Page 59 of Shades of Ruin

“You’d have to be able to hold your own around this asshole,” she laughs in response. “You have such a pretty accent, by the way. Did you grow up in Colombia?”

I try to hide the uneasiness that always comes when talking about home. “I did. How did you guess?”

“I did a trip there for my Spanish course in college. It was only a few weeks, but I loved it there. I still dream about the arepas. Nothing here has ever compared.”

“Well, I happen to make very good arepas. You should come over for dinner one night.”

“Did you hear that, Grey? Your girlfriend invited me over.”

“And she and I will have a talk about keeping away annoying sisters after you leave.”

Elia stomps into the room, her wide eyes disappointed to find us all still talking. “Uncle Grey, I’m hungry,” she pouts.

Grey’s face softens into an expression I’ve never seen before. “What do you want to eat, Lia-bear?”

“Chef’s surprise!” she shouts with far too much enthusiasm to fit such a little body.

“Dare I ask whatchef’s surpriseis?” I ask, my eyes darting to Grey.

Grey looks almost embarrassed. “It’s a game Elia made up. She gives me four ingredients, and I have to make something delicious. She and Liv judge. It’s a whole thing. Lia can be very brutal in her critique.”

“Sounds like something she inherited from her uncle,” I tease. “How do you feel about a little competition, chef?”

Grey walks across the kitchen and stops right in front of me. “Brave enough to go up against the master, angel?”

I step a little closer so my bare thighs brush against his towel. “I think I can handle the heat.”

“Oh my God,” Olivia squeals. “Both of you go put some clothes on before Lia catches sight of something she shouldn’t.”

“Good plan,” Grey agrees, his heated eyes never leaving mine. “We’ll be back in five.”

“Make it two,” Olivia counters. “I don’t want you screwing around while your niece is on the other side of the door.”

“I can accomplish quite a lot in two minutes.” And he can.

“Gross, I did not need to know that. Just get dressed and save the freaky shit for after I leave, Greyson.”

“You’re no fun,” Grey calls to his sister as he drags me toward the bedroom. I’m fairly certain his mouth will find itself somewhere it shouldn’t as soon as the door shuts behind us.

We’re finallypresentable when we walk back into the kitchen, Grey dressed in his usual black button-up and dark pants, and me in a white button-up and jeans. I’m instantly more comfortable when I’m not standing in front of Grey’s sister and niece half-dressed.

“Okay, chef’s surprise,” Grey announces with a clap of his hands. “Lia, can Angélica join, too? Then you can pick which dish is the best?”

“Yeah, An-hey-lee-ka too!” Elia chants. “Then I get to eattwoyummy foods.”

“No sweets, Lia,” Olivia warns. “You haven’t had lunch yet.”

“Fine,” Elia huffs. “No dessert.”

Well, there goes my edge.

“Alright, what will it be then, Chef Lia?” Greyson asks, his features set in determination. He won’t be taking it easy on me—for him, this is just as important as any culinary competition.

“Hmm,” Elia hums as she tries to decide. “Cheese. Grapes. Chicken…” Her eyebrows wrinkle in concentration as she tries to think of a hard one. “Mommy,” she whispers loudly, “what was that green thing you and Daddy ate at the restaurant last night?”

“Swiss chard?” Olivia answers with a laugh.

“Siss chart,” Elia declares dramatically.

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