One Way or Another by Mary J. Williams

Author:Mary J. Williams [Williams, Mary J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brook Publications
Published: 2018-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

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THEY ATE. EVENTUALLY. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, her feet bare, Calder watched—thoroughly impressed—as similarly attired Adam prepared their steaks.

"You really do know your way around the kitchen."

"Why are you so surprised? People all over the world cook. Every day."

Calder wondered if her answer would sound pompous. Elitist. Probably. Facts were facts. She had a privileged childhood which continued into adulthood. She wasn't embarrassed. Nor did she like to flaunt the perks wealth afforded her.

When asked directly, Calder didn't shy away from the subject.

"I don't. Cook, that is. Neither do my sisters. Or my mother. Or our fathers."

"Because you don't have to?" Adam placed a filled plate in front of Calder. "Or you don't want to?"

"Both."

With a nod, Adam joined her. He filled their glasses with a deep-red burgundy.

"My mother loves to putter around the kitchen. Her words, not mine. Me? Not so much." As he sipped his wine, his gaze met hers over the rim. "Want to know the truth?"

"As often as possible."

"I eat out more often than not. Tonight? All an attempt to impress you." Adam waited as Calder took her first bite. "Well? What's the verdict?"

Calder slowly chewed the juicy, perfectly cooked piece of meat. She'd observed Adam's technique. Salt. Pepper. Butter heated in a sizzling pan. The process looked simple. She knew better. Nothing that tasted so good could ever be termed simple.

"Slam dunk. Too bad we already had sex, or I'd show my appreciation." Calder dug into the tossed green salad. "Mm. The dressing is outrageous."

"One of my mother's specialties," Adam said with pride. "If you think Mrs. Finch would like the recipe, I can text you a copy."

"She would be over the moon. If your mom wouldn't mind, have her call the house. Mrs. F. can talk food for hours."

"I warn you. Mom will grill Mrs. Finch for every piece of information she can get about you. Your childhood. Your intentions toward her baby boy."

Calder laughed so hard she almost spilled wine down her front.

"For the past few hours, I've made my intentions crystal clear. I say we spare Mrs. Finch and your mother the details."

"I agree." Adam clinked his glass against hers.

"Are you and your mother close?"

"We are." Adam's smile was warm, with a nostalgic quality as if the memories were only good. "My father died when I was a baby. My grandparents live in California. They still visit every other Christmas. Mom worked hard all her life. Did her best to keep me on the straight and narrow."

"Obviously, she succeeded."

"For the most part."

Calder sensed Adam had tales to tell about his youth. Interesting stories she planned to ask about. One day soon.

"Why the Navy?"

"As opposed to the other branches of the military?" Adam shrugged. "My father served. Before he married my mother. He was a good man. I like to think he would have been a good father. Guess I decided to carry on the Stone tradition. My way of honoring a man I never knew. Silly, I suppose."

"I doubt your mother thinks so.

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