Page 43 of Wrecked for Love
“Yep!”
She dove right in. From the first time I saw her eat, I knew she never held back with food.
“So, you use the study to do after-hours work? Accounting stuff?” I ventured. “I hope Paul’s not pushing you too hard.”
“Oh, no! My work is strictly in the stockroom. And definitely no accounting! I’ve been writing.”
The way she looked away, almost shy, made me wonder if it was something blush-worthy. What else could it be but romance?
Tessa had devoured romance novels by the truckload—practically a hoarder. She was six years older than me and had stepped into the role of mother after Mom passed. Dad had absolutely adored her. Beyond her book obsession, she had been the glue that held our family together, and I’d always looked up to her for that. Sure, there had been times I wished for an older brother, but I couldn’t have asked for a better sibling than her.
“What kind of story are you writing? The classic boy-meets-girl thing? Enemies to lovers?” I asked, probing.
“Why do you assume that?” Claire countered. “Maybe I’m writing a newspaper article. Or, who knows, maybe I’m just finishing up a remote learning assignment. That’s a thing now, you know.”
“And I’m betting none of those apply to you.”
She gave a mock grumble. “Okay, okay, you got me. You’re right.” She paused for a beat, then flipped the script. “But you seem awfully familiar with romance novels. What, are yousecretly a fan? There’s no shame in it. Modern men read all sorts of literature.”
Why had I steered the conversation toward the very thing I didn’t want to talk about? Maybe part of me did want to open up about Tessa to Claire, but how could I even begin when I couldn’t stand to look at my sister’s things?
I deflected with a grin. “Nah, I’m no romance guy. Koda, maybe. And look where that got him—retired and still single. So, no thanks, I’m skipping his advice.”
Claire burst out laughing, nearly doubled over. “Well, it’s okay if you don’t want to admit it. I mean, a manly rancher reading about a princess rescued by Prince Charming? I bet no cowboy wants to own up to that!”
I replied to her with a side grin, then stood up and headed toward the barbecue. When she started to rise, I waved her back down. “No, no, my lady. You stay put.”
I busied myself at the grill, preparing the al pastor tacos. As I worked, I couldn’t resist teasing her. “Remember what I said about Miss Chili Pepper, right?”
“Oh, the salsa!” Her face lit up with genuine excitement, as though nothing else mattered in the world but that homemade kick.
The mouthwatering scent of seasoned pork and roasted pineapples filled the air, and before long, I returned to the table with the tacos and all the fixings. We dug in, and from the very first bite, she couldn’t hold back.
“Wow, this is so good,” she mumbled between bites, her cheeks puffing up with food. Every few minutes, another “Oh yum” or “This is amazing” slipped from her lips.
I leaned back, entertained by the sight. Didn’t think I’d ever see the day my Chili Pepper turned into a chipmunk.
When we finished, I brought out dessert. “I could call it the crème de la crème, but since it’s my special buffaloberry ice cream, maybe it’s more like ‘buffalo très magnifique.’”
Claire laughed, though her eyes were already fixed on the bowl. “Ah, trying to impress the lady with your French, huh?”
I laughed along. “Truth is, I practiced that line all morning. But I’m really hoping the ice cream does the impressing.”
“Adventurous, I like it. Not playing it safe with just the jam.” She then scooped up a spoonful. “Oh, wow…wow, yeah!” Her eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly. “It’s got this mix of tangy and sweet. It hits you sharp at first, then the creamy sweetness kicks in and smooths it all out. This is seriously good! You should sell it.”
“Thanks,” I said, pleased with her reaction. “But I’m keeping this one for special occasions.”
“Fair enough.”
“So, how’s Logan Pierce as a landlord?” I asked, wanting some inside scoop to tease my best friend later.
“Oh, he’s super chill. Honestly, I think he’d let it slide if I didn’t pay rent.” She giggled. “He said he owns a ranch not far from here?”
“Yeah, just a few miles closer to town.”
“You’re childhood friends?”
“Grew up together. Since we were toddlers, maybe even babies.”
