Page 16 of Cocky M.D.
Johnny stopped in the kitchen and washed his hands. “We need to talk about why you said yes.”
I went beside him and nodded. “Of course.”
He handed me the soap and asked, “So?”
I scrubbed like I’d touched something dirty and disgusting. Then I turned off the water, let out a deep breath, and said, “First, I was jealous when Britney showed up. It was like I’d lost an opportunity.”
He squeezed my arm, and a thrill raced through my veins as he said, “Then I’m happy she came. I thought I’d have to talk you into it more, as marriage is binding.”
I cocked my head and said, “Also, I don’t want to be the only Steel woman who never marries, and that’s probably a horrible answer, but that’s part of it.”
He came toward me, and my lips puckered as I closed my eyes. My heart fluttered, but then a moment of sanity hit me as the water turned off in the bathroom, and I stepped back and said, “Here comes Bradley.”
Bradley didn’t even blink, but Johnny took my hand in his and led me into the dining room. “Let’s eat.”
Another buffet was set. I’d met Lola, the cook, briefly when she’d been preparing, but I hadn’t thought I would taste her lemon chicken piccata. We filled our plates, and we all took our seats, Johnny and Bradley on either side of me.
Bradley reached for his fork.
I stopped him and said, “No, let’s give thanks first.”
Johnny tugged his ear and asked, “Are you always so grateful for everything you can stuff into your mouth?”
I almost choked, and I was quite sure we weren’t discussing dinner. I glanced up at him and swallowed, as I wasn’t always quick with wit.
But then Bradley said, “Be quiet, Dad.”
Right. I needed to keep it simple for them and ease them in. I closed my eyes and said, “Thank you for this delicious meal and for helping us all find each other, and please bless us with love, prosperity, and health all the days of our lives.”
As the moment ended, Bradley picked up his fork, and Johnny asked, “Do you say that every night?”
Maybe he didn’t want all parts of my life to meld with his. I held my necklace, my cheeks aflame, and said, “I edited myself, as I wasn’t sure how you two give thanks for what you have.”
Johnny picked up his fork and said, “I typically don’t.”
“Thank you for indulging me, then.”
We ate in silence. The lemon chicken piccata was delicious. I finished my plate and sipped the wine Johnny had poured for me, leaning back.
Bradley asked, “So does this mean you can take me to Norden for real now?”
In class, he’d asked me about Norden pretty much weekly after I told them I’d gone to my sister’s wedding. I glanced at Johnny and said, “It’s up to your father whether he wants to go to meet my sister and Prince Ryder.”
He shrugged, sipped his wine, and said, “We can plan that, for sure. Is that where you want to go for the vacation?”
So many decisions.My heart fluttered, but I took another small sip and said, “I haven’t decided. I went from teaching to being a nanny to being a fiancée in twenty-four hours. I need a little time to decompress and make another decision.”
“We’re glad you’re here.”
I folded my hands on the table then remembered my manners. I lowered my hands to my lap and asked, “How many people do you have on staff in this house?”
He sat back and said, “Three main people—the maid, the chef, and the maintenance manager.”
Flo, Lola, and Don had introduced themselves earlier. I ignored the butterflies in my stomach and asked, “I see. Look, I jumped into the fire today. Is there any way I can take a night to just come to terms with everything?”
Johnny tapped my thigh and said, “Tonight, I hoped you would stay with me. We have a lot to work out.”
I glanced at Bradley, and he seemed more focused on his food than us.
