Navy Rules by Geri Krotow

Author:Geri Krotow
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

KRISTA’S STOMACH GRUMBLED at the sight of the pizza fixings on Uncle Max’s kitchen counter. She held Maeve up to see the different colors of the tomatoes, sauce, basil, cheese and dough.

“See, Maeve? We’re going to make our own pizzas!” Mom had to agree to it. Uncle Max would convince her, though. Uncle Max knew how to have fun and she was so glad he was her soccer coach, but being able to hang out with him in his house was really cool.

“Cheeeeze.” Maeve pointed to the pile of shredded mozzarella and Krista laughed.

“Yup, it’s cheese. Want a teeny bite?” Krista reached out for a few white strands and passed them to Maeve. Maeve’s hands were so tiny and cute. The cheese was the perfect size.

“What’s this? You’re not picking at the food, are you?” Mom and Uncle Max were standing behind her. Mom always sounded sterner than she ever really was. Krista hoisted Maeve higher in her arms.

“Maeve was starving, Mom. I just gave her a little bit.”

“Nommmm.” Maeve had half her fist shoved in her mouth, along with the mozzarella.

“Sorry, Uncle Max.”

“No problem. So what do you like on your pizza?”

Mom was wearing that awkward little smile she had whenever she was uncomfortable but Krista was thrilled. They were staying for dinner!

“Can I roll out my pizza dough, Uncle Max?”

“Better yet, you can toss it. Let me show you how.”

* * *

WINNIE WATCHED MAX as he showed the girls how to knead the dough and then toss it to the perfect thickness. The girls giggled and had a blast trying to do it themselves.

“Lemmeeee! Lemmeee!” Maeve squealed in complete bliss as Max made her a toddler-size piece of dough to “toss.” Which she did, right into Sam’s waiting mouth.

“Drop it!”

Sam’s ears went back at Winnie’s command, and he promptly dropped the now-soggy dough onto the black tile of Max’s kitchen floor.

“Good boy. Leave it.” Winnie bent to pick up the dough and noticed the sudden quiet. She looked up.

Three pairs of eyes were staring at her. Four, if you counted Sam’s. “What?”

“Can’t Sam have that little piece of dough?” Max asked.

The room was too warm and she blamed it on the pizza oven. Max’s glance slid down to her throat and cleavage, revealed by her bent-over position. Her nipples reacted as if he’d physically touched her breasts.

“No, he can’t. Dogs aren’t meant to eat processed human food, raw yeast dough especially. It can expand in their stomachs and make them very sick.”

Krista rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be disrespectful, Krista.”

Krista wasn’t ready to let it go so easily. “Mom, Uncle Max is right. What would one bit of dough hurt?”

“No, your mother’s right.” Max spoke up. “I’m sorry, Winnie, I’m not well-versed on what is and isn’t good for a dog. If I had Sam, I’d be feeding him chips and beer.”

The girls both giggled at his tone. Krista’s expression relaxed and she mouthed “I’m sorry” to Winnie, behind Max, out of his view.

Winnie let her tension go; they gave her no choice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.