43
MERRIE
The happy couple has gone upstairs for some quality time in the studio, and it’s no secret what they plan to do.
Sylvia has just moaned so loudly that we heard it in the kitchen.
Maybe I should turn up the music.
I’m glad that Colin has taken a few days off and vanished to parts unknown.
Sierra glances toward the stairs. “Do you think they’re…”
“Yes. Absolutely. And good for them.”
“Is that going to happen a lot?” She’s pacing back and forth in the kitchen, and there’s no way I’d let anyone so agitated handle a blow torch. I work on the custards myself, trying not to fantasize about what I’m missing.
I never did get smaller towels. Damn.
“I’ll guess in the affirmative. Be ready.”
She makes a face. “I’ll bet things aremoist.”
“God, I hope so,” I say, giving Sierra two seconds to spin and glare at me.
She halves that time, the little over-achiever.
“That’s so gross.”
“Trust me,ma pétite, moist is muchmuchbetter than not moist.”
“Ewwwwwww!” She grimaces and paces some more while I laugh at her. “You think this is funny.”
“The very best sex has a generous sprinkle of laughter. It’s fun.” I lift a hand to my mouth. “Oops, I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”
She’s clearly uncertain what to say and eyes me for a minute. I beckon and offer the blow torch as an inducement.
It works.
She annihilates the first custard in her enthusiasm, burning the top to ash.
“A ritual sacrifice,” I say.
“Sorry.”
“It’s not supposed to look like nuclear fall-out.” I reclaim the blow torch and show her how to do it again. “Easy, easy. Take it slow and in increments.”
“Much more appetizing,” she agrees when I finish with a flourish. She gets her determined look and has another try. This one comes out much better and I congratulate her.
Her third try is perfect.
Then Mike groans and we both look up the stairs.
Time for a distraction, preferably a noisy one.
“I thought we were going to watch a cooking show,” I say.
She of the nimble adolescent fingers lays claim to my iPad and pulls up the show. “There’s only one I could find,” she says. “So You Think You Can Cook.”
