Page 67 of Dirty Little Secret
“I can’t wait.” She held the door open for me and I moved passed her, stealing a little kiss before we headed out where everyone could see us.
“Neither can I.” I loved the way her eyes barely opened after the kiss, as if my lips had a drugging effect on her.
She blinked a few times. “Oh boy, I’m in trouble.”
“Yes, you are.” Jerking my head toward the patio, I added, “Come help me with this meat.”
I looked over at her, finding her biting her bottom lip. “How do you do this to me, Kane?” I saw goosebumps rise along her arm and found that unexpectedly erotic.
She wasn’t lying. My words really did have a physical effect on her, and I liked that. I liked that very much.
Aunt Nancy had her phone in her hand, holding it up to her face, clearly talking over video chat. “Oh, here she is, Linda.”
“My mom,” I told her. “Go say hello.”
Zandra looked a little shy. “Oh, Lord. How do I look?” She ran her hands through her hair.
“Beautiful, as always.” I grinned at her.
Aunt Nancy turned the phone around, and there was my mother’s face as she called out, “Come here, Zandra. Let me say hello to the woman who gave me that perfect grandbaby.”
Waving, Zandra said, “Hello, Mrs. Price. It’s nice to meet you.”
Mom was quick to correct her. “Mrs. Price was my long-gone mother-in-law. I’m Linda. How do you like life with the boys so far?”
“Um, it’s good. Today’s the first day I’ve gotten to spend much time with them though, so it’s still new to me.” Zandra took a seat after Aunt Nancy handed her the phone. “I have to say that you’ve raised one heck of a son, Linda. I feel like I’m constantly being surprised by all of Kane’s accomplishments. And he’s the best father I’ve ever met. At least, so far he is.” She looked at me then winked.
“And I’ll continue to be.” I placed the steaks on the hot grill, making smoke rise up. “Oh, if you could smell this, Momma, you’d be in heaven. When can you make it down to meet this little lady in person?”
“Not too far from now, I think.” Mom looked at me now, as Zandra had turned the phone toward me while I spoke. “Your father has a doctor’s appointment for his gout next week. I’ve got a dentist appointment the week after that. The dog has to get his rabies shot on Friday, and the bird will have to be sent to stay with the neighbors, who won’t be back from Hawaii until the end of the month.”
“So, next month, maybe?” I asked, as she’d pretty much used up what was left of this one.
“Probably. We’ll have to see. You know how it goes with us. Maybe you guys could come here. I bet it would be much easier that way,” Mom said.
I looked at Zandra. “What do you think? Do you want to go to California to meet my parents?”
“Um. Uh …” Zandra looked like I’d put her on the spot. “I’ll have to see. I’ve got to get a new job, and getting time off might be hard at a new place.”
“We’ll see what happens, Mom.” I let her off the hook.
“Turn me back to you, Zandra,” Mom told her.
Zandra turned the phone back around. “Hi, it’s me again.”
“I just want you to know that you’ve got a place in this family, girl. You’re the mother of my favorite grandson,” Mom said.
“I’m your only grandkid, Grammy,” Fox called out.
“Speaking of my grandson, let me see that boy, honey.”
Zandra turned the phone around so Mom could see Fox. He waved at the phone. “Hi, Grammy.”
“Hi, handsome. I hope you come see me soon.” She jerked her head as if gesturing to Zandra, who held the phone. “Talk your momma into coming to meet me. I can’t wait to get to know her.”
“Me too,” he said. “You’re gonna love her just like I do.”
“I bet I will.” Mom’s eyes searched me out as I walked into frame. “Treat her right, Kane.”
