Page 159 of Savage Suit
“No, you made it funny,” she said, then looked at Armani. “What did you cook?”
“Shepherd’s pie. I used grandma’s recipe. Y’all used to love it and I had a craving for it.”
“I still love your shepherd’s pie, Mani,” Dakota said, as Quinn served herself. When she finished, he held his hand out for the spoon.
My stomach growled with anticipation when the spoon was handed to me. According to my parents, Daddy’s mother couldn’t cook much, but one thing she had mastered was Shepard’s pie.
“The food’s delicious, honey,” Timothe said.
For once, I agreed with him.
“I second that, sis,” Quinn agreed.
“I third it,” I called, before my brothers added a comment.
“What they said,” Dakota said around a mouthful of food, gesturing toward Quinn, Timothe, and me.
“What he said,” Logan followed up.
Armani chuckled, beaming with pleasure. “What do you think, Mr. Keegan?”
Noah hacked off another big forkful and brought it to his mouth. As he chewed, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. Once he swallowed, he looked at Armani and said, “This is the best damn Shepard’s pie I’ve ever tasted, ma’am.”
Armani’s grin broadened. “Thank you all very much.”
After that, we ate in comfortable silence for several minutes, with only the sounds of chewing and silverware scraping against plates echoing in the dining room.
“How’s the job, lil’ sis?” Armani asked me, daintily dabbing at the corners of her mouth before continuing her meal.
“Really, Armani?” Quinn said sharply. “You’re asking about her job after all the revelations?”
“It’s great,” I said, preferring to play peacemaker than to have the bullshit flare up again. “I’m so happy I got it.”
“I’ve heard rumors about you, Noah,” Dakota said.
At his words, my muscles tensed again.
“Rumors are rarely factual,” Noah said stiffly.
“There are claims you’re a sexist who refuses to work with women.”
“I told you,” Quinn said dramatically. “I told you, Dakota, hanging out with a dickhead like Timothe would turn you into one too.”
“Hilarious, sister,” Dakota said.
“I wasn’t joking. B, how can Noah be a sexist if he hired Ryan?”
“A is the first letter in the alphabet, dear,” Timothe said. “Not ‘b’.”
Armani released a delicate cough.
“No offense,” Timothe added.
“Fuck you, because I’m greatly offended. Looking at your humpy face insults me deeply,” she said. “Anyway, Kota, that was a dick thing to say to Noah.”
“I’m sorry, man,” Dakota said to Noah. “I was just curious.”
“As your sister said, I wouldn’t hire women if I refused to work with them,” Noah gritted.
