He chuckled. "Yeah, you do, badass. But a gun can't tow your truck."
Point made.
"Are you coming home?" he asked. The way he said "home" like his house was my home too made me feel warm inside. Even if he hadn't meant it that way.
"Yes, if that's okay. I can go do something else if you need me to stay away."
"No. I want you here. I cooked."
He'd cooked? For me? "Oh. Okay. Well, I'll be there in a few minutes."
"See you soon," he said and the line went dead.
Here he went being incredibly strange again.
When I walked into the house the distinct smell of taco seasoning met my nose. I closed the door and headed for the kitchen. If this was actual homemade Mexican food then I was going to be seriously impressed.
Rush's back was to me as I entered the kitchen. He was humming along to a song I didn't recognize playing over the sound system. It was smoother and slower than what he normally listened to. A bottle of Corona was opened on the bar with a slice of lime on the rim. I'd fixed many just like that while working on the course.
"Smells good," I said. Rush glanced back over his shoulder and a slow smile spread across his face.
"It is," he replied, wiping his hands on the hand towel beside him. He picked up the Corona and handed it to me. "Here, drink up. The enchiladas are almost finished. I need to flip the quesadillas and they need a few more minutes. We should be ready to eat soon."
I put the Corona to my lips and took a small sip. Mostly for courage. This was not how I expected our next encounter to go. Rush was a puzzle that I might never figure out.
"I'm hoping you eat Mexican," he said as he pulled the enchiladas out of the oven. Rush Finlay did not look like someone who belonged in the kitchen cooking. But dang, if he wasn't sexy doing it.
"I love Mexican food," I assured him. "I will admit I'm really impressed that you can cook it."
Rush looked up at me and winked. "I got all kinds of talents that would blow your mind."
I had no doubt. I swallowed a larger gulp of the Corona.
"Easy girl. You gotta eat something too. When I said drink up I didn't mean for you to gulp it down."
I nodded and wiped off the small drop that was clinging to my bottom lip. Rush watched me intently. It made my hand shake a little.
He turned his eyes away quickly and started taking the quesadillas off the skillet. He put them on a platter full of hard and soft tacos. There were even burritos. He'd made some of everything.
"Everything else is on the table already. Grab me a Corona out of the fridge and follow me."
I quickly did as I was told and hurried after Rush. He didn't stop in the dining room. Instead, he stepped outside onto the large back porch overlooking the ocean. Two hurricane lamps stood in the middle of the table so that we could have candlelight without it blowing out.
"Sit. I'll fix your plate," he said, motioning for me to take a seat at the first seat we came to. There were only two out here.
I sat down and Rush began to dish one of everything onto my plate. Then he put the tray of food down and placed the napkin from beside my plate on my lap. His mouth was so close to my ear that his warm breath made me shiver.
"Can I get you another drink?" he whispered in my ear before standing back up.
I shook my head. I wouldn't be able to drink if he was going to do things like that. My heart was racing like crazy already. I couldn't swallow a thing like this.
Rush picked up his drink and took the seat across from me. I watched as he fixed his plate then his eyes lifted to mine. "If you hate it, don't tell me. My ego can't handle it."
I was sure nothing he made would taste bad. I grinned and picked up my fork and knife to cut off a small piece of the enchilada he'd placed on my plate. There was no way I could eat all this but I could taste some of everything.
The minute it touched my tongue it surprised me. It was as good as any I'd eaten at a Mexican restaurant. Smiling, I looked at him. "It's delicious and I can't say I'm surprised."
Rush put a forkful in his mouth and smirked. His ego could never be crushed. It might even need to be brought down a few pegs. I started to taste the other things and found myself hungrier than I'd first thought. Everything was so good I didn't want to waste anything.