Page 15 of Ravish

Colby strode away. He placed his order, waited for his number to be called, and then carried the tray to their table. His heart stuttered as he got closer.

The three women were having an animated conversation. It did his heart good to see his mother so outgoing. He worried that she was alone too much. He set the tray down and passed out the coffees. He placed a plate with a half-dozen cinnamon rolls in the middle of the table, along with smaller plates.

Lara stared at the rolls, then at him. “I hope you don’t expect us to eat all that?”

His mother laughed. “You’ve obviously never seen Colby eat. It was a challenge to keep him fed when he was a teenager.”

Tammy and his mother laughed as he sat down. “Hey, I was a growing boy.”

“What’s your excuse now?” Lara asked.

“I’m hungry.” He snapped his teeth like a puppy going for a treat, and she laughed. God, he loved that musical sound of Lara’s laugh.

“So, Martha, do you work?” Tammy asked.

Colby stiffened, and Lara shot him a questioning look.

“A bit. I like to sew, so I still do some odd jobs here and there.” His mother smiled. “I enjoy it.”

“That’s wonderful. Sometimes, I wish I’d kept working.”

“Aunt Tammy?” Lara shot her a concerned look.

“It’s okay.” Tammy patted Lara’s hand, before looking at his mother. “My husband didn’t believe in women working, so when we got married, I quit my job.”

“Is he still alive?” his mother asked.

“No. He passed away young. Is your husband still alive?”

Colby drew in a sharp breath.

“I have no idea. Colby’s father left me when Colby was little.”

“That’s horrible,” Lara said, her hand reached over and touched his.

Tammy shook her head. “I have a feeling you raised a very good young man.”

“Thank you.” His mother blushed.

Tammy pointed at Lara. “I’ve told this one, while there are some bad apples out there.” Tammy turned to Lara. “Like that one you married and got rid of.”

Lara groaned. “Aunt Tammy.”

Tammy waved her hand. “He wasn’t the right one for you, and I, for one, am glad you got rid of him. No manners, not like this one.”

This time, Colby squeezed her hand. Lara’s gaze met his. “That’s right; you mentioned you’d been married,” he said softly.

“I don’t like to talk about it.” She took a sip of her coffee.

Tammy shook her head. “Walter is an ass and in your father’s pocket.” She picked up the plate of rolls, took one, and passed the plate to his mother. Lara withdrew her hand from his as his mother held out the plate to her.

Colby took the plate from Lara, interested in what her aunt had said about her ex-husband. He’d worm the story out of her. Colby bit into his roll and let out a groan.

“These are delicious. I need the recipe,” his mother said.

Tammy grinned. “I’m sure I can get that for you.”

Lara’s head jerked up from where she was tearing her roll apart. “Aunt Tammy.” Her voice was low, and Colby was surprised at the tone.

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