Not one to take on any of the large malls in the Houston area, Regina instead opted for the nearest Super Wal-Mart and bought a couple of pairs of jeans, a few shirts, underwear and socks, and she snagged a pair of flip-flops. Because while she could at least reach down to lace her shoes now, it was still damn uncomfortable.
When she suggested they pick up steaks for Cam to grill as they’d originally planned, Hutch look at her, appalled. She raised her hands, palms up. “What?”
“You’re such a barbarian,” he muttered. “You and Sawyer, I swear.”
“What?” she demanded again.
“You donotbuy steaks from Wal-Mart. If it’s not against the law, it should be. If you want steaks, we’ll run by City Market on our way home.”
“That’s at least forty-five minutes out of the way.”
He shrugged. “So? You not feeling adventurous today?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Was that a dare?”
He grinned innocently. “Would I dare you to do anything? I could pick up some good wine and the fixings for cheesecake. I make a mean one.”
Her mouth watered. “You had me at sugar.”
He pulled his wallet out to pay for her clothes, but she frowned and put her hand out to stop him. He sighed heavily but moved out of her way so she could give the cashier her bank card.
“Any chance you’d make some fudge?” she asked hopefully as they climbed into Cam’s SUV.
The corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. “I could be talked into it.”
“Yum,” she said enthusiastically. “Overcook it a little so it’s hard like I like it.”
He stared balefully at her. “I’ve got something hard for you, little wench.”
She burst out laughing. “Hutch!” Then she glanced over at him mischievously. “Make me chocolate, and I’ll do something about that something hard of yours.”
For a moment she worried she’d gone a little overboard with the seductive tramp talk. It didn’t sound like her. Oh, not that she was pure sweetness and light. In fact, before a year ago, she could be just as crude as the guys when they horsed around.
She grimaced. That was the problem. There were a lot of things she used to do when she hadn’t been worried about what they thought of her. With a sigh, she turned and looked out the window before he could respond.
They navigated 610 and exited to go to the large gourmet grocery store that was a favorite of Hutch’s. She went in with him and watched him analyze every piece of beef behind the glass case before finally choosing four large ribeyes.
While the butcher wrapped them, Hutch meandered down the display, perusing the other selections. Regina reached up for the package just as Hutch returned.
“Let’s go over to the seafood. Thought I’d get some shrimp to do one night.”
“Beer-battered with hush puppies?” she asked.
“Of course. According to Sawyer, beer is its own food group,” he said dryly. “Well, that and ketchup.”
That was true, and although Hutch tolerated Sawyer’s affinity for beer (and Reggie’s), he never once drank alcohol himself. The wine he was holding he got for the rest of them, but he never consumed it either.
It had something to do with his father. That much she knew, and nothing more. Hutch never talked about his life prior to his arrival at Birdie’s.
“You spoil me,” she finally said.
He grinned. “I try. I’m not suave like Cam, not as intelligent and refined, and I’m not the great hulking muscle-bound beef-cake that Sawyer is, so my plan is to seduce you with food.”
She laughed. “Knowing what you do about me, then, should tell you that you’ll get a lot further than the other two.”
He winked at her. “I know. Your stomach is the door to your soul.”
They checked out and walked back to the truck.
