Sunny's Second Chance by Nola Cross

Author:Nola Cross
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781940744292
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Published: 2014-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“More coffee, Ben?” Sunny started to rise from her chair but he waved her back down. As she resettled, his gaze swept once more over the smooth brown skin of her shoulders and the hint of cleavage revealed by the modest décolletage of her dress. She glowed in the candlelight, her dark gold eyes sparkling as she looked across the table at him.

“I’ve had plenty, thanks. If I have another cup I’ll be up until two. Besides, I’d have to have another piece of pie to go with it. You know how that goes.” He rubbed his stomach in exaggerated circles. “But it certainly was delicious. I never expected peach pie in December.”

She laughed softly. “I cheat, you know. I buy fresh peaches on sale in August and slice them up and freeze them, just so we can have the taste of summer all year round.”

Of course you do. In the past hour he’d discovered that she was a sorceress in the kitchen. The stew had had a depth of flavor that nearly brought tears to his eyes, and the cornbread was so sweet and tender it was like eating cake. After that, the pie à la mode was almost too much to bear. And she had pulled it off as if it took no effort at all.

This past year, he’d grown used to eating fast food, and the occasional processed, rehashed meals at his parents’ table. Before that, Corrine had certainly tried, but none of her efforts came close to the feast Sunny had so blithely just prepared. He felt an uncomfortable pinch of disloyalty at the thought. Corrine had been a wonderful wife. So what if her cooking was only adequate? They had gotten along just fine on it.

Damn it! Why was he experiencing this continuing urge to compare Sunny to Corrine? Now he noticed for the first time that the color of Sunny’s dress was similar to the one Corrine wore in the portrait. But where the woman in the photo was stiff and garish, the one across the table from him exuded a welcoming warmth. She was all curves and grace and sexy bare feet, completely at home at her table, in her kitchen.

Oh, she was very much alive.

And Corrine was not.

Scowling, he took his napkin from his lap and tossed it down next to his plate.

It wasn’t fair! He’d been doing fine, hadn’t he? He’d so enjoyed Sunny’s company at Mr. Toad’s and Peacock Lane, and even more yesterday at the tree farm. He’d begun to feel hopeful again, as if he and Spencer might make it okay out of the dark tunnel of the past year. And then Stan and Kathy had shown up with that damned portrait last night and ruined everything.

Were they right? Should he be spending this holiday season continuing to mourn his dead wife? Was it sinful to want to move on, to want to be happy again? They’d no doubt be outraged if they knew how much fun he and Spencer had had yesterday at the tree farm.

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