Page 49 of Sipping Seduction
“Butter and that superfine popcorn salt you like. I picked some up at the store the last time I went.” Evan glanced down at me, his brows knit together. “We’re already way ahead. I’d be surprised if this game didn’t turn into a massacre.”
“Evan?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to head home and make popcorn there?” We could banter back and forth all night, but I chose to get right to the point.
His nose crinkled. “I don’t know, Frannie. If that’s what you want to do…”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the parking lot, more than ready to chase the bad feelings leftover from our interaction with his dad far, far away.
CHAPTER25
Evan
With less thana week to go before the fundraiser run, I doubled down on my training. I got up every morning and went for a jog, then came home, and did a half hour of strength training before jumping in the shower. Staying in bed with Frannie was hard to give up, but I wanted to prove to everyone, especially myself, that I’d never been in better shape.
“What do you have going on today?” Frannie handed me a mug of coffee as I entered the kitchen, fresh from my shower.
“It’s a regular day at the distillery. I should be home by five, then I want to get in another run before it gets dark. How about you?” I leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead before taking a sip of the strong, dark brew.
“Charice asked if I wanted to grab dinner. She says I’ve been ignoring her since I moved in with you.”
“It’s fine with me, if that’s what you want to do.” Even though Frannie and I were together—the kind of together that would have me putting a ring on her finger before too long—I wanted her to spend time with her friends. Especially ones who cared about her as much as I did.
“I’ll probably also head over to see my dad. It’s been a few days, and he’s been asking about apple pie. I think I’ll stop by Jackie Jay’s to pick one up for him that he can share with his friends.”
“Don’t they feed him three meals a day around there?” I’d only been to Frannie’s dad’s place a few times, but we had joined him for lunch one day, and I thought the food was delicious.
“Of course they have plenty of food there,” Frannie said. “He just likes the things he likes. You know how that goes.”
“Well, if you happen to pick up an extra pie to bring home, I definitely wouldn’t mind.” I’d been burning so many calories lately, I was pretty sure I could eat a whole one by myself and not even notice.
Frannie eyed me with jealousy over the rim of her cup of coffee. “I wish it worked that way with me. I barely look at a dessert and I can feel it on my hips.”
“I like the way your hips feel,” I told her. “In fact, what time do you have to leave? Do we have time for me to show you just exactly how much I love your hips before you go?”
“Don't you ever get enough, Evan?” Her eyes had rounded, but were still nowhere near as big as her smile.
“Never enough of you.”
Pete the Dog must have been getting jealous of the contact we had. He nudged his nose between us. I wasn't sure if he was trying to break us up or if he was sniffing around for any leftover breakfast. I shifted back to make room for him to wiggle between us.
“You never told me when I said Pete the Dog could move in with you, that he'd be such a cockblocker,” I complained.
“All part of his charm,” Frannie said. “I’d better get going. I've got some work to do before the kids arrive, and I like having my office to myself when it's nice and quiet.”
“Alright. I'll see you tonight, then. Love you.” I leaned down again, eager for another kiss. I’d never get my fill of Frannie, not since I had my first taste of her lips. She'd already been the most important person in my life, but now that we’d taken things to the next level, my feelings for her had amplified.
“You better cut that out or we’re both going to be late this morning,” she said, as she gave me a slight push. Although, based on the flush on her cheeks, I didn't think she minded the kiss all that much.
“Fine, get going. I'll let you know if Cole has any info to report on Logan.”
“Thanks.” Frannie put her mug in the sink and gave me one more kiss. Within a few minutes, she and Pete the Dog had left. The house was too quiet without her. I hadn’t noticed it before, but I’d gotten used to having her around. The only sign that she'd even been there was the faint scent of her perfume hanging in the air and the lipstick-smudged mug sitting in my sink. For a guy who'd never really imagined himself living with anyone, I’d come to appreciate sharing space with the woman I loved.
I finished getting ready and drove the short distance to work, already anticipating how Jackie Jay’s crumble-top apple pie was going to taste later on tonight. Maybe I’d stop on the way home and pick up a can of whipped cream. It would be the perfect addition to the pie, not to mention what other uses I might be able to come up with for it if I had it on hand.
I’d barely walked in the front door to the warehouse when Cole spotted me and came over. “Hey, I got some information on that name you wanted me to investigate. Where did you hear about Logan Scott in the first place?”
