Savage in a Stetson (Crossroads #4) - Em Petrova Page 0,54
told you?” Her voice pitched higher in excitement.
“Yes.” She couldn’t stop the smile from crossing her face.
Joss threw her arms around her. “That’s so fantastic! Mom and Dad will be happy to hear that even if you’re not engaged that you’re in love!”
She squeezed her sister and then set her back from her. “Mom and Dad heard about the engagement?”
“Well, their old neighbor from Crossroads called them with the news.”
She groaned. “Who else knows?”
“Just me. And Cort. And maybe—”
“The church ladies,” they said together.
Jada giggled. “You know how this town is. One person hears a juicy tidbit and has to pass it on.”
“You’re saying all of Crossroads thinks we’re engaged.”
“It saves time, doesn’t it? Now you don’t have to send engagement announcements. Think of the money you’ll save.”
“But Dom hasn’t asked me to marry him!”
“He will. It’s only a matter of time. Besides, when did you ever give a damn what people in this town think of you? I’m just so happy to see you smiling again. I knew you didn’t really hate him for putting his business across the road from yours.”
She sighed. “I’ve disliked him plenty for it.”
“But you’re falling in love with him. Or you did a long time ago and never stopped.”
“Maybe.” She bit her lip to keep her grin from spreading, but hiding anything from her little sister was impossible since the time the girl could walk.
“I really am happy for you both!” Joss pulled her into her embrace, and Jada hugged her back. She held her at arms’ length and looked into her eyes. “Promise me something.”
“What’s that?” Jada asked, catching her contagious excitement.
“You’ll let me and Cort throw y’all a proper engagement party when the time comes.”
She raised her hands and let them drop. “As if I could stop you. Yes, absolutely, Joss. I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
Chapter Ten
Dom looked up from his grill and grinned at the sight of the stunning woman crossing the road. Jada’s hips swayed with each step, and damn if that didn’t wake up his body with memories of their night and morning together.
She reached him and waved at the grill. “Why are you using that? Are you out of power? Mine’s on.”
“Thought it’d be fun to do some grillin’ for the afternoon rush.”
“Do you ever stop besting me?”
He chuckled. “Just doing my thing over here. That reminds me. Grandpa said you told him that my brisket’s no good compared to yours.”
She blinked at him. “I never said that to your grandpa.”
“Huh. Maybe he was a bit confused. Sometimes I do wonder if he’s playing me. Anyway…” he waggled his brows at her, “Couldn’t stay away from me, huh?”
“Actually, I have a favor to ask.”
He pitched his voice low. “If it involves taking off your clothes and having a replay of our coffee this morning, that’s a yes.”
Giving a little shiver, she slowly closed her eyes and then reopened them. “That isn’t the request.”
“Too bad. What is it?” He flipped the pork on the grill to give it good grill marks on both sides.
“I’m out of brisket, and my delivery truck doesn’t come until tomorrow. I wondered if you have extra I can buy off you.”
“Hm. If I sell you some of mine, then I might run out.”
She tapped her cute little booted foot.
“But I guess I can spare a box or two.”
“Good! How much?”
He named a price just over the cost of the prepared price he sold it to customers for.
Her brows drew together over her brown eyes. “I can’t afford that! I won’t make any profit.”
“You’d better take it off your menu then.” He went back to flipping his pork.
“Why are you giving me such a hard time?”
He caught her gaze. “Guess we could make a trade.”
“What kind of trade?”
“A case of onions.”
“Don’t tell me you actually need onions.”
He didn’t, but he knew she’d have plenty to spare. “And one orgasm.”
Her jaw dropped. “A case of onions and an orgasm?”
“That’s the price. Is it too steep for you?” He glanced out of the corner of his eye at her.
Her mouth twisted up in a smile she tried to keep from appearing. “Whose orgasm? Yours or mine?”
“Both. Meet me here after close.” He set the pork aside on a platter and closed the grill. “C’mon, I’ll get you that brisket.”
He did better than make the trade with her—he carried the boxes across the street and into her walk-in cooler for her. Then he stole a kiss before he walked out of the cooler, leaving