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“That smells good, but aren’t you going to change? Do girls wear yoga pants on dates?” Mav asked.
He was dressed in gym shorts and a t-shirt, and his wet hair hung low on his forehead as he studied her. Reese took a minute to study him back. Her baby was quickly becoming a man. He was still on the skinny side, even though he ate everything in sight, but it wouldn’t be long before he filled out. Those green eyes would have the girls calling before long too. The phone wasn’t ringing today. Right now, Mav’s eyes were aimed at her. It couldn’t be more obvious her son trying to get her to go along with whatever man plan they hatched today.
“Oh, my lord,” Reese ground out. “For the last time, I am not going over to have dinner at Cash’s house tonight. Just because someone asks you to have dinner doesn’t mean you have to go.”
“But when he dropped us off, he was going to get takeout for you guys,” Mav explained as if that was going to clear everything up.
“Not my problem,” Reese retorted. “I never agreed to have dinner with him.”
“Yeah, but he likes you,” Mav argued.
“So?” Reese shot back.
“So, you better go change. Maybe brush your hair or whatever it is you girls do to get ready for a date,” Mav looked at her like she was the slow one in their conversation. Looking to Pappy for help, he got none. The older man just shook his head, sympathizing with Mav. “You aren’t going?”
“Nope,” Reese answered again. Maybe they would let it drop. Maybe Cash wouldn’t cross the street anymore after she refused to go to dinner. Maybe her father would forget her phone number. The odds weren’t in her favor for any of those things.
“Dinner is in fifteen minutes. If you are quick, you can get in the shower next,” she pointed her spoon at Pappy.
Wordlessly her grandfather stood, shaking his head at her as he left.
“Mom.”
“Yeah, kiddo,” Reese sighed, wishing Mav could just let it go.
“Do you not like Cash? What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing is wrong with him, Mav,” Reese turned her attention to her son. “I don’t want anything serious. I have responsibilities. I don’t have time to date.”
His confused look told her they were not done having this conversation.
“Well, you are going to have dinner here, right?” When she didn’t answer him, he kept going. “If you have time to eat here, you could have time to eat with Cash. What are you going to miss? Wheel of Fortune?”
“I said I am not going. End of story and end of the discussion,” Reese waved her spoon at him.
“That is what you always say when you don’t want to admit I am right,” Mav laughed before deftly dodging a flying dishtowel as he retreated to the living room.
“No one likes a smart ass,” Reese called.
Hearing the water turn on above her, she knew Pappy was in the shower. The tv clicked on, signaling Mav had moved on. Reese sighed. She refused to think about the if-onlys in her life when they started creeping in. Instead, she gave the pasta bubbling away on the stove a quick stir before adding some cheese to the top. Digging plates out of the cupboard and silverware from the drawer, Reese made three places at the table. They were having dinner together right here. Hearing the water turn off upstairs, she knew everyone would be right on time.
The knock on the front door a minute later had Reese rolling her eyes. Glancing at the clock, Reese didn’t need anyone to tell her Cash was at the door. The man just couldn’t take a hint. Hearing footsteps on the stairs and more coming from the living room, Reese prepared herself for the testosterone overload headed into her kitchen.
“Woman, it smells great in here. Too bad you aren’t going to get a chance to eat whatever you are cooking,” Cash casually leaned his long body against the doorway, keeping a close watch on her.
“What part of not going to happen doesn’t seem to make sense to you?”
“Are you like this with all the guys who try to take you to dinner?”
“There haven’t been any other guys,” Mav piped up as he pushed his way past Cash taking his seat at the kitchen table.
Reese ignored them. She sat a hot pad on the table, and then the pan from the stove followed it. Popping a few slices of bread in the oven, she shut the door and waited for them to heat. It was possible Cash would leave. Possible, but not probable.
“None? How the hell is that possible?” Cash asked, scrutinizing Reese and then Mav.
“My girlie is just a little gun shy, that’s all,” Pappy assured him. He looked fresh and clean when he took his seat across from Mav. “Maybe it’s the pants.”
“I don’t wear yoga pants on dates,” Reese said, drawing their attention.
