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“OK,” she said, nodding her head quickly.

The wild look in her eyes wasn’t really reassuring, so I didn’t let her go.

“How are your boys? Do you need to check on them?”

“They’re with my mom. They’re fine.”

“So are you. Did you eat yet?”

“Yeah, I ate. I just wanted to make sure that you did.”

“Are you good to sit down, or would you rather for me to keep standing here with you?”

“I’m fine. I promise. I just don’t like bad weather.”

“I don’t think anyone does.”

“It was one thing for a little rain to pass through. I even heard them say shelter in place on the radio because of the wind, but an actual tornado is another story.”

“You’re safe here. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you,” I vowed.

Her body shook as she laughed under her breath. “You plan on stopping a tornado?”

“For you, I’ll try.”

“I’m good right now, but just in case you have to, I would rather for you to do it on a full stomach,” she said, shimmying out of my hold.

“You don’t have to beg me to eat,” I said, walking around my desk and plopping down in the chair.

I kept my eyes on Shiloh as she moved over to the couch and picked up a magazine from the table. I emptied the bag and smiled when I felt the hot bowl of roast and potatoes. It was good that the food was still warm. Although I worked through lunch and even dinner sometimes, I loved a good, hearty meal.

I didn’t waste time digging in. The roast was so tender that it fell apart every time I stabbed at it with the fork. I dipped the cornbread in some of the gravy and closed my eyes as it melted in my mouth. I loved a woman who could cook. I was almost done eating by the time I looked back up at Shiloh. Her eyes were already on me with a satisfied grin plastered on her face.

“What?” I asked, finally cracking open the bottle of water.

“How’s the food?”

“You already know it’s good,” I confirmed.

“I wasn’t sure, but the way you were eating it up verified that it must be OK.”

“I know this is not peach cobbler,” I said, removing the lid from the small bowl.

“It is. I’ve been craving it.”

“This is my favorite thing in the world, lady.”

“Well good,” she said, smiling a little bigger.

“How do you feel about marriage? We can make this official ASAP,” I joked.

That made her laugh. “Boy, stop playing.”

“You’re right. I need to taste it first,” I said, digging into the flaky crust and making sure to get some peaches and juice on the fork. I shoved the fork in my mouth and sat back as the flavor exploded on my tongue.

“You’re so dramatic.” She laughed.

“You know this shit is good. I’m sure you’ve made it a hundred times by now.”