Page 17 of Where Love Lies

“Do you guys like pesto with grilled chicken?” Glancing up, I catch his eyes searching my face for an answer. I look to Paige, who shrugs. “I don’t know. Sounds fancy.”

Laughing at her response, I take a step back. Feeling Heston staring at me, I shrug my shoulder, my brows raised. “Sounds delicious!”

He slaps his hands and rubs them together, as if he’s about to cook up something magical.

“Great, because it’s about all I know how to cook.” He laughs, and I can’t help but find him cute. He’s trying so hard.

Stepping up to the bags, which are half-empty from Paige going through them, he pulls out a bottle of wine. My eyes snap to Paige, who is already glaring at me, silently telling me not to bring it up. I won’t, but that bottle will be tossed after dinner. I can’t trust her around it…and that hurts to say because I’ve never not trusted her.

Paige sits on the couch, trying to find a movie to watch, while I stand against the counter, watching Heston navigate his way around my kitchen.

“This doesn’t exactly sound like a beginner dish. How do you know how to make it?”

He focuses on the task at hand, placing a small number of tomatoes on a cutting board, and begins to slice them.

“Um…it’s my mom’s favorite. I’d sit on the kitchen counter and watch her cook it while telling her about my day at school.” He shares a piece of his life, and it’s beautiful. My eyes shift to my mom’s urn. I can’t help but think about the things she taught me over the years.

“My mom taught me a lot of things. She was an artist,” I say. His eyes flick to mine. “You wanna get some water boiling?” He asks, not commenting on what I just shared with him.

“Sure thing.” Pushing off the counter, I open the bottom cabinet, pull out a pot, and start to fill it with water.

“Where was your father? Is he much of a cook?”

I turn off the faucet, place the pot on the stove, and turn it to high.

“Um…my dad wasn’t really part of our lives,” he responds, hurt dipping his voice. Sometimes, I wish Cam wasn’t in Paige’s life at all.

“My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and my father used to manage a hotel,” he shares.

“What hotel—?”

“Find anything to watch?” Heston interrupts, looking at Paige. She turns her head to glance at him then focuses back on the TV.

“How aboutThe Mummy—or Mom’s favorite movie is on.”

Heston walks around the island and stands behind the couch. “What’s your mom’s favorite?”

“Nooo.” I run to slap my hand over Paige’s mouth, but she jumps up with the remote in her hand, a sly smile on her face.

Heston laughs and grabs me around the waist to hold me away from Paige.

“Tell me, Paige!” he encourages, and she falls into a fit of giggles.

“I will ground you for life and make you eat creamed corn every night!” I threaten, but she and Heston just laugh more.

He pulls my back against his chest, and I want to keep pretending to go after Paige, just so he’ll hold me tighter.

“Tell me all your favorite things, Rain,” he whispers in my ear. His hot breath brushes against the shell, and a shiver races down my neck, causing my nipples to press against my bra.

“Mannequin!” Paige shouts, and I suddenly lose the heat simmering inside my body. I internally groan at and lean my head back until I’m looking at the ceiling. Heston lets go of me, and I miss his touch instantly. “I don’t know that one.” He sounds confused. Thank God.

“It’s about a guy who’s obsessed with a mannequin—which isn’t actually a mannequin. It’s a woman who’s under a spell.” She basically tells him the whole movie, and Heston chuckles at my expense.

“What? It’s been my favorite since I was a kid.” I cross my arms, my cheeks feeling warmer than usual.

“I’ve seen it too many times. I’ll keep looking,” Paige scoffs, sitting back down.

Heston turns around, his backside leaning against the couch.

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