Page 79 of Indiscretion

My lip twitched. “Iintendto feed her a good meal.”

“What’s in it for me? How about bringing a cannoli home?”

Frannie swatted her son playfully. “Stop being a butthead, Ryder.” She motioned me in. “Come on in. Naomi’s just finishing getting ready.”

I followed the two of them into the kitchen.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Frannie asked.

“I’m good. Thanks.”

She leaned against the kitchen counter. “So where are you kids going this evening?”

“Eleven Madison Park. It’s vegan.”

“Oh wow. Fancy. That’s Michelin starred, isn’t it?”

I grinned. “ThreeMichelin stars.”

Frannie chuckled. “You hoping that gets you bonus points?”

Considering I’d had to bribe a friend of a friend who works as a bartender there with my Yankees tickets for when they play theMetsin order to get a reservation,definitely. Yet I shrugged. “It’s a big menu. Figured I couldn’t hate everything.”

“She’s gonna love it.”

A door creaked open down the hall, and a few seconds later, Naomi walked out. I’d been in the middle of saying something—I have no damn clue what now—when I forgot I was even having a conversation. I might’ve also drooled a little.

Frannie leaned in with a smirk. “Close your mouth, counselor.”

But I couldn’t, because this woman literally took my breath away.I am so fucked. Naomi had on a kelly green silk dress with spaghetti straps that looked like a slip. It draped at the neck, showing the perfect hint of cleavage. Her pale skin contrasted starkly with the color, making it look even creamier than usual, and I couldn’t seem to drag my eyes from her pert nipples. Shedefinitelywasn’t wearing a bra, and I might’ve offered a silent prayer to God to thank him for air conditioning. And if that wasn’t enough to turn a man inside out, then thesmellhit me. Coconut wafted through the air. It made me salivate, but it wasn’tfruitI was dying to eat.

Naomi read my face and grinned triumphantly. “Hi.”

“You look…” I shook my head and tried to come up with an appropriate word to use in mixed company. But all that came to mind wassexy as fuck,mouthwatering, andlike a wet dream.I swallowed and settled on, “really nice.”

Lame, I know. Though I made a mental note to tell her what Ireallythought once her sister and nephew were no longer around. Kelly green was definitely her color. It might’ve been the first time I understood why she thought bright colors improved her mood. My mood had sure as hell improved getting a load of her in that dress. Then again, I was pretty confident her outfit could’ve been black and I’d be floating on cloud nine.

“You said the restaurant was dressy, but I wasn’t sure how dressy. I hope this is okay?”

“It’s perfect.”Just like you.Yeah, I’m fucked.Totally, totally fucked.

I looked at my watch, because I knew we were cutting it close. “We should get going. The reservation is for seven thirty, and they’ll only hold the table for fifteen minutes.”

“Okay.”

Naomi kissed her sister on the cheek and mussed her nephew’s hair. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Frannie said.

Her sister followed us into the hall, pulling the door closed behind her.

“I feel really good,” she said. “And I don’t need you to drop the kids off in the morning. I think it’s important for me to keep my routine, now that I’ve told them about my illness. So…if you wanted to stay out all night or come home really late, you don’t need to worry about us.”

I grinned. “Did you just give me permission to take your sister home with me?”

“Well, permission would have to come from her, but I’m giving my blessing.”

I rocked back and forth on my heels. “Good to know.”

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