She pulls me out of my seat and we walk inside, sighing in delight when we hit the air-conditioned house. The air here by the ocean isn’t as hot as if we were away from the water, but it’s still warm.
“What should I make us?” she asks and opens the fridge, staring inside. I grip her waist and pull her away from the appliance, boost her onto a stool at the island, and shake my head.
“You can sit there and look beautiful while I throw something together.”
“You can cook?”
“Of course I can cook.”
“Do you like to cook?”
“Good question,” I reply with a chuckle. “I guess they’re two different things. I don’t mind it. My mama made sure that we all knew how to cook.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t have people to do that for you.”
She plucks a grape from the bowl I just set on the counter and takes a bite, then holds the other half of it out to me.
“Mom and Dad were pretty traditional,” I reply and pull out the fixings for grilled cheese with ham and tomato sandwiches. “We did have a housekeeper who came twice a week to spruce the place up. I mean, there were six kids, and Mom is no glutton for punishment.”
“Good plan,” Mallory replies. “Hell, I have a girl who comes in once a month just to deep clean for me, and I’m only one person.”
“Exactly. But they gave us all chores to do, and Mama had us help with the cooking all the time. So, all of us can cook. Not all of us love it.”
“Gotcha,” she says with a wink. “I think that’s a great way to raise kids. It ensures that you’re not all spoiled brats who can’t live in the real world.”
“Well, Gabby was pretty spoiled because she was the baby, but she’s not a brat, and she can definitely live in the real world. She had her son at nineteen years old.”
“Wow,” she replies, not with censure or judgment. “That must have been rough.”
“She had us,” I say and set the sandwiches in the pan to grill up. “And Sam is amazing. And then she met Rhys, and he is a good father.”
“That’s wonderful. I didn’t meet Rhys or the little ones when we were at the inn, but Gabby is a really great woman. I like her very much.”
“I’m glad.” I grin and flip the sandwiches. “She and I were always the closest. Not that I don’t love all of my siblings, and surprisingly we all get along very well, but Gabby and I have a special bond. Until she married Rhys, I lived on the inn property so I could look over everything.”
“I love that,” she says with a sweet smile. “It sounds a lot like Lena and me. We don’t live far from each other.”
“Have you always known each other?”
“Yes. Our grandmothers were best friends when they were small too, and stayed friends their whole lives. So Lena and I grew up almost like sisters. And because of what we can do, there were many times that we were each other’s only friend. She’s a great person.”
“I like her,” I reply honestly. “I like that she’s so loyal to you, and she’s pretty funny.”
“No one like her,” Mal agrees with a laugh. “And this looks delicious. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” I reply and stand on the other side of the island while we eat. She’s leaning on her elbows, casually eating, and my hips are leaning against the countertop.
We can’t take our eyes off each other.
“So you bring up an interesting topic,” I begin and reach for a dill pickle, then pop it in my mouth.
“Okay.”
“What are your thoughts on children?”
She stops chewing and stares at me for a moment, then sets her sandwich down and wipes her fingers on her napkin.
“In what context?”
“As in, do you want to have children one day?”
She sighs and also reaches for a pickle. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“What are your concerns?”
“Are we really having this conversation?”
I just smirk and raise a brow, waiting for her to continue.
“I have genetic paranormal abilities,” she says slowly, not looking me in the eyes anymore. “That concerns me because it’s not something easy to be saddled with.”
“I can see that,” I reply, trying to keep the light tone to our conversation. “What if that wasn’t a factor?”
“It’s always going to be a factor.”
“Humor me.”
She shrugs and takes a bite. “If it wasn’t a factor, I would say yes. I want kids. Not six,” she says with a smile. “But a couple. You?”
“I like kids,” I reply honestly, also surprised that I brought it up, but finding myself wanting to know everything about her, and I love her. I don’t see myself without her. “Kate is about to have a baby, and Gabby has two already. I’d like to have some of my own.”
She smiles and rests her chin in her hand.
“What?”
“You’re cute,” she says.
Bullshit.
“No, I’m not cute.”
“You are when you talk about having kids,” she says and then laughs when I glare at her. “You get this sweet, excited look in your eyes. It’s cute.”
“Say that again, and I’ll bend you over that counter and show you how very not cute I am, sugar.”
She just shrugs without concern and takes another bite of her lunch.
“You don’t scare me. I think it’s awesome that the idea of having children makes you happy. I’m sure that whomever is lucky enough to give them to you will love it too.”
She stands to set her empty plate in the sink, washes her hands, then turns back to me with a forced smile.
Shit.
“Did I just upset you?”
“I don’t know why you would,” she stutters, and I know it’s a lie.
“We agreed at the start that this isn’t a game, Mallory. No lies.”
She sighs and rubs her temple. “That was a stupid thing to agree to.”
“No, I don’t think it was.” I stay where I am, not touching her, just watching her. “What’s wrong?”
“Really, nothing’s wrong.”
“Something is bothering you.”
“Okay, here’s the truth: I don’t want to tell you.”
I nod and cross to her now, nudging her face up with my finger under her chin. “That’s better. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’ll be just fine,” she says and smiles in earnest now. “Shall we go back outside and watch the water until the sunset?”
“Is that what you’d like to do?”
She nods happily.
“Then sit by the water for the rest of the day it is, sugar.”
We grab fresh bottles of water and walk out to our seats under the cabana. The wind has rustled our towels, so we take a moment to straighten everything out and then relax, watching a school of dolphins play not far offshore.
“I can see why you love to come here,” she says softly. “I would be here all the time.”
“We can come whenever you like,” I reply, not missing the fleeting frown that crosses her beautiful face. I wish she’d talk to me. “I like to come a few times a year.”
Easy Magic (Boudreaux #5)
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