Page 28 of Shiny Things

“It’s Kim, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You were the one who saved the diner, aren’t you?”

I blushed and nodded. “I suppose. It was really a group effort.”

That was a lie, but I wasn’t going to show my pride. Besides I couldn’t talk about that day without blushing over the memories of all that had happened afterwards . . . with her son.

“Let’s get started.”

“You’re volunteering to help?” Gia asked her with a snort.

“I can cook, Gia.”

“I remember. Though you must admit you’re probably out of practice.”

Humph.“I’m perfectly capable of helping.”

“Okay. Let’s see what you’ve got then,” Gia teased her.

Much to my surprise, the woman really did know her way around a kitchen. And she turned out to be a lot of help to us.

It took me a while to relax, but once I did, it turned out to be a fun day.

Elias’s mom was just a woman like any other. The more time I spent with her, the less intimidated I felt. By the end of the day, I found I was even enjoying myself around her.

“Same place, same time tomorrow?” she asked after we’d cleaned up for the day.

“Yes. Thanks, mom.”

Gia hugged her while I hung back.

Much to my surprise, Helena pulled me into an embrace next.

“Great work today, girls.”

My head was spinning in confusion as we left.

“She can come across as tough sometimes, especially to those outside her comfort zone, but she means well,” Gia explained on the drive back to my place.

Because she had plans with David, she didn’t stick around. It was probably a good thing seeing as how Elias was waiting for me, naked in my bed.

I shook my head and scowled at him.

“What if your sister hadn’t had plans this evening? She would have come in and hung out for a bit. You can’t just show up in my house naked like this.”

“Why? Does it bother you seeing me naked?”

My cheeks warmed as I looked him over. Coming home to this man naked in my bed was the best part of my day. But he was getting cocky, and there was no way I was going to fuel his ego by admitting it.

Instead, I undressed and joined him.

“Better,” he teased before making me forget that anything else existed in this world besides me, him, and this bed.

After we were both fully satisfied, we cuddled and talked. As much as I loved sex with Elias, this was the intimacy I craved with him the most. He was open and honest with me. I knew I could tell him absolutely anything and it would be okay.

“I spent the day with your mother and sister,” I blurted out.

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