Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,22

picnic table from his chair. I knock his feet off with my hand, causing him to stumble in his chair. “Hey.”

“Feet off the table,” I tell my younger, twenty-four-year-old cousin. “Aunt Edna will tan your hide if she catches you.”

He snorts. “I know, but she’s so fun to rile up,” he says, teasing and smiling.

“Lunch is about ready,” I tell my cousin, turning and heading to my last stop before lunch. “Bernice, always lovely to see you,” I say, kissing her cheek.

“Oh, Walker, I’m so glad you’re finally here. I wanted to introduce you to a friend,” the old, meddlesome woman says with an anything but innocent smile. “Walker, this is Suzie Perkins, the new Sunday school teacher I was telling you about.”

Of course she is.

I plaster on a quick friendly smile and extend my hand. “Suzie, nice to meet you.”

She turns fourteen shades of red as she takes my hand and whispers, “Pleasure to meet you as well.”

Bernice claps her hands together. “Well, I’m going to run inside and help Edna finish the food. Why don’t you take my seat, Walker, and visit with Suzie?” And then with the agility of a twenty-year-old, she gets up quickly and dances away, leaving me to get to know the woman who was clearly invited here for my benefit.

“Can I get you a drink, Suzie?” I ask, accepting my fate and taking the vacated seat left by Bernice.

“Oh, no thank you. I had a water just a few minutes ago.” She gives me a polite, friendly smile, but it doesn’t cause any sort of reaction, not in my chest or in my groin.

Not like the one I get when Mallory grins.

I nod and gaze out at the backyard, awkwardness settling in to keep my company. “So, you’re a Sunday school teacher?”

She nods. “And preschool during the week. I teach the three-year-old room for the church preschool program. This is my first year.”

“That’s nice,” I reply.

“And I hear you’re a business owner?” she asks eagerly, her brown eyes sparkling under the sunlight.

“I am. My friends and I own Burgers and Brew. Have you ever been?” I ask, already sure I know the answer.

She shakes her head. “No, sorry. I’ve only lived here a little over a year.”

Plenty of time to check out a few local businesses, in my opinion, but then again, Suzie doesn’t exactly look like the brew type. She’s more wholesome and probably spends her evenings practicing relaxation breathing techniques and reading her Bible. Nothing wrong with it at all, and I can even see why Bernice and Edna would like her, but I can already tell we’re not a good fit.

“Lunch is ready,” my aunt hollers from the back door.

“Shall we?” I ask, waving my hand for Suzie to go in front of me. I’m a complete gentleman, never once glance down to check out her ass. Not like Mallory, where my eyes seem to seek it out all on their own.

“Suzie, why don’t you take this seat here by Walker,” Bernice says, motioning for the empty chair beside my usual spot at the table.

“Thank you,” she replies, slipping into the empty seat.

Mom is smiling at me across the table. I roll my eyes, letting her know I’m not amused by today’s arrangement, but all she does is laugh.

Lunch is pleasant, though completely predictable. Bernice and Edna do everything they can to engage Suzie and me in conversation. It’s so bad, I’m ready for them to get up and go outside to eat to give us alone time. But they don’t. Instead, they start conversations centered around me or the woman beside me, their matchmaker wings on full display now.

When Jamal and I get up to collect the plates, Edna stops me. “Walker, why don’t you take Suzie outside and get to know each other a little more.” The crazy old bat throws me a wink, as if I couldn’t pick up on the signals she was throwing.

Resigned, I escort Suzie back the porch. She takes one of the seats under the big oak tree, which I’m grateful for. I was afraid we were about to be sharing the swing. When she glances up at the sun peeking through the tree branches, she says, “Can I tell you something?”

“Sure,” I reply, kicking my legs out straight.

“I think we’re being set up.”

I bark out a laugh. “I think you’re right.”

She blushes a lighter shade of pink and looks at me through her lashes. “Can I tell you something else?” When I