Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,52

shorts that make her legs look a million miles long. All I can picture is how fabulous they’d look wrapped around my waist. Preferably while we were both naked.

Mallory is quiet as I drive to Aunt Edna’s. I can tell the wheels are spinning and decide to let her try to work through it herself. She’ll talk when she’s ready.

It only takes a few minutes, actually, before she turns in the passenger seat of my CJ and asks, “So, Jamal? That name sounds…” she starts, but suddenly stops.

“Black? It is,” I tell her, keeping an eye on the road as I fill her on my family. “I mentioned my mom was adopted as a young girl. Well, my grandparents, Hershel and Alma Washington, are black. They adopted seven kids of all races and walks of life. My mom and Aunt Cynthia are white. My uncle, Donald, will probably be there today. He’s part Vietnamese. His dad was white and in the military. He was born over there and immediately placed in an orphanage. Not too long after that, he was brought over to the United States and placed for adoption here. Donald was the youngest child they took in. My uncle, Padro, was the oldest, at fourteen when he came to live with Grandma and Grandpa.”

“That’s amazing,” she says, the smile evident in her voice.

“Jamal is my uncle Andre’s boy. He’s one of the only ones who stayed around here.”

“Are you close?”

“Yeah, pretty close, though he’s a little younger than me. He worked at Burgers and Brew when it first opened to help us get it off the ground. He worked in the kitchen, washing dishes for the first year. Now he’s a carpenter, and actually refinished the bar top and all the pub tables a year ago.”

“Really? They’re beautiful!” she proclaims.

“They are. He did a great job. He’s working for a small furniture outlet in Savoy, making custom pieces at ungodly expensive prices.”

Mallory laughs. “Well, if the other furniture he makes is anything like the bar, I’m sure it’s worth it.”

“It is. I actually have one of his first dining room tables at my place. I’ll show you someday.”

“I’d love to see it.”

I glance over and see her smiling, that relaxed look finally back on her gorgeous face. I’m glad, because I know how nervous she is about today.

Pulling into the driveway, I see all the usual vehicles. My cousin’s truck is backed up to the front of the house, what looks like a mattress in the back. He watches me pull in, casually leaning against his truck bed, as he waits for me.

“What’s that?” I ask, hopping out of the driver’s seat.

“Aunt Edna bought a new bed,” he hollers, his eyes catching the fact I have a passenger.

I reach through the opening of the Jeep and help Lizzie unbuckle her harness. Once she’s on my hip, her bag tucked under my elbow, I ask, “Didn’t she get a new bed a few months ago?”

“It was too soft! I have to practically roll out of bed every morning. The other day, I got stuck and couldn’t get out. Almost had to call the fire department,” Aunt Edna yells as she walks outside through the open doorway.

“You weren’t stuck. You were just hoping they’d send the good-lookin’ firemen like on those YouTube videos,” I yell back, smiling.

“Darn right, I was. Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Aunt Edna says, clearly noticing Mallory and Lizzie. I feel Mal’s delicate hand grip the side of my T-shirt as my crazy aunt makes a beeline for us. “Where are my manners? Here I am talking about hot, shirtless firemen, and we have guests.”

“I never said anything about shirtless,” I state, the corner of my lip turning upward.

“Oh heavens, child. Those hot men are always shirtless. I’m Aunt Edna,” she says, reaching out and pulling Mallory into a big hug.

“This is Mallory and her daughter, Lizzie. She works with me.”

Edna pulls out of the hug. “Oh my, child, you are a beautiful little girl. Look at the hair,” she says, pulling on one of Lizzie’s curls and making her giggle. “Do you like chocolate chip cookies?” Lizzie smiles big and nods her head. “You come inside with me, and I’ll get you one.”

“I thought we don’t eat cookies before the meal,” I sass my aunt.

“You don’t eat them, but this baby can eat whatever she wants at Aunt Edna’s house. Would you like to come with me?” she asks, not reaching for the girl yet. Lizzie