Page 21 of My Trainer Neighbor
I served the meal I'd spent all day preparing: herb-crusted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce made from scratch, dinner rolls that were still hot from the oven.The kind of spread my mother used to make before life got too hard for holidays.
"This is incredible," Nicole said after her first bite."Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"My mom.Before she got sick, she used to go all out for holidays."I took a drink of wine, trying to wash away the bitter taste of old memories."After she died, I kept making her recipes.Reminded me of better times."
"How old were you when she passed?"
"Eighteen.Just before I enlisted."
She reached across the table and covered my hand with hers.The gesture was simple, but it hit me harder than her kiss had.
"I'm sorry.That must have been awful."
"It was a long time ago."I turned my hand palm up, lacing our fingers together."What about you?Any family traditions I'm corrupting by keeping you away from?"
She laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound."My parents are in Florida.We exchange Christmas cards and awkward phone calls on birthdays.That's about it."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a disappointment."She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was just an accepted truth instead of something that clearly still hurt.
"How could you possibly be a disappointment?You're successful, intelligent, beautiful."
"But not married."She pulled her hand away and reached for her wine glass."Not producing grandchildren.Not living the life they mapped out for me when I was five years old."
"What life did they map out?"
"Teacher, maybe a nurse.Something safe and feminine.Marry young, have babies, let my husband handle the important decisions."She took a large gulp of wine."They never forgave me for wanting more."
"Their loss."
She looked up at me, surprise flickering across her face."You think so?"
"I know so."I leaned forward, holding her gaze."You're fucking magnificent, Nicole.Any parent who can't see that is an idiot."
She blushed again, but this time she didn't look away."You have a very interesting way of giving compliments."
"I have a very interesting way of doing a lot of things."
The suggestion in my voice was unmistakable, and I watched her pupils dilate in response.
"Shawn..."
"Finish your dinner first," I said, sitting back with a grin."I'm a gentleman."
"Are you?"
"When it suits me."
We ate in a silence that was charged with possibility.Every time she licked her lips or made a soft sound of appreciation for the food, I got harder.Every time she looked at me through her lashes or bit her lower lip, I had to grip my wine glass tighter to keep from reaching for her.
By the time we finished eating, the sexual tension between us was so thick I could barely think straight.
"That was the best meal I've ever had," she said, setting down her napkin.
"Better than those fancy restaurants you probably go to for work?"
"So much better."She smiled, and it was the first completely unguarded expression I'd ever seen from her."Thank you.For all of this.For making me remember what it feels like to be grateful."
