Page 33 of Real Sexy
“Then how about I make you some breakfast this morning, and we go back to bed and work it off.”
I’m not sure what I expect from her, but the big grin I get is better than anything I could imagine.
“I think I’ll take you up on that.”
Two Denver omelets and a double side of bacon for each of us later, Ripley eyes me with new respect.“How did you learn to cook like that?”
“Ma wanted to make sure her sons could look after themselves in the kitchen.I’m pretty sure she didn’t want us to fall for the first woman who could keep us fed, because she knows we’ve got big appetites.”
Ripley laughs.“She sounds like an amazing woman.”
“She is.Both she and my dad believed in teaching us the value in hard work, so I perfected my omelet-making skills in the kitchen of Country Critter for two summers in high school.”
“Country Critter?Sounds ...interesting.Where exactly did you grow up?”
“East Tennessee.Not too far outside Knoxville.Had the Smoky Mountains in my backyard.God’s country.”When I think about that view and watching the fog rise off the mountains in the morning, I miss it.I’m due for a trip home.
“Do your folks still live there?”Ripley asks.
“Sure do.In the same house where I grew up.No matter how many times I’ve tried to buy them a new one, my dad won’t hear of it.He says it was good enough for him before, and it’ll be good enough until the day they put him in the ground.”
Ripley’s eyes go wide.“I can guarantee that’s not what Pop would’ve said if I were in your position.He’d be first in line holding out his hand, telling me that I owe him for all the sacrifices he made while I was growing up.”
Again, I want to knock her dad’s teeth out.It’s probably a good thing I’ve never met the man, because I have a feeling Ripley wouldn’t be pleased at the outcome.Instead, I change the subject back to my family, wishing she’d had what I did growing up.
“My brother lives a half mile from my folks.Ma watches his little boy while he and his wife work.They still have Sunday dinner together after church.”As I tell Ripley about my family, I realize how much I’ve missed them lately, and an idea hits me.
“It sounds like ...it sounds like what you’d see in a movie.Idyllic.”
“It’s pretty damn perfect.But when I was eighteen, all I wanted to do was go to Nashville and make my mark.I wanted to be famous, tour the world and sing in front of thousands of fans in sold-out shows.”
“And you did it.”She reaches out and squeezes my arm.“You’re pretty incredible too.”
I shrug.“I got lucky.Right place, right time, right sound, and the right record exec.That’s how it happened, and if any one of those things had been different, I probably would’ve ended up moving home eventually and working with my dad and brother.”
“What did your parents think of you wanting to make it big?Leaving behind the small-town life?”
“They were awesome.Totally supportive.My folks have been to more of my shows than probably anyone else in the world.I owe them everything.”
Ripley’s hand tightens on my arm again.“They sound wonderful.”
An idea keeps rolling around in my head, but it’s not ready to be put into words quite yet.Instead, I stand and grab both our plates and take them to the sink to rinse.
“I can do that.”
“I’ll worry about the dishes.You worry about being naked in bed when I get there.”
Ripley’s cheeks turn pink.“Are we going to ...”
The reason for the blush becomes clear.“Not yet.I’ve still got some work loosening up that sweet little asshole of yours.”
The blush darkens, and she spins around and disappears as Esteban squawks, “Get a room!”
19
Ripley
Oh.My.God.I feel like a broken record because I’ve said it so many times, but I can’t help it.Boone does things to my body I never knew were possible.
