Page 41 of Roping the Rodeo Queen
"She probably could."Jo dumps the onions into a cast-iron skillet that's older than both of us combined.The sizzle fills the kitchen with a sound that makes my stomach growl."Grandma Callahan didn't raise five kids and run a ranch for sixty years by being gentle."
"Great.So when I mess this up, she'll probably challenge me to a duel."
"Nah, she'll just tell everyone at church that you're useless in the kitchen."Jo glances over at my pathetic attempt at tenderizing meat."Which, based on current evidence, wouldn't be a lie."
Daphne materializes beside us with that smile TV hosts perfect for maximum drama."How are our lovebirds doing?Any kitchen chemistry brewing?"
I nearly choke on my own spit.Jo's cheeks flush pink, but she recovers faster than I do.
"Oh, there's definitely something brewing," she says sweetly, then leans closer to me."Mostly disaster."
The cameraman chuckles, and I force a laugh."She's just mad because I'm about to show her up with my superior culinary skills."
"Superior?"Jo's voice goes up an octave."You just asked me if we needed to wash the potatoes before peeling them."
"It was a legitimate question!"
"Of course you wash them, Clay.Who wants to eat dirty food?"
Daphne's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning.Bickering is reality TV gold, apparently."Tell us, Jo, what's it like cooking with your fiancé?Any secrets to making it work?"
Jo's smile could cut glass."Communication is key.For instance, I communicate that he should stay out of my way, and he communicates his complete incompetence through interpretive kitchen disasters."
I smack my mallet down on the counter."Hey now---"
"Remember the pancake incident?"
"I thought we agreed never to speak of the pancake incident again," I snarl, giving the steak another whack.I'm probably veering into culinary assault territory."In my defense, I didn't know pancake batter could actually catch fire."
"And yet, somehow, you managed to do just that."Jo's hands move with practiced efficiency as she prepares the egg wash."Just like you managed to get us into this cooking challenge when you know perfectly well the only thing you can make is reservations."
I smack the mallet down on the counter even harder than before.
Daphne leans in, virtually salivating at our bickering."So, there's trouble in paradise?Tension in the kitchen often reflects tension in the relationship, doesn't it?"
"The only tension here," I say, forcing another smile, "is between this steak and my mallet.Got it?"
Daphne backs away, hands raised in surrender, but the gleam in her eyes tells me she's got what she wanted.More drama for the highlight reel.
"You're doing it wrong," Jo whispers once the host is out of earshot.She covers her hand with mine on the mallet.The sudden warmth of her touch has the odd effect of making me horny."Like this, Clay.Firm but controlled."
I clear my throat."I knew that."
"Sure you did, cowboy."There's a hint of affection beneath the sarcasm that proves Jo has been playing it up for the camera.While she guides my hand in a rhythmic pattern across the meat, I struggle to control myself and not think about how her body is pressed against mine or how her breath tickles my ear.
Through the window, I catch Grandma Callahan nodding approvingly, though whether it's about my tenderizing technique or Jo's proximity to me, I can't tell.
"All right, steak's ready," I pronounce, shuffling backward before I do something stupid like kiss her neck on national television.Then again, Miranda and Daphne would probably love that.
"Finally, Clay.What took so long?"Jo dips the meat into flour, then egg wash, then more flour with movements so smooth they could be choreographed."Now comes the fun part."
She heats butter in a massive cast-iron skillet, and when it's shimmering, she slides the first piece of steak in.The sizzle is immediate and aggressive, sending up a cloud of steam that makes the kitchen smell like heaven.
I reach for the next piece."My turn."
"Absolutely not."Jo blocks me with her hip, which does nothing to help my concentration."You'll splash melted butter everywhere and probably burn yourself."
Suddenly, I get a fantastic idea.So, I shuffle closer to Jo and whisper into her ear, "Let's give these people a real comedy routine."
