Wildflower Wedding by LuAnn McLane

Author:LuAnn McLane
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

16

Hot and Spicy

TRISH LADLED MORE FRAGRANT CHILI INTO THE PLASTIC container and then snapped the lid in place. After putting it in a tote, she added a small bag of shredded cheddar cheese and a box of oyster crackers and spaghetti. She picked the package up with the intention of taking lunch over to Anthony but then lost her nerve. She’d seen him limp across the lawn earlier still using crutches and assumed he was finally staying home from the restaurant.

Craving Cincinnati-style chili, something she couldn’t get in Cricket Creek, she decided to make a pot of her own. Taking some over to Anthony was the neighborly thing to do . . . right? Plus, she wanted to make sure he saw the new article she’d written about River Row Pizza and Pasta. She looked at the canvas tote in her hand and sighed. No big deal.

So why wouldn’t her feet move?

Because seeing the man made her heart beat fast and butterflies flutter around in her stomach. That’s why! But she really wanted him to read the article and make him say something nice to her for a change. Trish arched an eyebrow and grinned slightly. If he thought the cannoli he’d handed her yesterday with a mumbled apology for being such an ass the other night was enough, he was wrong.

Trish inhaled a deep breath and squared her shoulders but then remembered she was wearing sweatpants and a Cincinnati Bengals T-shirt. Damn, she should change into something more flattering and take her hair out of the sloppy bun.

“What?” she questioned through gritted teeth. She had no desire to impress the man, she thought darkly. She only wanted to do the right thing and take lunch to her injured tenant. Besides, being nice meant that he’d lease his half of the house longer. This was smart business too, Trish told herself, and then looked down at her orange flip-flops. She planned on killing the man with kindness. “Move!” she ordered.

A minute later Trish stood holding the bag in front of Anthony’s door. She thought maybe she’d just hang the lunch on the doorknob, knock, and then hightail it back to safety, but of course Digger started making a fuss and before she could take off, Anthony opened the door.

Digger greeted her with enthusiasm. Anthony scowled.

“I made chili and thought you might like some.” She thrust the bag at him, trying very hard to ignore that he wore lounging pants low on his hips and no shirt. Did the man ever wear a shirt? His thick wavy hair was mussed as if he’d been lying down, and of course that thought had Trish imagining him in bed. God . . .

“Should I critique it?”

“If you want to. It’s Cincinnati-style, sort of an acquired taste.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You put it over spaghetti, top it with the cheddar cheese and crackers. It’s called a three-way,” she said.

He finally grinned. “A three-way, huh? Hmmm, haven’t had one of those in a while.”

Trish felt her cheeks grow warm.

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