Page 55 of A Simple Life

She let out a long string of girlish giggles, releasing her hands. “That’s me doing that!”

“Wow. That’s a relief.”

I set her down as Quinn appeared. She was wearing her denim overalls, and a pale-yellow T-shirt. Bright-pink toenails glinted in the light as her bare feet hit the hardwood floor.

“Hi,” she said, looking almost shy.

I leaned down, looping an arm around her waist and tugging her close. I dropped a fast kiss to her lips. “Hi, yourself.” I inhaled deeply. “Something smells incredible.” I sniffed again. “Is that peach cobbler I smell?”

She grinned. “A birdie named Laura might have mentioned it’s your favorite.”

I groaned. “Woman, you have no idea.”

“It’s ginormous,” Abby crowed. “Momma said you eat like a horse!”

“Oh, um,” Quinn stammered. “I mean⁠—”

I laughed, burying my face into her neck. “I do like to eat delicious things.” I grazed my mouth over her ear. “You were the most delicious thing until now. But the smell of your cobbler is giving that memory a run for its money.”

She blinked, stepping back. “Well, I suppose you’ll have to have a refresher, then, won’t you?”

I winked. “Quinn darlin’, I look forward to it.”

I looked down at my plate in amazement. “Is this…?” I trailed off, my voice catching.

Quinn looked pleased and shy at my reaction. “I found an old cookbook in the cupboard at the restaurant last week. Handwritten recipes and this meatloaf had a big star in the corner. I was hoping it was the one you loved.”

I took a bite, chewing and swallowing. “It’s perfect.”

“I found lots of little notes in the book. I was thinking of doing Throwback Thursdays as an homage to Thelma,” she explained. “Feature one of her daily specials every week.”

I swallowed around the thickness in my throat. “That would be fabulous. She’d have loved that.”

Quinn tasted her dinner and hummed in pleasure. “This will be the first one. This meatloaf is incredible.”

“It is.”

She smiled. “Good thing, since I made an extra one for you. For sandwiches.”

I squeezed her hand. “Now you’re talking.”

The rest of the meal was filled with chatter from Abby. I sat back with a groan after I finished my third plate. “Good God, you can cook.” I winked. “Explains the restaurant thing.”

Quinn laughed. “It’s more of an eatery or a diner, I think. It’s not fancy, and to me, the word restaurant conjures up fancy.”

I drained my glass of water, eyeing the last piece of meatloaf on the platter. I had eaten four, so five was probably too many. Quinn saw my gaze and laughed. “Eat it up. You’ve worked hard today.”

“So have you.”

“In a different way, yes.”

I couldn’t resist. The meatloaf was delicious and exactly as I remembered. Bursting with flavor and like a memory come to life. I bit and chewed, swallowing before I spoke again. “You can call your place anything you want. Bottom line is everyone, including my stubborn a—” I cleared my throat “—butt, thinks it’s awesome.”

She smiled, looking mischievous. “So happy you changed your mind.”

Abby looked at me, one eye closed. “You were going to say ass.”

I choked around my mouthful. “Ah…”