A few seconds later I grinned because she was on my line as if she had been in my head. When I answered the video call, the first thing out of her mouth was, “Bitch are you cooking for two?”
And after I noticed she was in the kitchen too, I quickly shot back, “Aren’t you?”
I moved around, prepping a few more things, waiting for whatever slick ass statement she sent next because there would definitely be one.
“Yes, for me and Amara. But I see two big ass steaks back there. I know you’re not about to eat steak for days. Let me find out it’s a man.”
I cut my eyes at the screen and almost laughed when she leaned in close to the camera being overly dramatic, waiting, so I gave her what she was demanding.
“It is.”
“Bitch who?”
“Let me head back to my room to do something to this mess on my head before I cook and I’ll tell you, but why the hell are you whispering?”
As I walked through the house, we went back and forth with our usual bullshit. She filled me in on her day and I told her about mine. We were both in denial because we were stubborn as hell but we could talk that shit out later.
She was cooking for Amara and I was making dinner for Ro, because let’s be real, I could have easily thrown together a sandwich and been fine. But that age old saying that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach meant even if I wanted a connection with Ro to be a little further south, I had to start somewhere.
After dinner I was heading to Forty Acres to have drinks with my girl because apparently we both needed an escape. While I finished taming and defining my coils, I talked to my girl then ended the call so I could grill the steaks.
My stomach was screaming with need because I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast, which had only been coffee and a banana. I woke up late and had a full day I needed to tackle. Once I made it to the stables to check on my baby, only to find the barn door on the ground instead of blocking out the icy cold temperatures, my day had been completely derailed.
I was when Melvina sent Ro to help out. That was another reason I powered through. I wanted to break for lunch, but when Ro didn’t mention food or slow down while we worked, I refused to either. A grin surfaced at the thought of viewing him as competition. There was no way I would allow him or anyone else to outwork me on my own ranch. Lenard Allen didn’t raise a slack ass.
When I made it to the kitchen, I sighed and glanced at the empty space next to the fireplace where my tree should be. The only thing there was boxes of ornaments I’d hauled from the shed a few days prior.
I’m getting my damn tree tomorrow…
My first task was the steaks. Once I had them thoroughly cleaned and placed on the wood block, I removed my special blend seasoning, a smoky and savory combination of spices I’d personally mixed.
I tenderized the meat, letting it soak in while I grabbed two Yukon Gold potatoes which I scrubbed clean before I oiled and wrapped them in foil. They went into the oven on a baking rack after it heated to the right temperature then started on my roasted, herb butter.
Once the potatoes were halfway done, I fired up the stove and placed the cast iron grilling plate over two of the eyes. I drizzled oil first then gently placed the steaks on, allowing them to sear slowly and cook to perfection on each side until they were grilled just right on the outside and medium-well inside.
By the time I took the potatoes out and had the steaks plated, I tossed the onions on, browning them a bit and layering them over the steaks. I staged both on the counter then grabbed my phone to snap a few pictures which I posted to my profile on Skroll.
Not even seconds after the images were live on my page, my phone vibrated with a call.
“I would ask how things were going but that post you just made is my answer? Dinner for two?” Melvina sang smugly into my line. I cursed under my breath for posting both plates. My eyes rolled while I leaned against the counter, deciding denial was the only way to shut her down.
“I’m pretty sure you negotiated my culinary skills as a line item for Ro helping out around here. Thanks for that, by the way, because my pockets are already a little light this time of year.”
“Chile, stop playing with my intelligence. You know this is my thing, right?”
“What’s that, Mrs. Mel?”
She scoffed. “I’m a love curator. Not the little fat white baby kind because that’s nonsense. I’m talking about spiritual connections and gut feelings that produce soul stirring love that stands the test of time. Do you know how many times I’ve seen what others ignore? And after a gentle shove in the rightdirection, hearts become joined in the most beautiful way. I did that for my Wilde, you know. That stubborn ass was just floating in the wind until I sent Shore to him.”
“I hope that was not your intention for sending that man to my ranch, Mrs. Mel.”
“Of course not. You needed help, he needed a place to lay his head. Now if the two of you just happen to make a love connection, then so be it. There are a lot worse things that could happen.”
“Did you discuss that with him?”
She sucked her teeth. “Lord, no. Men are stupid. They only see what they want to see and never know what they need until it slaps them upside the head. Plus I didn’t want to run him off before you got the opportunity to show him what you’re working with.”
I choked on a laugh and my eyes went wide. “What?”
