Page 24 of Playing for Keeps
“You know what goes great with grilled cheese?”
“What?” he asked not wanting to take his gaze from the food but glancing at her anyway.
Her hair was once again pulled back into a ponytail. He wondered if he’d ever seen it all out. Rylan was not the frilly and fancy girl that Camy was. In contrast, she’d much rather slip on jeans and a sweatshirt and pull her hair back with a rubber band. Tonight, however, she wore black leggings with white snowflakes all over and a long white t-shirt that fell alluringly off one shoulder. An outfit that showed off all her feminine curves and reminded Del of just how soft she’d been in his arms.
“Hot chocolate,” she continued. “And I have my own special recipe.”
She was moving competently through her little kitchen, yelling “flip” just as she poured milk into a saucepan. When Del was finished with both sandwiches and had them on the paper plates she’d directed him to, he watched in awe as she opened a cabinet and stood on the tips of her toes to grab a bottle of Hennessy.
“In your hot chocolate?” he asked having never heard of this particular recipe before.
“Absolutely!” she replied. “And in yours too.”
She poured a splash in the two Disney mugs she’d filled with the milk, cocoa mix, cream, sugar and vanilla. She handed him the cup with the vicious looking Scar on it and lifted hers with the lovely Princess Tiana. Reaching around him she grabbed a plate.
“Come on,” she said and went to the living room again.
Del followed and sat beside her on the couch, placing his mug on the end table closest to him.
“So, was this the only place you could find in town?” Del asked and lifted half the sandwich.
Rylan had already taken a bite and slowed her chewing when he looked over to her. When she finished, she used a napkin she’d had beneath her plate to wipe her mouth.
“There’s nothing wrong with my apartment,” she replied. “But if you don’t like it here, you’re welcome to leave.”
Del shook his head. “No. No. That’s not what I’m saying. It’s a cute little place. I’m just wondering why you moved here. Your parents’ house is pretty spacious and you know Noah and Ethan renovated those lofts down by the industrial district. High ceilings, great natural light.”
Rylan took another bite of her sandwich and Del did the same.
“So, you’re working to lease your brothers’ lofts? You guys are totally committed to each other,” she said.
She sounded irritated, which was not what Del intended.
“I’m just saying, I remember how you used to practice martial arts in our basement because your mother never let you do it at your house. You have zero space to do that here.”
She shrugged. “I haven’t done it much lately.”
“Why?” he asked and began working on the second half of his sandwich.
“Work.”
Del nodded. “Yeah. I know that tune.”
“What happened with you in D.C.? Why’d you leave the DEA?”
He almost choked on the bread. Another thing about Rylan, she was candid as hell.
“It was time to get out,” he replied and finished chewing his food.
When she didn’t say anything immediately, he knew it was because she was waiting for more of an answer. Del didn’t think he had one to give.
“Fighting the war against drugs can seem pointless at times. Especially when you’re on the inside of that fight,” he told her and pushed the last of the sandwich into his mouth.
He wasn’t hungry anymore, but he wasn’t ready to leave either. And he didn’t think he wanted to have this conversation.
“I can imagine,” she said to his surprise. “But it was all you’d ever wanted to do. You and Lance. You played cops and robbers so much Camy and I knew you were either going to end up wearing a badge or stealing one.”
When he looked at her it was to see a small smile ghosting her lips. Very kissable lips.
