Page 44 of Ryder's War

Tossing the package onto the table without bothering to check who it was from or who it wasintended for, she went to put on some tea. Moving around, she noticed Cork drop her bags on the table before going back outside. There was something to Rose’s declaration that he had acted like a robot. His face was always expressionless, and he walked with the kind of slight, rigid movement normally associated with robots. Maybe he had sustained an injury in the military or something...

Rose stared the man down as he left. Shrugging out of her coat, she complained bitterly, “That man’s always an ass to me for no reason. He’s the only prospect with no people skills. When he gets patched, I hope they sew it right to his skin.”

Damn, when the girl got pissed, she gotpissed. Tiffany could almost laugh if it weren’t so true.

Ace tried diplomatically to smooth things over. “He’s probably just going through something right now. Best steer clear of him, kid. I’d hate to have to nail him twice in one night.”

Catching the jacket Tiffany tossed her, Rose hung them on hooks near the back door. “I’d really like to forget the man even exists. So, Ace, are you making pizza with us?”

Freezing with a deer in the headlights look, he stammered, “M-maybe, I’ll just watch.”

Tiffany shook her head. “Nope, we’re making our own, so if you want to eat, you’ll have to make it.”

“I ain’t never been invited to dinner before and had to make my own food.”

Rose laughed merrily. “There’s a first time for everything.”

Heading into the kitchen, Tiffany opened the fridge and glanced back over her shoulder from the freezer. “I’m throwing some steak on for Cork. Do you want one for a topping?”

Ace’s face lit up. “Steak pizza sounds like biker food to me. I’ve never understood why steak isn’t a pizza topping.”

Pulling out a small tray of steaks from the freezer, Tiffany defrosted them in the microwave while she mixed up the ingredients for pizza crust. Letting the dough rise, she got Rose to help chop vegetables for the pizza and a salad.

“Why don’t you take Cork some hot tea?” she suggested, feeling a bit sorry for the guy. “There’s a thermos in the cabinet.”

Ace let out an exasperated breath. “Sure, I can do that. Wish I knew what was stuck in that man’s craw tonight.”

Getting the steak ready, Tiffany put it in a plastic container along with some salad and sent Ace to feed Cork. She quickly cut another of thesteaks into thin strips and organized the pizza toppings. After washing their hands, Tiffany showed Rose and Ace how to roll out the dough. After adding sauce, toppings, and different cheeses, they all compared pizzas.

Rose burst out laughing. “Ours at least looks like a pizza. Ace, yours looks more like a casserole.”

Obviously unwilling to concede defeat, Ace shook his head. “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings, ladies. It’s gonna taste great…I think.”

Standing there looking awkward but pleased with himself, Tiffany’s mind reeled back to the first time she’d ever met Ace. He’d been fresh off a prison stint for a crime he didn’t commit. Grieving the death of his twin brother, he hadn’t been eating properly or caring for his hygiene. The long, lustrous hair now pulled neatly back at the nape of his neck had been unwashed and hanging in his face, and dark circles gave his haunted eyes a gaunt quality that she’d remember until the day she died.

His words echoed through her head. “Why would an innocent little nurse be defending a piece of garbage like Ryder? That don’t hardly make no sense to me. His heart is as dark as mine.”

Now here he was, standing tall and healthy in clean clothing with a relaxed smile on his handsome face.

Leaning over, Ace snapped his fingers in her face. “Wake up, Tiff. You zoned out on us.”

She smiled wanly. “I was just thinking about that sorry excuse for a pizza you made.”

Laughing, he looked down at his ridiculous concoction. “Well, it might be like me: ugly on the outside but good on the inside. I’m reserving final judgment until I taste it.”

Rose teased him playfully. “If it tastes as bad as it looks, you’ll have to share with us. Good thing we’re expert pizza chefs.”

“Says the girl who’s made pizza only one time ever in her entire life.”

Grabbing hers, Rose headed for the oven. “I’ve eaten a lot of pizza in my time. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

“Sure, kid, why not?” he placated her. “Move over now. I need room for mine in there. I gotta cook it before it collapses.”

Rose giggled. “It’s not the leaning tower of pizza.”

Shooting her a look of mock disgust, Ace retorted, “You’re a very punny kid. You know that, right?”

Putting her hands on her hips, she insisted, “I’m a woman, not a kid. Don’t keep calling me a kid.”

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