Page 46 of Mother Pucker

“When did you learn to cook?” Shay asks, grabbing a knife from my knife block.

I think back to helping my mom with nightly dinners when we all lived together in the same house with Dad. She’d always make the most extravagant meals–even on weeknights–when Dad played a home game. She’d say shit like,“A man needs a clean home, a good wife, and a hot meal to come home to. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

I still remember rolling my eyes at the statement, but I never argued. If it made her happy to cook and clean for him, well then, that was her prerogative. I just knew it wasn’t something that gave a woman more worth in my eyes, and it wasn’t something I’d ever look for. And in the end, look where it got Mom.

“When I was eight or nine. I loved helping my mom out in the kitchen.” I glance at her, placing the last of the turkey burgers on the plate next to me. “My sister, Piper, not so much.”

Shayla laughs at that. “She sounds like me. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be able to cook more, but I just never have the time or energy.” She pauses after slicing up the first potato to take a sip of wine. “Are you and your sister close?”

“She’s one of my best friends, but acts more like a mom than even our own mother. I’m actually meeting up with her for dinner after the game tomorrow. She lives a half hour from San Jose but she’ll be at the game, and then I thought you and I could grab dinner and drinks with her after my media wrap up.” I scan her face, trying to gauge her reaction.

She puts the knife down. “You want me to come with you? I mean . . . we just started this.” She picks up the knife, waving it around. “Whatever this is. Is it a good idea to involve more family? Plus, what if someone photographs us together or something? I’m fine just hanging out in the hotel room.”

I give her a resolute look, gathering that her fears are starting to ensnare her. “I’m not letting you hang out in the hotel room. Piper is looking forward to meeting you, and I have a feeling you guys will really get along. As for getting photographed, we’re going to a really low-key place that Piper and I have met up at before. The owner of the restaurant is one of my friends, so he takes extra measures to make sure I’m not seen.”

After a moment of consideration, she nods. “Okay.” She looks at the potato on the cutting board. “How big do you want the slices?”

I wash my hands and come back to stand next to her. “Here, let me cut a couple of strips and you can use that as a guide.”

Shayla scoots over a bit, handing me the knife, and when our hands brush, a ripple of goosebumps climbs over her arm. Our eyes connect before mine drop back to those damn lips I’m dying for.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whisper only for her to hear. “I can’t wait to spend time with you this weekend.”

Her shy smile makes an appearance, and she murmurs just as softly, “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”

I lift a brow, my cocky smile on full display. “Dare I say, was that a compliment, Dr. Kumar?”

She rolls her eyes, trying but failing to erase her smile. “Don’t get used to it.” She takes a breath, looking at Kai with concern. “And I’m looking forward to it, too.”

I follow her gaze. “You’re worried about him.”

“I haven’t left him for this long in a while. I know he’ll be in great hands with my friends, but there’s still that little worry, you know?”

“It’s understandable,” I agree. “If at any point you want to leave, I’ll get you on the first flight out. No questions asked, okay?”

By all accounts, I’ve seen what an incredible mom Shay is. She has this way of being both loving and firm, and I see how much Kai respects her. Despite what they’ve gone through, she’s doing the best she can to work through her fears and give him a good life, so I don’t blame her for being cautious. Instead, I commend her for stepping out of her comfort zone when she knows it’s holding them both back.

Her brown eyes bounce around my face. “Has anyone ever told you how sweet you are?”

I cut the potato in half before cutting a few thick slices, a smile still stretched over my face. “You can feel free to tell me that anytime you want, sweetheart.”

She huffs out a soft laugh.

“What about you? Any siblings?” I ask, handing her the potato.

She shakes her head. “Just me. Both my parents passed away when I was younger, so neither Kai nor I have much of a family, save for my stepmom, who lives in Arizona.” She smiles as if thinking about her. “She raised me from the age of fifteen after Dad died. She’s really sweet, but veryinteresting.”

“How so?”

“Well, for one,” Kai steps into the kitchen, joining our conversation, as if he’d been in it the whole time, “mynanichanges her entire outfit daily.”

I don’t understand what the big deal is. Isn’t that what most people do–change their entire outfit daily?

Shay clarifies, “Nanimeans grandma in Hindi by the way, in case you were wondering, and Kai’s grandma, Merna, changeseverypart of herself as much as she can, every day. As in, her entire outfit, her nail color, eyeglasses–”

“Don’t forget her hair color, too, Mom,” Kai chimes in excitedly.

“She changes her hair color every day?” I ask, surprised. “How is that possible?”

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