Page 76 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
I shrug, but Rose doesn’t take her eyes off Holt. “Am I right? Was it Grandma’s recipe?”
Rose’s intensity makes me rethink her motive. Glancing at Flynn, I see he’s awaiting Holt’s answer as well.
Holt just pushes around the leftover rice on his plate.
“What’s up with Grandma West’s cookies?” My eyes ping pong between the West siblings. “Are they an aphrodisiac or something?”
Rose finally looks away from Holt and smirks at me. “You could say that.”
“Rose…” There’s a warning note in Holt’s voice that only seems to amuse Flynn.
“Grandma said that you only make her chocolate chips for people y—”
“All right, that’s enough.” Holt sits up in his seat. “Jules, pass the fortune cookies around, will you?”
I might not know exactly what Grandma West said about her cookies, but I trust my gut enough to know I’m not ready to hear it. Especially since I’m still not sure if Holt is mad at me. “Sure thing, cowboy.” I dole out the cookies, tossing the plastic packaged delights around one by one, eager to move on.
Thankfully, Rose relents and reads her fortune. “A chance meeting opens new doors to success and friendship.”
“In bed,” I add, glad to be back in a less awkward atmosphere.
The girls laugh.
“Ugh.” Flynn rubs a hand over his face. “Do not addin bedto my sister’s fortune.”
Rose rolls her eyes. “Well then I guess we can’t add it to Jackie’s either.”
Flynn looks over at his girl, who turns pink as she silently reads the little strip of paper in front of her. “Hmmm, that depends.” He tries looking over her shoulder. “What’s your fortune, Darling?”
Now red, Jackie leans away from him. “Um…”
I snatch the little strip of paper.
“Hey!”
“Too slow, Darling. Too slow.” I read it, laughing. “Oh, now this is a good one.” Jackie slides down in her chair as I clear my throat. “Now is the time to try something new.”
“In bed,” Rose, Trish and I say together, laughing hard as Jackie covers her flushed face. God, it must be exhausting showing your feelings like that. Thankfully, I don’t blush.
Flynn leans back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. “Well now…”
“Okay, okay,” Jackie slaps his arms, laughing. “Trish, your turn.”
Still grinning, Trish breaks open her cookie. “Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing. In bed.”
“Ha!” Rose slaps the table. “Ain’t that the truth!”
Holt closes his eyes and shakes his head. Flynn ignores his sister and nuzzles Jackie’s neck, and she pretends to push him away.
Face hurting from all the smiling I’m doing, I read my own. “You are very talented, in many ways.” I pause for effect. “In bed.” I brush my shoulder off. “Well, duh.”
More laughter.
Jackie, sly dog, looks over at Holt, whose stare in my direction has turned oddly contemplative. “And how ’bout yours, Holt?”
Still looking at me, Holt states, “Stop searching. Your love is right in front of you.”
Everyone hoots and hollers and lets loose with not so subtle innuendos.
