AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Blackwood Creek was a memorable place, and I’d be blessed beyond measure to belong here. To make that possible, I’d need to lower my defenses some. Ridge was the safest bet for me right now. This could all blow up in my face, I realized that, but did I really want to be so closed off that I had nothing at the end of my life? Would that be living? What was the point of me surviving by then?
My mind wandered over all the scenarios of the outcome, the fear of vulnerability grasping me tightly. At the end of it all, was Ridge worth the risk? Was he the one I could trust, when I’d been proven time and again that trust was never guaranteed?
Chapter22
Ridge
As much as I hated that Tori and I had been interrupted, I couldn’t deny that location was not the best place for romancing. And I’d needed to hear what Clawson had to say.
My mind was reeling as I walked into the manor. Following up on the town’s safety, Tori’s safety, was a never-ending task. There were too many what-ifs and not enough calls to action. I couldn’t pinpoint where the threats were coming from, and that worried me more than anything. It made me feel we were vulnerable, and I wasn’t too fond of that.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
Tori’s voice jerked me from my thoughts. She stood in the kitchen doorway, holding a large spoon and wearing an apron smeared with food. I held back a laugh. It appeared she was a messy cook. It was a pleasant sight, though, coming home after dinner to find her cooking dinner. I was used to a dark house and dinner for one. Her presence gave the place a hominess I hadn’t realized I’d been missing. I could get used to this. If only I could convince her to stay longer.
“Hey, Miss Chef, just digesting everything I heard and saw today. Working through the list.” I sniffed the air. “Are you really cooking?”
Tori smirked, turned, and headed back into the kitchen. “No, I thought I would light a scented candle, dirty some pots and plates, and rub some food on an apron and spoon to give you a little thrill.” Exasperation fueled her voice, and I loved her sass. “I can cook, you know.”
I smiled at her annoyed tone, but instant disgust tore through me as I entered the kitchen. “No, don’t do that. You’re going to ruin it.”
She rolled her eyes as she continued to put diced Spam into the macaroni and cheese. Dismayed, I looked around the counters. There was nothing else, just the macaroni cheese with the gross Spam casserole, no salad or steamed vegetables in sight.
“Please tell me you snuck in some cauliflower or something nutritious into that thing. You can’t possibly eat that. It’s not a balanced meal.” Plus, it was plain gross.
“Watch it. Your rich, only-child syndrome is showing.” She picked up a piece of Spam, popped it in her mouth with a bubbly smile, and chewed. “Grab a plate because I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
I was so shocked, so elated, I found I could slightly ignore the grotesque concoction that was invading my kitchen. I was also willing to accept it if it meant I would learn more about Tori. Notably, why she repressed her wolf so strongly.
My wolf wasn’t too happy with the arrangement and told me not to eat, convinced the food was poisoned, but I ignored him. I sat at the counter, eagerly awaiting her story, only to frown when she put a plate of the gross, gooey ensemble she was passing off as food in front of me.
She patted me on the shoulder. “Voila.”
I sniffed the steaming meal, and my wolf and I stuck our noses up at it. How could she eat this? Willingly?
“I’m all ears.” I pushed it aside and gave the little wolf my undivided attention. A devilish smile crowned her lips, and I groaned inwardly. She was going to make me suffer.
“Turnabout is fair play. If you want me to start talking, you have to at least give this a try. You’ve eaten bunny food for way too long. You need to broaden your horizons, Lassie.”
Aw, we were back to the dog names. At first, she’d meant them as insults, but now they were almost terms of endearment. Either way, I loved it when she got more playful. It meant she was comfortable in my presence, that we were making progress.
“I spent a small part of my first paycheck to buy the ingredients for this. It was one of my childhood favorites.” She looked down at her plate, ensuring we couldn’t make eye contact.
My heart melted a little for her. She was trying, and this was her way of bringing me in. I still saw the bit of guilt and manipulation, but I accepted it for the peace offering it was.
After such a short time, Tori knew me well enough to know I’d do practically anything for her at this point. This was how she got something she wanted. The way she was digging into her meal made me wonder if she’d been able to enjoy it recently or not. I couldn’t imagine she’d stayed in too many places with a kitchen or even a kitchenette that allowed her to make this disgustingly unhealthy meal for herself that reminded her of home.
This dish was comfort food in its purest sense, which meant the story she was about to tell me would not be easy on her.
Grumbling, I grabbed the fork and picked around the food before stabbing at a couple of noodles and a square piece of Spam. I took a bite, and as soon as it hit my taste buds, I pulled a face as I forced myself to chew and swallow. Was this seriously comfort food for her?
Tori’s melodic laugh seized my heart. I knew I’d keep making ridiculous faces if it meant she’d do that again. Her laughter was the most fantastic sound in the world, and I’d never tire of hearing it.
I wiped my mouth with my napkin as I poked around the plate, hoping she would begin her story and I would no longer have to suffer from this meal.
She sat silently for several beats, working up the courage to divulge. I left her alone to get the story out in her own time. “I grew up in Colorado. I loved it there. We were a normal family—my parents, my older brother Kyle, and I. I was a normal kid. A human kid with a fantastic childhood.”
Now, she was the one playing with her food.
