0373659490 (R) by Michelle Major

Author:Michelle Major [Major, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-03-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Charles wanted to tell Alice she’d already blown his mind on so many levels. It went way beyond making him a father, as shocking as that revelation had been. Alice seemed unimpressed with his reputation and the trappings of his fame, a wholly unfamiliar experience for Charles but one he’d quickly grown to appreciate.

Case in point was that they now stood in front of a brightly painted recreational vehicle, a new Texas experience for Charles. He was used to dining at steak houses and trendy bistros, but took his place in the short queue behind Alice.

“A food truck?”

“The best tacos in Austin.” She pointed to the large chalkboard hanging from the side of the truck. “They have daily specials, but my favorite is the Chicken Sink.”

“Is that supposed to sound appetizing?” He cocked a brow, earning a laugh.

“It’s a chicken taco with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in.”

“I’m sure there is an American cultural reference I’m missing, but...”

Her grin widened. “It means there’s a ton of stuff on top of the chicken.” She held up her hand, ticking off ingredients with her fingers. “Guacamole, green chili, sour cream and queso, plus salsa and a bit of shredded lettuce. They don’t use a ton of any one item, but you get a mix of all the different flavors.”

“It’s delish,” the woman standing in front of them said, looking over her shoulder. Her gaze caught and held on Charles. “Wow,” she murmured, then threw an apologetic glance at Alice.

“No worries,” Alice told her. “Happens all the time. Eventually you get used to him.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” the woman answered, and turned back around.

“What happens all the time?” Charles didn’t begin to understand the exchange between the two women, but was quite curious.

“The Charles Effect,” Alice said, before a blush rose to her cheeks. It was as if she hadn’t meant to share those words with him. The line shifted and one of the servers beckoned them forward. “Saved by the taco,” she muttered, before turning to Charles. “Do you know what you want?”

“What is the Charles Effect?” he asked.

“I’ll order for both us.” She ignored his question and requested a sampling of menu items from the clearly popular food truck. Charles handed the man a few bills before Alice could pull her wallet from her purse. “I dragged you halfway across downtown in the midday heat,” she protested. “I can pay.”

“Call me old-fashioned,” he drawled.

As they shifted to the side to wait, Alice began to babble about the vast array of food trucks that could be found throughout Austin’s various neighborhoods. “That should be one of our features for the ad campaign. Food is a big draw for vacationers, and my research shows that almost half will drive up to thirty miles from their intended destination to try a popular restaurant.” She paused to catch her breath, then started to speak again, but Charles held a finger over her lips.

“Explain the Charles Effect.”

“It’s...you know...how women react to you.”

“You mean the fact that women like me.

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