“Deke?” she whispered.
“Is on the way. He wanted to finish up the cord of wood he was working on so that Herman could buy it and take it out of the field. Weatherman says it’s going to snow more, starting tonight and going through tomorrow. Never seen winter like this in central Texas before, but when it’s cold outside we have to get warm inside, don’t we?” Blake pulled her back to his chest.
“You got that right, but first we’ve got to get the paint off before Deke gets here,” she said.
“Hey! This room is almost finished and it looks great.” He took a step back and looked around at the fresh sandy colored walls and white trim work. “I can move my furniture back in tomorrow evening soon as we pull up this nasty carpet. That means we’ve got a date, right?”
“Thursday evening?” she asked.
“I’ll pick you up at seven at your place. Should I wear body armor?” He led her to the bathroom and turned on the water in the wall-hung sink.
“It might not hurt. Lizzy is a crack shot with a rifle and she’s not budging.” Allie stuck her hands under the warm water.
Blake applied soap to a wet washcloth and held it up to her face. “Let me.”
She turned her face up so he could reach it better. “You scared the devil out of me.”
Blake chuckled. “Then I guess you must be an angel, then.”
“Oh, darlin’, I got my angel wings the first time we went to bed together.”
He wiped away most of the paint from her face and rinsed the washcloth under the warm water. “I scared you when we had sex?”
“No, darlin’, you screwed the hell out of me…that gave me my angel wings and my halo,” she said.
Behind the white painted-on beard, Blake’s face went crimson red. “Your ancestors’ blood is rising to the top today.”
“Yep, it is.” She took the washcloth from him and removed the rest of the paint from her face, then started on his.
“Hey, where are y’all?” Deke called from the living room.
“Cleaning Blake up,” Allie yelled back.
“You are what?” Deke wasted no time getting down the hall. He stopped at the bathroom door and leaned a shoulder against the jamb. “What happened?”
“Never scare a woman who’s holding a paintbrush,” Blake said.
“Good enough for you.” Deke laughed out loud. “Be glad she slapped you with that brush and not her freshly painted wall. For that she might have shot you on the spot.” He left the bathroom and peeked into the bedroom. “Lookin’ good. You’ll have it done by quittin’ time today. It’s amazing what a coat of paint and a new ceiling does for a room, ain’t it? I’m going to wash up in the kitchen sink and then I’ve got something to tell you.”
Allie picked up the washcloth again and wiped away more paint. Cupping his chin under her hand sent waves of desire through her body. Did angel wings and halos have to be earned every day? If so, she was more than willing for more of that hell removal business anytime that her halo and wings started to fade.
“I’ve got the bowls on the table. Y’all going to take all day in there?” Deke shouted.
“Almost done,” Allie yelled back. “Be there in two minutes.”
“Make that three or four. Get out the cheese, salsa, and chips.” Blake raised his voice and bent his head to kiss her again. Her halo was secure by the time he finished the blistering hot kiss that took her breath away.
“Wow,” she muttered.
“It never gets old or dull, does it?” Blake whispered.
“Hasn’t yet,” she said.
“It’s on the table and if you ain’t here in thirty seconds, with or without paint all over your face, I am eating alone. You’ve had time to take off the first layer of skin, Allie,” Deke called out.
When they reached the kitchen, she sat down in her chair. “You must be hungry, Deke.”
Deke got busy dipping tortilla soup into bowls. “I’m always starving by dinnertime. And, Allie, I know y’all are more than friends so you don’t have to find excuses to stay in the bathroom and make out.”
“What?” Allie sputtered.
“It’s all over your face and Blake’s been whistling more than usual and well, I’m your best friend, Allie, so I know. Now let’s eat before the food gets cold. I’m hungry and talking about hungry”—he blew on a spoonful of soup—“Nadine is having her grand opening tonight. She’s serving hamburgers and two blue plate specials. It’s not a big menu, but tomorrow she’s adding to it. We’re going. My treat for all the food I’ve been getting here and, Allie, this was your idea, so you need to be there.”
“So that’s what you wanted to tell us?” Blake asked.
“Yep. Now admit it. I’m right. You two are dating,” Deke said.
Allie downed the rest of her sweet tea. “Blake and I are more than friends.”
Deke reached for the salsa and added a tablespoon to his second bowl of soup. “I knew it. Have you told Lizzy and your mama?”
“Not yet. I thought maybe since we’re best friends that you’d do that for me,” she teased.
“Hell, no, I want to be out of the county when you tell Lizzy.”