Page 38 of Love In Hiding

The damn thing was massive. “If I drop any in my lap, don’t laugh at me.”

“The same goes for me.” She looked around. “I wonder if I can get one of those bibs.”

The appalled look on his face said more than words could and had her laughing before she picked up her lobster, tilted her head sideways, and opened her mouth as if she was unhinging her jaw and bit right in.

He picked his up to do the same.

The taste of the buttery cold lobster on his tongue mixed with the smoothness of mayo and the tang of lemon and crunch of pieces of celery was an explosion in his mouth. He went in for a second while she did the same.

While they ate, they wouldn’t be tempted to insult the other.

Nah, he was willing to bet it just came naturally to her.

Five minutes went by while they both devoured their rolls without putting them down. Heck, if he did, it might fall apart at this point. Best to finish it off. It was too good to stop.

“That hit the spot. Definitely the best I’ve had,” he said.

“I wonder if they got the lobster from West’s plant or just another boat?”

“I’m guessing they probably just get them off the boats themselves daily. I’m stuffed, but I’m going to pick at these fries a little.”

“I’ve got a weakness for fried and fatty foods. The greasier the better.”

“It’s your arteries,” he said.

“I’m young yet. But I know the time will come when I can’t handle it as much. My mother said she had been the same way. She had different cravings for all us kids.”

“What was it for you and Paris?”

“French fries and potato chips. I love them both. I could eat an entire bag in one sitting. Glad you got two.”

He laughed. “What about your sister?”

“She’s more about the chips than the fries. At least she’s not as much of a glutton as me.”

“Seems to me you’re more extra with everything over your sister.”

“And here I thought we could have had a truce,” she said, pursing her lips. “So you can throw shade on me all you want and hide it behind the lawyer speak of ‘it’s fact’ but it doesn’t make it any different.”

Shit. She had a point.

He picked his glass up to drink... and to think of a reply. And finally said, “It seems you bring the worst out of me.”

“This is your worst? Dang, you’ve got a way to go to get under my skin.”

“If that were the case you wouldn’t have said what you had.”

She leaned back in her chair as if she was trying to make room for more food before she reached for a fry with her fingers.

“I was stating a fact. Isn’t that how you do it? In that calm, dry tone? Just like I am now.”

He felt his face twist some and could only imagine what he looked like. “Do I really sound like that?”

“You do to me.”

The roll couldn’t be stopped from his eyes.

“I don’t think I can eat another piece of food right now.”