Page 55 of In This Moment

Throwing her head back, she laughed. “You win.”

They sat, and she dug into his gumbo.

She’d seen the hearty soup or stew made countless ways. Correctly and incorrectly. However, as a northerner, Graham seemed to nail all the right ingredients for proper southern gumbo, and color her surprised. Onions, bell peppers, celery, okra, shrimp, sausage, and chicken. Oh, and the flavor? Amazing. The perfect blend of spices. Gammy had made hers with cayenne and black pepper, dry mustard, paprika, sage, cumin, bay leaves, thyme, and parsley. Rebecca had watched her multiple times. Graham’s version was very close, though she was used to it over rice instead of with a side of bread.

“This is delicious.” Wide-eyed, she looked at him. “Seriously delicious.”

One corner of his mouth curved. “You sound shocked.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I am. I’ve had gumbo in Boston or surrounding areas more times than I have fingers and toes to count. It was never good.”

Nodding, smile faint, he reached for a slice of bread. “My folks vacationed in New Orleans one year when I was a kid. Dad tried gumbo for the first time, and demanded to learn how to make it.” He laughed. “They went to five different restaurants, where he wormed his way into the kitchen for a brief cooking lesson. This is his recipe.”

“That’s hilarious.” And dedicated. “I like him already.” She took a few more spoonfuls. “Please tell him I’m impressed, and he can move south to cook for us anytime.”

Up went his brows. “No props for the chef. I see how it is.” Humor in his eyes, he winked. “I have all his recipes. Say the word, and I’ll cook for you.”

“The word.”

He laughed. Rough, coarse, and from the gut, causing her insides to heat, and not from the stew.

After a beat, he sighed. “I’d kill for your grandmother’s peach pie recipe. She never did tell me her secret.”

Full, she nudged her bowl aside. “Not many know her secret. It’s written down around here somewhere, but I know it by heart. I’ll teach you sometime.”

He pointed at her with his spoon. “I will hold you to that.” Rising, he set their bowls in the sink. “My parents are coming down for a visit next week.”

“Are they? I’ll bet you’re excited to see them.” He’d been uprooted from everything he’d known when he’d accepted the job in Vallantine. If it were her, and it had been not so long ago, she’d miss the people and places from home.

“I am.” He set the large pot on a cooling rack and filled the sink with soapy water. “I know a few tourist spots here, but maybe you could help me show them around?”

“I’d be glad to. Don’t you dare do the dishes. You cooked. I’ll clean.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He turned off the water and eyed the pot. “This will need to cool before we can put it in the fridge.”

“Okay.” A tingle shot through her. There was something sexy about hearing him ma’am her like a southern boy. “Want to watch a movie? Or do you need to get home?”

“Nowhere I gotta be.” He straightened as if remembering a detail. “You have a flatscreen on the floor of your old bedroom. Would you like me to connect it in your new bedroom for you? You’ve got a TV in the living room already.”

That’s right. She’d forgotten. “I brought it back from Boston with me. Haven’t gotten around to setting it up yet. You don’t mind?”

“Nope.” He offered a sly grin. “Show me your bedroom, Rebecca.”

Chapter Fourteen

While Rebecca laid on her bed, cuddling with his damn dog, Graham connected an ethernet cable to her flatscreen on the dresser. After plugging in the TV, he glanced over his shoulder. “Try it out.”

She picked up the remote and pushed a button. “Yay.” She pushed another button, and Netflix filled the screen. “I’ll have to unbox my Blu-ray player one of these days, but we can find something on here to watch.”

Guess that meant they were staying in her bedroom.

He walked around to the other side of the bed and lay beside her, crossing his feet at the ankles. The intimacy of the situation wasn’t lost on him, but she seemed nonchalant, flipping through the menu. He about choked on his tongue earlier when she’d emerged from her shower wearing the equivalent of panties and a tight tee. From the second he’d spotted her at the curb outside their homes weeks ago, he’d been avidly attracted to her. Getting to know her better and learning her personality had only amped his desire.

But her in that outfit? Hell. He was but a mere mortal man, for crying out loud.

“What are you in the mood for?”

He turned his head to look at her, figuring this was a female trap, but she’d meant movies, not where his dirty, dirty thoughts had plummeted. Pity.

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