Not Another One Hit Wonder by J. M. Snyder

Author:J. M. Snyder
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Kindle Unlimited
ISBN: 9781634863001
Publisher: JMS Books
Published: 2016-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Riley warms up to Derek a little once the pizza arrives. By the time he finishes signing the credit card slip and hands it back to the delivery driver, she’s at his side, arms raised as if he’ll let her carry the boxes. I can already see how that would end, though, so I tell her, “Close the door, honey, will you?” Then I motion for Derek to hurry into the other room before she can offer to help.

In the kitchen, Riley jumps up on the seat at the small booth in the corner, where Mrs. Duran liked to take her coffee. It offers a lovely view of the backyard out the sliding glass doors that open onto the screened-in porch. The booth is more of a nook than a real dining area—there’s a more formal table that seats six in a room off the kitchen, but for as long as I’ve known the Durans, I’ve never seen anyone eat there. Even Derek favored the booth growing up, so it’s no surprise Riley likes it, too.

“Scooch over,” I say, nudging her gently until she slides over into the middle of the booth. That was always my favorite spot, right there in the corner, and she pulls her legs out from under her to sit down properly.

Her eyes widen comically as Derek brings the pizzas closer. “Pizza!” she announces, in case we forgot what we ordered. Then she jumps up and down in her seat. “Pizza pizza pizza.”

I move the plates we set down earlier out of his way so he can set the pizzas on the table. Derek opens the top box, then stops with the lid still closed. There’s a mischievous gleam in his eyes when he smiles at her. “Which one’s yours?” he teases. “Do you know?”

Suddenly Riley’s shy again. She ducks her head, the hint of a smile on her face, her gaze flicking between Derek and the pizza. When he doesn’t raise the lid any further, she points at the top box and gives him a questioning look.

He flips the lid up and closes it again before anyone can get a good look inside. “This one?” he asks. “You sure?”

Leaning forward, Riley plants her elbows on the table and cranes her neck to see better. “Do it again,” she says.

“Let’s make a bet.”

“Derek,” I warn.

But he has Riley’s interest. “What kind of bet?”

“I bet you this isn’t the cheese pizza,” he says.

With a frown, Riley tells him, “I think it is.”

“Okay,” Derek concedes. “If it is, you win, and you can have the whole pizza for yourself.”

Her face lights up. “All of it?”

Derek nods. “But if it isn’t…”

I shake my head. “Riley, don’t do this.”

Ignoring me, she asks, “If it isn’t, then what?”

Derek’s slick smile reminds me of oil sliding over water. “Then you have to eat a piece of whatever type of pizza it is. And you can’t pick off any of the toppings.”

“Ew!” Riley wrinkles her nose in disgust.

“But if you’re right,” Derek reminds her, “you get the whole pizza.

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