The Perfect Dish (15 page)

He chuckled as he turned and pulled a denim chef’s coat off a hanger on the back of the door and threw it on the chair he’d vacated. “Riding that bike is good for you. Reminds you you’re alive.”

I can think of other ways to do that.
“So that’s a yes?” She sighed and was about to complain when he unfastened the top button on the white chef’s coat he wore. “What are you doing?”

“Changing. White for Sedona, denim for Gauchos. You don’t mind, do you?” He winked and kept unbuttoning.

“No, go ahead.” She crossed her legs and refused to let her mouth curve into more than a smirk. His ego was big enough already.

He shrugged the coat off and hung it where the denim one had been. The plain white tee he wore hid nothing. Not the thickness of his biceps or the hard curves of his chest or the deliciously flat plane of his stomach. No wonder Clarissa pitched a fit. A body like that was worth a good tantrum. Or three.

“Nice,” she whispered. A drop of sweat snaked a hot line between her breasts.

“Thanks.” He grinned and a slight pinkness colored his face. “I try to stay in shape.”

Apparently she’d said that out loud. “Are you blushing?”

He stuck his arms through the denim sleeves and turned away so he faced the wall. “No.”

“You are.” She laughed. “Sorry, I’m not buying shy from you.”

He tugged the coat down and turned to face her. “I’m not shy. I’m just not used to be looked at like...that.”

She jiggled her foot. “Like what?”

“Like I’m a stick of butter and you’re a fat man with a plate full of toast.” He held his hand out. “C’mon, let’s go.”

“I never said I was going.” She slipped her hand into his and he helped her up. The strength of his grip made her feel oddly protected and curiously proud. She was dating
this
man. The thought made her warmer than she already was.

“Duly noted, but you are.”

She followed him out into the hall and down to the elevator. “If I die it’s your fault.”

“I don’t usually kill the women I’m dating until the fourth or fifth date.” He punched the call button.

“How is your little blonde friend still alive then?” She got on ahead of him but kept hold of his hand. Holding hands was a forgotten pleasure.

The doors slid shut. “Don’t worry about her. Big hat, no cattle.”

“And that means?”

“All talk, no action. You, on the other hand...” His mouth curled up in a naughty grin and he tipped his head to catch her eye. “I’m betting you have lots of cattle.”

* * *

Meredith returned home much later than anticipated. She eased the door open, feeling for all the world like a guilty teenager. Except for the flickering light of the television, the apartment was dark. Jason slept on the couch, remote still clutched in one hand.

She smiled to think her son had waited up. Then bad mother syndrome made her frown. Even though she’d known where he was going, he’d left her a note. She hadn’t given her son any clue about her night out.

The door snicked shut behind her. She slipped her shoes off and padded to Jason’s side. Lifting the remote from his grip, she turned off the set then covered him up with the throw on the back of the couch, kissed his forehead and snuck down the hall to her room.

She closed the door, turned on the nightstand lamp and flopped on the bed.
You’re a bad woman, Meredith Black.

The thought made her giggle and she clamped her hand over her mouth. Being bad had never felt so good.

Chapter Fourteen

“Mom.”

“Hmmm...” Meredith snuggled deeper under the covers.

“Mom, you up?”

Jason’s voice. She opened her eyes. “What?” What time was it? She checked the clock on her nightstand. Was that right? A cold ripple of urgency flushed the sleep from her system. “I’m up! I’m up!”

Snapping the covers back, she hopped out of bed, shed her pajamas and jumped in the shower. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d overslept. They were going to be late for brunch. Jason would probably enjoy telling the girls how he’d come home to find his mother still out on the town. She groaned. That should be fun. Bah. Brunch was a stupid idea anyway. Who really wanted to combine breakfast and lunch? They were two different meals for a reason.

The only bright spot in the whole day was that she had a date with Kelly later. That cheered her up a bit. Okay, more than a bit.

When they were finally underway, she called Viv from the cab. “Sorry we’re running late. One of us overslept.” She glanced over at Jason. “You know how boys are.”

He glared back.

“See you in about ten minutes. Bye.” She hung up and looked at her son. “What?”

“I’m not the one that overslept.”

