While Mrs.Winters laid bamboo mats on the table, Lizette joked with her brothers.Pulling out a chair, Zack asked, “How has she been treating you?Liz can be a slave driver.”
Sliding a glance at her, Shomari said, “She hasn’t been cracking the whip on me yet.Everything’s good so far.”
Eli’s gaze went to the laptop, which Lizette rested against her hip.“The fact that she has you working after hours tells me all I need to know.”
Holding up both hands, Shomari protested.“You have it all wrong.I offered to help.”
“That’s right.”She tipped her chin in the air as she turned away.“Some people are actually willing to assist others in a tight spot.”
Eli and Zack looked at each other, then burst out laughing.When he sat, Eli said, “We’ll see about that the next time you come to us with one of your random demands.”
“Whatever.”She came back to squeeze Zack’s shoulder.“My sweet big brother won’t let me down.”
As she walked backward into the house, the twins broke into laughter again, and Shomari could tell their teasing was a regular part of the family dynamics.Mr.Winter took his seat at the head of the glass-topped table, and a Jamaican brown dog wearing a collar trotted from around the side of the house and sat next to him.
“You'd better get back if you know what’s good for you.”Eli looked straight at the dog, who gave a low woof then bared his teeth.
“Why are you interfering with Champ when you know he doesn’t like you?”Zack asked.
“Better that I tell him than Mom.”
She appeared then, carrying a tray.She cast one glance in the dog’s direction, which had him backing up to sit farther away.“Champ knows he’s not getting anything from this table,” Mrs.Winters announced.
He let out a groan with a whine at the end that had Mr.Winters chuckling.“It’s not that bad.”
From his healthy coat and sturdy body, Shomari knew the dog was treated well.He wasn’t the typical dog well-to-do people owned, but nothing with the Winters was as he expected.They were comfortably off.He knew that based on being friends with the twins, and where they lived, but none of them had any airs or acted as though he was less of a human being—especially given his recent history.
His gaze went to Lizette, and he wondered what she thought of him.He bit one corner of his lip, praying her brothers hadn’t shared his business.Maybe he was hoping for too much, especially since they had twisted her arm to hire him.
While Mrs.Winters and Lizette unloaded the trays and made several trips, Shomari’s stomach growled.The mouthwatering scent of fried and jerked chicken, escoveitched fish, festival, fries, and bammies made him eager to dig in.Since returning home, he hadn’t bothered to cook, so this would be a welcome treat.
The fish, with bits of carrots and onions soaked in vinegar, melted in his mouth.He paired it with fried bammies, a flatbread made from cassava.He snagged a couple of festivals and bit into one, which had the right texture.The sweet dumpling, made with cornmeal and flour, was a favorite from his childhood.He released a small moan and opened his eyes to silence.
The Winters were smiling at him.He laid the sweet dough down and wiped his fingers on the napkin, certain his skin had flushed.The heat in his face said so.
“Somebody hasn’t had a home-cooked meal in a while,” Mrs.Winters said softly.
He nodded.“It’s been some time.”
Her gaze went from him to Lizette, who was watching him.He could have shifted his attention from her, but didn’t.One side of her mouth lifted in a smile, and she eyed him as though she wanted to ask a question.He raised one eyebrow, then went back to eating.The next time he looked up, the Winter twins were in the middle of some silent communication.Both of them shared a grin as their gazes moved between Shomari and Lizette.
Frowning, he guessed they thought he was attracted to her.That might be true, but he didn’t intend to do anything about it.He recalled the way his lips had brushed hers in the IT lab, and the jolt that raveled up his spine.He shifted in the seat and picked up the glass of sorrel, careful to avoid Lizette.
The burgundy-colored drink, made from the flowers of the roselle plant—a relative of the hibiscus—carried a kick.Mrs.Winters had spiced it with ginger, pimento, rum, sugar, and wine.He set the glass down, content to listen to his friends talking while Lizette and her mother cleared the table.The dark fruit cake served for dessert was delicious.Mrs.Winters went light on the rum and heavy on the fruits and spices, which agreed with his palate.He ate all of it.
His phone pinged, but he didn’t reach for it.Being with the Winters made him forget his troubles for the moment.When the second notification came, he checked the phone in case it was an emergency.Before he could respond, it rang.
“Sorry,” he said to the other men.
“If you need some privacy …” Mr.Winters pointed toward the living room.
Standing, Shomari nodded and walked around the table.“Thanks.”
Chapter 11
“Ihaven’tbeenbackfortwo weeks, and you’re running me ragged.”Shomari ran one hand over his face and let it fall to his side.His breath heaved out, and he added, “The way I figure it,youowe me.”
Lizette prepared to turn around and walk out of the living room, but when Shamari abruptly sat on the large sofa, she stood in his line of sight.Although the only lights were those on the Christmas tree, he couldn’t miss her, especially since she was wearing white.
