Page 51 of A Lesson for Laurel

“I shouldn’t say that. Maybe Rachelle has a gluten issue.”

“Her issue was she said it made her fat. Not sure how that was possible because she never ate much anyway, but it’s each person’s choice what they put in their mouth.”

“That’s right,” she said. “But I’m not into fancy Keto or Mediterranean diets. Those are the only ones I can think of right now. I just like what I like. I’m not fussy.”

“Neither am I,” he said. “Goes back to the image, I guess. I can put down some fancy cuisine at a work function but am more likely to stop and get a burger on the way home because I’m starving.”

“Oh my God. Do you know how many times I’ve done that? We went to dinner with Philip’s parents at the country club once a week. They always had these specials that his mother would talk me into getting. I’d be starving after. Philip would bring me home, and the minute I knew he was gone, I’d jump in the car and drive around the corner for fast food. I don’t even like fast food that much, but I figured what I ate for dinner was so good for me that the fast food would be fine in my body for the night.”

“I’ve never thought of it that way,” he said.

“This is good,” she said. “A nice balanced meal. You’re so adult.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I think. Rustic food. That is what Rachelle called it.”

“Does it need a name?” she asked.

“I don’t think so. I thought I was being considerate cooking half the time. We were both working from home. There is no rule or law that says the same person has to cook all the meals.”

She stopped eating and smiled. “No, there isn’t. I’m glad you think that way.”

“I don’t need someone to take care of me,” he said.

“But you wanted someone in your life you could take care of, didn’t you?” she asked.

“I suppose,” he said. “Don’t a lot of men feel that way?”

“You’re asking a woman whose last man didn’t like getting food on his fingers,” she said.

He laughed. “Valid point.”

“Are you okay that I don’t need someone to take care of me? I know it’s only a few dates. I guess we’ve had some serious conversations. I’m not sure I even like that we talk about our exes so much. It’s normally a few months in before those topics come up.”

“I don’t think what we’ve got is normal and I’m not going to be here forever.”

The food stopped at her mouth. “How long are you here for? I guess that’s another question. You’re less than two hours away. Is that a deal breaker? You do work from home.”

He shouldn’t have said that. Or should have thought more of the words.

“Not a deal breaker for me,” he said. “During the week, we are both working and busy. There is no saying one of us can’t go see the other on the weekends, right?”

“Right,” she said. “I’m okay with it if you are.”

“I am,” he said. “I’m not someone looking for a fling. Not sure if you needed to hear that or not.”

“I think I did,” she said. “Thanks for that.”

Which just went to show that for a guy who was good with his words in his professional life, he still didn’t always get them right in his personal one.

Or maybe he didn’t care enough before and did now.

18

NOT BE TOO OBVIOUS

“Twister?” Easton asked after dinner was cleaned up and she was two glasses of wine in. “You want to play Twister?”

“What’s the matter?” she asked. “Is it beneath you?”

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