“Look, I was in labor with you for twenty-two hours. The least you can do is feel a little pain on my behalf.” She did
not
want the girls knowing about her impulsive but rewarding visit last night.

Jason shook his head. “Don’t you think making your child lie for you is bad parenting?”

“I’m not
making
you do anything. You’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart. Because you love your mother and she gave you fifty bucks last night.”

“I didn’t realize that was hush money.”

“Well, now you know, so hush.”

“I feel so dirty.” He faked a shiver. “Maybe you could recommend a good therapist?”

“Oh, shut up.”

He put his duffle bag on the floor of the cab and twisted to face her. “Fine, I’ll take the fall, but you have to tell me what you were doing out so late.”

“I was hungry.” She moved her purse to her lap and sat a little straighter. “I went down to one of his restaurants to have dinner and say hi.”

“So he owns one of those twenty-four hour diners or something?”

“No. Why?” She really wanted to talk about something else.

“I got home at 1am. When did you get home?” The smirk on his face was a good indication of where this line of questioning was headed.

Had she and Kelly really talked that long? “Jason, I’m your mother. I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Period. End of discussion.

He twisted back to face the front of the cab, a rotten grin on his face. “Booty call,” he coughed out.

“I heard you, and that’s not funny.” She narrowed her eyes at him but he refused to look at her. Instead, he planted his elbow on the armrest and covered the lingering smirk on his face.

“Bothersome child,” she muttered.

“I heard you, and that’s not funny,” he mimicked, his voice ripe with mock indignation.

“Maybe you could catch an earlier flight back to school,” she joked.

“You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.”

“Yes, I am.” She reached over and gave his leg a squeeze. “Despite your proclivity for nosiness.”

“Just promise me one thing?” he asked.

“What’s that?”

His lips quirked then evened out again. “Use protection.”

“Jason!” Her face warmed.

“What?” He threw his hands up. “You tell me that all the time!”

Save me from my progeny
. “Oh good. We’re here.”

Swan opened the door for them when they arrived at the penthouse. “Hello, Miss Meredith and Mr. Jason. So good to see you.”

“Hey, Swan. What’s up?” Jason sauntered in.

“Good morning, Swan.” Meredith followed him. “Is Jack in?”

Swan nodded. “Mr. Jack is in his office.” She took Jason’s duffle bag and tucked it into the foyer closet.

“Good. Thank you.” Meredith turned to Jason. “Why don’t you go say hi to your Uncle Jack and then come find us. I’m sure he’d love to see you.”

“Yeah, I’ll catch up with you in a few.” He headed down the hall.

“Garden room?” she asked Swan.

“Yes, Miss Meredith. They’re waiting for you.”

“Don’t you mean laying in wait?” Meredith said before heading in the same direction Jason had just gone.

Beside her, Swan laughed and kept pace. “Mimosas again today.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Halfway to the garden room, Meredith heard laughter.

“Girls,” she greeted them as she walked in.

“Mer! How are you?” Celia smiled and gave her a little wave.

“More importantly, where’s our darling boy?” Viv looked behind Meredith.

“He’s coming. He went to say hi to Jack.”

“Ah. Good. Jack will enjoy that.” She motioned to one of two empty seats at the table.

Meredith sat and Swan filled her cup with coffee. Meredith gave silent thanks for that. Viv’s coffee was notoriously strong and at the moment, that’s exactly what she needed. Before she drank, she caught the attention of the girls. “Listen to me for a minute. Jason knows about Kelly—”

“You told him?” Celia’s eyes widened.

“Yes, but I didn’t go into details, especially not the age difference, and I want it to stay that way, understood?”

Viv nodded. “Mother knows best.”

Celia pulled an imaginary zipper across her lips. “Mum’s the word.”

“About what?” Jason asked as he walked in.

The girls erupted with enough fuss to diffuse the question. They both hugged him and kissed his cheeks and told him how handsome he was.

“I’m having a hot flash just looking at you,” Viv said.

Celia nodded. “You look good enough to eat.”

“Thanks, Aunt Viv, Aunt Celia.” A subtle blush spread across his face. He took the empty chair beside Meredith.

Viv laughed. “How do you keep the girls off him, Meredith?”

“Aunt Viv, please.” He gave her a stern look. “Don’t get her started.”

