Page 27 of Seasoned
Laughing, Adelaide shook her head as she pumped her arms and kept pace with them. “So, what’s this about the Fourth of July? You’re dumping me this year?”
Renee groaned and grimaced guiltily. “I’ll still come by earlier in the day and then head over to Clive’s later. He’s having friends over and asked me to join them.”
“The same friends that you always complain block the street and are way too loud?” Jackie peered around Adelaide to look at Renee.
“The same ones. He said he’d try to keep the noise down,” Renee said defensively. “Adelaide, would it be too much trouble for you to make a dessert for me?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“How about a lemon cake with glaze? The one you made before was absolutely delicious.”
“Oh sure. That’s pretty easy. You can pick it up when you come over during the day.”
“Perfect.”
Renee noticed Jackie watching her from the corner of her eye. “What, Jackie?”
“Nothing. It’s good to see you getting back out in the dating game after being gone for so long. Welcome back.” Her friend smiled, clearly happy for her.
Renee laughed. “You know what, it feels pretty damn good.”
12
Standing in front of Clive’s door, Renee took a deep breath and slowly released it. The lemon cake in her hands felt like an anvil, and her pulse beat an erratic rhythm beneath her skin.
Tonight was momentous. This wasn’t simply a Fourth of July barbecue. This was a barbecue at the home of the man she’d been sleeping with for weeks, and she’d be introduced to his friends.
She rang the doorbell and Chelsea opened the door with a bright, welcoming smile, looking very patriotic in jeans, a T-shirt with the American flag on the front, and a red, white, and blue-striped ribbon holding her hair in a ponytail.
“Hello, Miss Joseph, come on in.”
“Thank you.” Hiding her nervousness, Renee gave her best smile.
“Oh, what’s that?” Chelsea asked.
“Glazed lemon cake. Your father told me I didn’t need to bring a dish, but I didn’t feel comfortable coming empty-handed.”
“You baked this?” Chelsea asked, taking the covered dish.
“I wish. I have a friend who loves to cook and bake. I asked her to make a dessert for this evening.”
“Nice friend. Everyone is in the back. Follow me.”
Renee did just that, taking stock of the inside of the house as she did. Despite their budding relationship, this was the first time she’d been inside Clive’s home. In the past, she’d only seen the interior from the outside as she brought back his dog.
They walked through the spacious living room with walnut floors and heavy furniture dominating the space. The dining room was smack-dab in the middle of the path to the kitchen and contained a long table that seated eight and a china cabinet that actually contained a chinaware set that might have belonged to his deceased wife.
The house looked as she’d expect a contractor’s house to look—with upgrades of crown molding, fairly new-looking carpet, and modern appliances in the kitchen.
Still balancing the cake dish in her hand, Chelsea led Renee out the back door. “Renee’s here,” she announced, making eye contact with her father, who held court with a can of beer in his hand and his back against the deck railing.
Chelsea dipped back into the kitchen and left Renee hovering near the door.
There was a bigger group tonight. Eight guys and four women sat outside on the deck. In the yard, Margie ran around with a dog and a biracial-looking boy and girl who appeared to be a year or two younger.
“You made it,” Clive said, pushing away from the railing. He looked extra sexy tonight in a short-sleeved Henley and jeans. An easy smile crossed his face and he came over to where she stood and slipped an arm around her back. “Everybody, this is Renee, my neighbor.”
Her cheeks heated at the attention.
