Page 121 of Contentious

“That’s the only thing you won’t eat?”

“That’s it.”

“So if I made you liver and onions…”

“My grandmother used to make that, and I was the only one of us who’d eat it. My siblings used to call me The Dumpster because I’d eat anything.”

Cresley smiled as she handed him the plate and put the water on the table next to him. “The Dumpster, huh?”

“Yep. The nickname was well earned. They’d dare me to eat all kinds of things.”

“What was the grossest thing you ever ate?”

“A worm from the backyard.”

“What? For real?”

He took a bite of the sandwich. “Uh-huh. This is so good. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, but don’t tell Ty that you once ate a worm or he’ll want to do it, too.”

“We’ll make that our little secret,” he said with a wink.

She wrinkled her nose at the thought of eating an actual worm. “That’s really gross, Carson.”

“So I was told.”

“What other disgusting things have you been hiding from me?”

“That’s the worst of it.”

“Would your brothers agree with that?”

“There’s no need to bring them into this.”

Cresley laughed harder than she had since before disaster struck.

“I like it better when you laugh. No more crying, you hear me?”

“I’m trying, believe me.”

After he’d polished off the food, he said, “What time is it?”

“Two fifteen. Why?”

“I wanted to know how much time we have to make out until Ty gets home.”

“We’re not making out for an hour.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re supposed to be resting and recovering.”

“I can do that and make out with you, too.” He held out a hand to her. “Come here. Please?”

It was that softly spoken “please” that had her getting up from the sofa to move to the chaise. To pretend she had the willpower to resist him when he looked at her like that would be foolish.

When she was snuggled up to him with his arms around her, she said, “Are you happy now?”