Page 76 of Seduced By the Mermen
“I’ll be guarding the door until Blair is ready to go back to Glyden.” Sterling thunders out of the room.
I suck my swollen lips into my mouth. “I feel like I’ve just been caught by my father making out on his sofa.”
“Sterling isn’t your father,” Delmar says.
“No, no, he isn’t.” But I don’t think he wants to be my daddy either.
“Let me help you wash the dishes, please.” Those aren’t words I ever thought I would utter.
Forrest stands, shaking his head, and holds out his hand for me. “If you really want to, it will certainly be more fun than cleaning up with that blubber fish.”
I take his hand, and for the first time in a long time, I’m looking forward to cleaning.
Chapter 31
Blair
Ihang on to Forrest’s elbow, and he walks me down the corridor past the dining room to the kitchen. It’s cheery and bright and full of the rest of the guys. Everyone but Sterling. The refrigerator and dishwashers both hang open. The cooks seemed to have scrubbed the kitchen down completely before they left. All we need to do is wash the things we ate on.
It’s a lovely space with apple green tiles and bright brass pans, stainless steel counters and appliances. It’s a cross between a caterer’s kitchen and a rustic Tuscany-inspired mansion. It’s the kind of place where I would have loved to cook Thanksgiving dinner while watching a parade and drinking a glass of red wine.
“There you are!” Zion wraps his arm around my waist and kisses the side of my neck. “You talked them into letting you help, didn’t you?”
I spin in his arms, a smile on my face. “I did, and I’m happy to help. This is kind of fun.”
“We’re gonna need to redefine your definition of fun, Cookie.”
“Cookie?” I ask. “Where did you come up with...”
Zion opens a container of the cookies that were passed around at dessert. I had three. “Would you like another?”
“They are fantastic.” I take one, and while I try to savor it, I eat it in three bites. It’s soft and pliable with a crumble top. They’re too good to turn down.
“Exactly, they’re really good, just like you, Cookie.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a nickname before. And now I seem to have half a dozen. And when he says it, it sends sparks to my toes. “Well, thank you.”
Zion leans in and gives the tip of my nose a kiss.
“Now, how can I help?” I ask.
Zion hands me a dish towel. Delmar and Forrest take their places in front of two separate sinks.
Delmar calls me over. “Here, Blair, dry for me.” His dark hair glows in the warm light of the kitchen. He washes a large silver tray and hands it to me.
“Where should I put it?”
“Oh, give it to me.” Zion takes it.
I’m still drying a bowl when he’s back. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him. He sways us to imaginary music. I’m holding tight to the bowl. It might be metal, but I still don’t want to drop it.
“Here, Cookie, give me the bowl. Clark likes to dance.” Zion takes the bowl in one hand, and my other hand he passes to Clark.
Forrest, with his fingers full of sudsy water, turns away from the sink. “Samba.” And the room fills with a Latin rhythm.
“I don’t know how to dance the Samba, Clark. I used to know a few line dances. But that was a long time ago.”
He spins me in his arms. “There are no judges here, only us. Move your body however you want.”
