“I guess you just want to read what must be a very romantic story.”
“Of course I want to hear what Miss Edi did. I always assumed she was a virgin.”
“Why’d you think that? Her David get wounded in the wrong place?”
“I couldn’t exactly ask her that, now could I? Did you wash your hands?”
“No. Is that really my mother’s pot roast?” he asked as he washed his hands.
“It is if she makes it by the recipe, but maybe she left a secret ingredient out of it. Maybe I should have put a few borage flowers on top.”
“Getting sick of the cupcakes?”
Joce rolled her eyes. “Your dad and Tess are starting to talk about opening a store in town. Between Sara’s upscale dress shop and Tess’s bakery, Edilean is going to turn into SoHo.”
“That is a very unfunny joke.”
“Maybe the Steps and Ingrid could do some photo shoots here. They could languish in the back of your pickup wearing Armani. It would be a great setting. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Could you stop it with Ingrid? That’s over.”
“No it’s not. You’re still married until you have the paper saying you aren’t.”
“Does that matter to you?” he asked.
“No, of course not,” she said quickly as she used a pot holder to remove the big pouch of pot roast from the microwave and put it in a bowl.
“Have you ever kissed Ramsey?”
“I really and truly don’t think that’s any of your business,” Joce said.
“I have a reason for asking.”
“Yes, I’ve kissed him at least a thousand times. Truly a magnificent experience.”
Luke was leaning against the sink, the beer in his hand. He set it down, then walked toward her without saying a word.
“Let me get some silverware and—”
He put his hand under her chin and tipped her face up to his, then he kissed her. It was a gentle, sweet kiss, but it made her knees start to buckle.
When he pulled back, her heart was racing, and she wanted to put her arms around his neck and continue.
“Do you understand now?” he asked as he stepped away, not touching her.
“Understand what?” she asked.
“About you and me. About why my grandfather had you to his house for lunch, why Ramsey was sent out of town, why Ingrid was brought back into my life.”
“You want to stay with her?”
“I need to end it legally between her and me. She can fight her own battles with the big shot in New York.”
“You know about him?”
“Did you think I thought she came back here out of love for me? I married her because she was carrying my child and she—” He looked away. “I don’t want to relive that. As soon as MAW can get the paperwork through, the marriage will be annulled, then I plan to do some ‘ardent courting.’”
“Ardent, huh?” she asked, grinning. “And how would that start?” She stepped toward him.