Page 87 of Spilling the Tea

She nodded, looked over at the basket, and laughed. “What all do you have in there?”

He laughed. “Just a few things I threw together.”

She grinned. “That looks like a lot, Chancellor Madaris.”

He had told her to call him Chance instead of Chancellor, but he would admit hearing her say his proper name just now sounded damn good. “Go check it out for yourself.”

She did, and he couldn’t stop his gaze from roaming all over her while she did so. “Barbecue ribs and chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, and chips. You’ve been busy, Mr. Madaris.”

“I got up early. With Cate fixing many of my meals, I’d forgotten how much I’d enjoyed cooking.”

She nodded and walked back to him. “I’ll get the table on the patio ready.”

“I’ll help, but first, I need this,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

The instant their lips touched, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years—at peace. As if holding her in his arms was what he should be doing. Not just today but every day. The thought of that should have given him pause, but it didn’t. Instead, he concentrated on her taste—sweet, delicious, and so damn hot.

He desired her and felt it in every part of his body, a need he was fighting to control but was finding it hard to do so. He was losing it in one delectable way. She moaned softly, and when she did, he lowered his hands to cup her bottom, gently squeezed it, and eased her more firmly to his middle. She responded, rising up on her tiptoes so he could deepen the kiss.

Chance did. Never had he kissed a woman with such intensity and passion. Those other times they’d kissed didn’t count. This was the real deal, as real as it could get. He wondered if she remembered their agreement. She didn’t engage in meaningless affairs, but he did. At least, he used to. He hadn’t done so in seven months, and the idea of doing so again didn’t appeal to him. And all because of her.

He finally ended their kiss and she smiled at him before he grabbed the basket and followed her to the patio.

Chapter Thirty-One

Zoey glanced across the table at Chance. Seeing him eat ribs was total arousal. He would hold the rib with his fingers while his mouth went to work, biting, chewing, licking, and then swallowing. Lordy, she was getting hot just watching him.

“Is something wrong, Zoey?”

Her gaze moved from his mouth to his eyes. “What makes you think that?”

“You’re watching me eat.”

She could tell him the truth but decided not to do so. “I can tell you’re hungry.”

“Am I eating too fast?”

Lordy, if he ate any slower, she would become a sensual basket case. “No. And there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your food. I guess I’m not equipped to eat as much as you.” Thinking of all the other things she figured he was equipped to do, certain parts of her got heated.

“The food is delicious, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

To get her mind off him and onto something she wanted totalk to him about, she said. “I picked up the box from the post office yesterday.”

He nodded, pushed his plate aside and wiped his fingers and mouth with a napkin. “Have you opened it yet?”

“Heavens yes. As soon as I got back here. I browsed the photo albums first. The one belonging to my parents was the most emotional. There were pictures of them on their wedding day, on vacations, and pictures of me when I was a baby, as well as numerous photos of the three of us and some with my grandparents.”

She paused a moment and asked, “Do you know what saddens me more than anything, Chance? Knowing what might have happened to these albums and diaries had Sharon not gotten them for me.”

He reached across the table and captured her hand in his. “But your mother’s best friend did get them for you.”

“Yes, she did and I will be forever thankful. I finished looking through the albums and I’m almost at the end of my great-grandmother’s diary.”

“Any revelations there?”

“Yes. Did you know there was a Satterfield and Madaris feud?”

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