“Salad fork is on the outside, dinner fork is closest to the plate.” She didn't even pause. “And please don’t put the knives facing the wrong way. It bothers me.”
“How does a knife face the wrong way?”
“Lesley.”
“I’m asking a real question.”
She appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron, walked straight past me to the table, and rearranged two settings without a word. I watched her lean over the table and felt the pull before I’d decided about it. I caught her from behind, one arm around her waist, and put my mouth close to her ear.
“You look good in my kitchen,” I said quietly. “Smell even better.”
She went still for just a second before she relaxed back into me. “You're distracting me.”
“I know, that’s the plan. Let me put you on the table real quick.”
I turned her face toward me and kissed her, her lips glossed and full against mine. She kissed me back the way she’d been kissing me since we crossed that line. There was no going back on this.
The elevator dinged, causing us to separate.
I groaned as Malice came through with two bottles of wine tucked under his arm and a third in his hand. He looked at us, looked at the table, looked back at us.
“Wine,” he said, setting them on the counter in the kitchen without further comment.
Coco smoothed her apron and walked back to the kitchen. I straightened my collar.
“Not a word,” I told him.
“Wasn't gonna say nothing, boss.” He said with a smile. “They’ll be here in twenty.”
They arrived at seven.
My father walked in the way he always did, filling whatever room he entered without trying, suit pressed, presence preceding him. Karyn was on his arm. She was a beautiful woman, but I never trusted her or treated her any differently than did any other woman he brought around. I didn't need anyone playing momma to me. However, Karyn had been around the longest at three years. It was the way she carriedherself, like she’d earned something, that irritated me with her. I steered clear of her talkative ass.
Coco met them at the door in a strapless gown molded to her curves, black lace tracing every line of her waist before falling into a sweeping leopard print skirt that brushed the floor behind her. Every step sent the fabric shifting around her legs, and every eye in the room followed it. She had on gold from her diamond earrings down to the gold diamond choker I'd put around her neck myself, and whatever Karyn thought she'd earned evaporated in about four seconds.
“Mr. Grimson,” Coco said, extending her hand to my father with a smile that was warm and direct. “I'm glad you came.”
Pops took her hand and held it for a second, looking at her the way he looked at things he was deciding about. “Our pleasure, beautiful. It smells like somebody knows what they’re doing in a kitchen.”
“I hope so. I’ve been at it all day.” She stepped back to let them in and turned to Karyn. “Karyn, welcome. Can I take your wrap?”
Karyn smiled, but it wasn’t genuine. “Thank you. It smells wonderful in here.”
“Prime rib. Lesley mentioned it was a favorite.”
My father raised an eyebrow at me, and I shrugged. He looked back at Coco, recalculating something.
We moved to the living room for drinks while Coco finished plating. I got up after about ten minutes and went to the kitchen.
“What you need me to do?”
“Nothing, baby. Go sit with your father.”
“I can carry something out.”
She looked at me over her shoulder. “Lesley. I have a system. You’re going to disrupt my system. Go sit down.”
I went and sat down.
