description,” Hedra said.
“I know,” Boone said. “But there’s plenty, and Nan and I would like it if you joined us. Right, Nan?”
He gave his nan a look, hoping she might, for once, just please God, this one time, be nice.
Nan turned to Hedra. “I wouldn’t hate it.”
“Well, how can I resist that invitation,” Hedra laughed.
“Great!” Boone’s tiger trilled happily, and Nan gave him a raised eyebrow look that he ignored.
“What can I do to help?” Hedra asked as Alfie jumped from Nan’s lap and trotted out of the kitchen.
Boone placed the green beans in front of Nan. “You could get the salad ready.”
“Salad and green beans?” Nan snorted in disgust. “I am a carnivore, Boone.”
The disdain in her voice made both Boone and Hedra laugh.
“Your human side is an omnivore and needs vegetables, Nan.” Boone pulled the steaks out of the fridge, liking the feel of Hedra’s warm body when she hipchecked him out of the way so she could open the crisper. “Besides, it isn’t like…”
He stared at Alfie when the poodle trotted back into the kitchen. Nan followed his gaze and laughed. “Oh, Alfie.”
Hedra turned around, a bag of shredded carrots in one hand and a bag of chopped lettuce in the other. “Are you freaking kidding me, dog?”
Boone studied the bright purple bra draped across Alfie’s head. The right cup sat on his head like a jaunty hat. He had one shoulder strap in his mouth and he worried it with his teeth, growling softly under his breath.
“That’s my best bra, you little butthead,” Hedra said as she dropped the salad supplies on the counter and stalked toward him.
“Run, Alfie,” Nan said with a laugh.
The dog took off, barking like an idiot when Boone dodged to the right and snagged him by one fuzzy back leg.