Viv reached over and playfully patted his hand. “Don’t worry. Your mother isn’t exactly lonely these days either.”

Meredith’s head jerked up. Viv refused to look at her. Wicked, wicked woman. Time to save herself. “Jason has a girlfriend. Her name is Kristi.” There. That ought to carry the conversation for the next half hour. Meredith watched the blush on his cheeks darken.

“Mom.” Jason’s tone was half warning, half plea.

Sorry, kid. It’s you or me.
She smiled sweetly. “Yes, my darling son?”

“Ooo,” Celia cooed. “Tell us all about her.”

Viv’s eyes brightened. “And don’t leave a single detail out.”

Meredith sat back and sipped her coffee. Maybe brunch wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Twenty minutes later, she changed her mind.

Jason held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, no more. I can’t take it. Pick a new topic.”

“Are you sure we shouldn’t reserve The Plaza? It’s really the only sensible place to have a wedding,” Viv said.

Meredith knew the look in Jason’s eyes well. He had just entered panic mode. She pursed her lips to keep from snorting. Poor child. He really was no match for Viv.

“That’s a lovely ring you’re wearing, Aunt Viv.” His voice squeaked so he cleared his throat. “Is it new?”

“Why? Do you need a jeweler?” Viv shot him a grin Meredith had only seen before on cartoon villains.

Jason shuddered. “Mom went to see her new boyfriend last night and didn’t get home until after 1am.” The words rushed, all run together and ragged.

A collective gasp rose above the table like air escaping a popped balloon.

Meredith whipped her head around to look at her traitorous offspring. Rotten, rotten child. “You owe me fifty big ones, buster,” she whispered out of the side of her mouth.

Above Celia’s giggling, which she didn’t even have the decency to try to squelch, Viv tilted her head and tsked at Meredith. “Well, now. Isn’t that an interesting tidbit? Would you like to comment on that, you wicked girl, or is it something best saved until Master Jason’s plane departs?”

Meredith rolled her head around on her shoulders, crackling her vertebrae. Had the floors always been slate? She seemed to remember tile in here at one time.

“Mer, you have to tell us something.”

She met Celia’s blue-eyed gaze for a moment before looking at Jason again. He happily chewed a mouthful of food. Rotten, rotten child.

“I was hungry, Jason was out with a friend. What’s the big deal? I went out for dinner. That’s not against the law, you know.”

Viv inclined her head. “And you got home at the hour you did because...”

“Maybe she fell asleep in her dessert,” Celia offered with a wink. “Or the taxi driver got lost?”

Jason snorted.

“What I do in my personal life is none of your business. I’m a grown woman. I can do what I please, when I please, with whom I please.”

“
To
whom you please,” Jason added, elbowing Celia gently in the ribs.

“So,” Viv said above Celia’s giggling. “Who
did
you please last night?”

“Why am I friends with you people?” Meredith stared at the lot of them.

“Because we’re saving you from yourself, lovey.” Viv announced with a wink. “If it weren’t for us, what fun would you have?”

“Besides the fun you had last night, of course.” A new smile flickered on Celia’s lips.

Last night had been fun. Even though Kelly had been busy, he’d never once made her feel like she was in the way. He’d persuaded her to stay until he closed the kitchen, then they’d sat in a secluded corner of the bar and talked and held hands. He’d only let her go home once he’d seen her to a cab. And kissed her.

Her fingers reached for the sensitive spot just behind her ear where he’d nibbled. Fresh pleasure weighted her lids and she sighed, remembering the raw heat of his mouth and the eagerness in his touch. A man like that was infinitely trainable.

“Are you all right? You look like you’re having a hot flash.”

At Celia’s words, Meredith opened her eyes. A pair of concerned gazes returned hers. Jason continued to eat like he might never see food again.

“No, I was just...thinking.” Hot flash was a good description. She laid her hand on Jason’s arm. “Don’t forget to breath.”

He swallowed. “Sorry, but I promised Uncle Jack I’d come back and hang out with him when I was done. He’s going to show me his new 3-D flat screen.”

More like the boy wanted to escape while the inquisition focused on her. She checked her watch. “You need to leave in forty-five minutes or so.”

Viv waved her hand at him. “I’ll have Swan fix you a lunch fit to travel. You can take it on the plane with you.”