Page 9 of Ripple Effect

“Let what work?” Startled, I jump when Cal appears in the kitchen.

Laying a soapy, wet hand on my shirt, I gasp, “You scared me. I thought you were still in the bathroom.”

He ignores me and advances. “Let what work?” he asks again.

Instead of giving him the verbal answer he wants, I nod toward the porch where Sam and Iris can just be made out. “They’re perfect for each other. Both of them are so brilliant in different ways.”

“So he’s mentioned.”

Turning to face the sink, I ask casually, “In all this time, do you realize neither Sam nor you ever fully explained how you became friends?”

“I was his professor last semester. It’s not lost on you, your cousin’s a brilliant guy. Taught me a thing or two,” Cal says ruefully.

I grin because that sounds like Sam. “At least tell me he chose to educate you in private.”

“If you have a towel, I’ll dry,” he offers, leaning a hip next to where I’m washing the dishes.

I shake my head. “You’re a guest. Nonna would have me horsewhipped.”

Cal gets close and whispers, “Your nonna’s not here, and I’m not going to tell.”

I lean forward until our foreheads are almost touching. “No, but Sam is, and he’s often a tattletale to look better in her eyes. It never works though.”

“Because you’re a good girl?” His voice is lazy and seductive.

I don’t know what’s pounding more, my heart or the throbbing between my legs at the teasing. “I’ll never tell. You have to figure it out for yourself.”

A tension-filled silence descends between us. I’ve washed and set aside a few plates before I hear Cal say, “I’d like to.”

I must have misheard him. “Excuse me?”

He reaches over and turns off the water. “I’ve wanted to get to know you better for a long time.”

I turn the water back on and reach for a new dish. “Interesting way of showing it.”

He takes the plate out of my hand and turns the water off again. “I’m being serious.”

I turn the water on again. “So am I, Cal. I refuse to be a conquest in your bed. I’m worth more than that.”

This time when he turns off the water, he turns me to face him. “I’ve never given flowers to a woman. I’ve never wanted to. I never looked at them and saw the essence of her in them. But when I was at the farmer’s market this morning and saw you standing above them, they seemed to be reaching for you.” He tucks a loose piece of hair behind my ear.

My breathing increases. “Why now?”

“Because I’ve lain awake for too many nights wondering what it would be like.”

My head drops to the side. Cal leans in and whispers against my ear, “Take a chance before we run out of time.”

Damn him. “All right. When?” If I’m doing this, I’m locking him into a date.

“Is tomorrow too soon?” My head flies back up, and my head almost collides with his. Everything I ever secretly longed for is on his face.

Including a smile.

“I told you I didn’t want to wait,” he murmurs just as his head lowers. But before he can kiss me, the slider opens as a happy-sounding Iris comes inside in front of Sam, who’s grinning. Cal’s forehead drops against mine. “Do you really like Sam, or can I just kill him? Because his timing sucks.”

The mild annoyance combined with frustration in his words makes me laugh. “He is my favorite cousin. I might get upset if something happens to him.”

“Fine,” he grumbles. Kissing my forehead, he steps out of the kitchen. “Say six tomorrow?”