Page 9 of Fast Track to Forever
“What's for dessert?” Will asks, looking at his father and effectively shutting down that conversation.
“Chocolate pudding, your favourite.” Mr. de Jong smiles from ear to ear. “You like it too I hope, Kat?”
“Yep, who doesn't like chocolate pudding?” I answer with a grin. “I’ll help you clear the table.”
“No, no, you're the guest. Let us do it.” Mr. and Mrs. de Jong spring up, gathering the plates.
I rearrange my napkin on my lap. “So what were you teasing Will about, Daryl?”
“Daryl.” There’s a warning in that one-word growl.
“What?” Daryl lifts up his arms in surrender. “I didn't say anything. Have I said anything to her? Nothing. My lips are sealed.”
“So it's something about me then?” I look at the three men sitting with me at the table.
Will's green eyes look soulful. Daryl's brown eyes are playful. And John is looking directly at Daryl.
Daryl lifts a cocky eyebrow as he peers at his brother over the rim of his wine glass. “No, little brother, you have to tell her you've had a crush on her since childhood.”
Chapter 4
Will
Great.My brother just put his foot in his mouth. Kat quickly changes the subject to the twinkling lights in the town centre and how some of them look a lot like other stuff, including dildos.
I take a hefty swallow of wine and sink away from the playful conversation. Whatever meagre chance I might have had with Kat has been blown by my family - the ones who insisted I invite her in the first place.
I chew on the melt-in-the-mouth chocolate self saucing pudding, and can't even enjoy the divine taste.
I glance with the corner of my eye at Kat and catch her licking her spoon. I gasp and the chocolate sauce from my own spoon splatters on my white polo shirt.
“Fuck!” I drop my spoon to the plate and fumble for a serviette to dab at the stains.
“Language, Will,” my dad snaps at me.
“Sorry,” I mumble, smearing at the spots and making them worse.
Kat deftly picks up a clean serviette and presses it against my chest.
“Don't want to smear it on. You'd best take it off and wash it straight away with some baking soda.”
My mum says, “Yes, why don't you do that. You help him out, Kat, we've not finished eating. Have we?” She stares everyone down and winks at me. Is my mum trying to get Kat and I alone? I must be hallucinating.
“Sure, let's sort this out,” Kat grabs my arm and pulls me out of the room. “Is the laundry still in the same place it used to be?”
I swallow and nod. She doesn't let go of my arm. We enter the generous sized laundry room, where all the B&B sheets are washed and pressed.
“Ah, I see the baking soda and vinegar. Your mum is a woman after my own heart.” Kat points to a shelf behind me. I pick them up and place them on the countertop within easy reach.
Kat suppresses a grin. “Now take off your shirt.”
I take off my polo shirt, fully aware of her gaze on me. I need to address what Daryl said now that we're alone. I pour some baking soda and vinegar on my shirt and toss it in with the whites.
“About what Daryl said, I…”
Kat steps closer, touches my abdomen and whispers, “Kiss me.”
Something snaps inside me. I wrap my arms around her, and our lips meet for the first time. She tastes like chocolate and stone fruit. Like smoke dissipating after a race, she pulls away a moment later. Her gaze stays on me a while longer and it looks like she’s going to dip in for another kiss… But she blinks and bites her top lip.
