He grabbed one and bit into it, murmuring with pleasure. He looked up and caught his mother watching him. She smiled. “Eat.”
Maybe now was the perfect time to make his announcement.
“Manman, tomorrow Michelle is coming over for dinner.” He popped another tablet kokoye into his mouth, ensuring he was too busy to answer her objections.
“Michelle?”
“Miz Chelle is coming? Yay!” Rachel clapped her hands, and then took a bite of the candy.
His mother looked at Rachel then slowly looked at him. “She has come here...before?”
He nodded, focusing on chewing.
“That is fine. I will make enough food.” His mother sniffed and tilted her nose in the air.
“Mesi, Manman.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m going to change.”
That wasn’t so bad. Thank You, Lord.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Michelle waited for the door to open, nervous energy making her toe tap. If she wasn’t careful she would drop the Pyrex dish of banana pudding. Lord, please let his mother like the pudding. A lot was riding on this dinner.
The door swung open and she froze. Guy looked perfectly handsome in a cream polo and dark blue jeans. He took in her emerald wrap dress and his cheekbones scrunched with pleasure.
“Hey, beautiful.”
No matter how many times he complimented her, she still blushed. Thankfully concealer would hide the effect. “Hi, handsome. Are you going to stand there all day, or can I come in?”
He chuckled and moved back. “Please come in,” he said with a bow.
She passed him and headed for the kitchen.
“Miz Chelle!”
Bekah waved from her seat on the barstool in front of the kitchen island. Guy’s mother glanced her way and then promptly turned away, ignoring her. Okay.
“Hey Bekah, how are you?”
“Good.” Guy’s youngest gave her a shy smile.
She sat the dish down on the island. “Hello, Mrs. Pierre.” She held her breath.
Guy’s mother nodded and continued stirring the pot of food on the stove. Apparently, she wasn’t in the talking mood. Michelle turned to Rebekah. “Thank you for letting me come to dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What about me?” Rachel asked from the eat-in table. She put her crayon down and looked up from her coloring book.
“Thank you for having me, Rachel.”
Rachel beamed at her. “You’re welcome.”
The hairs on the nape of her neck stood up as the smell of Guy’s spicy scent enveloped her. She had the urge to lean back and see if he would catch her, but the presence of his mom stopped her. Instead, she turned and looked at him.
He was staring at the Pyrex dish. “Banana pudding?”
“Yes.”
He licked his lips. She stared, mesmerized by the action.
“I can’t wait to taste it.”
“You’ll love it.”
Guy turned, leaning against the island as he crossed his legs, hands folded across his stomach. His very flat stomach. “I’m sure I will.”
The way he looked at her made her wonder if he was still talking about the banana pudding.
She felt a tug on her shirt and glanced down at Rachel.
“Miz Chelle will you do our hair again?”
The girls had their hair in braided pigtails with cute barrettes at the end. “If it’s okay with your Papa, then sure. Do you want me to do something different or the same way I did it last time?”
“Diffwent!” Bekah chimed in.
She studied her, tapping her chin. “Hmm, I think I have the perfect idea. I’ll do it after dinner, okay?”
They nodded their heads in excitement.
“Thank you,” Guy whispered close to her ear.
Goose bumps raced up her arms. If she turned just a little she could kiss him.
“Guy,” Mrs. Pierre said. “Dinner is ready.”
They turned toward Guy’s mother. The glare she gave them could singe the hairs off their heads. Obviously, they had been too cozy for her liking.
Michelle straightened up, pulling away from Guy. Mrs. Pierre grabbed a dish, holding it with potholders, and headed to the dining room. Guy and the girls followed her into the dining room.
Not for the first time, Michelle noticed how sparsely decorated the house was. Every time she came over, the urge to add some decorations or paint the walls grew stronger. The house had such great potential. Could she at least convince Guy to let her redo the girls’ room?
Was it too soon in their relationship? It wasn’t her house and one date and an invitation to a family dinner did not give her the right to insert her two cents. But she really, really, wanted to ask him.
“Guy, say grace,” his mother said.
Michelle refocused and bowed her head.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for this bounty You’ve blessed us with. Please bless the hands that prepared it. Amen.”
The repeated “Amens” echoed in the room. Plates filled up as dishes were passed. The food looked wonderful. The meatloaf, loaded mash potatoes, and greens filled her senses. She was definitely going to have to go for a run tomorrow. She despised the activity with every fiber in her being, but she didn’t want an expanding waist line either.
She took a taste of the mash potatoes and the flavors exploded in her mouth. The smoked bacon paired wonderfully with the cheese. Michelle dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Mrs. Pierre, this is wonderful.”
Guy’s mother met her gaze and raised an eyebrow. “It is just mashed potatoes.”
“I know, but I don’t have it that often.” Ever.
“Humph, that is why you are too skinny.” Her gaze narrowed. “What do you do now?”
She took a deep breath. Please, give me patience, Lord. “I’m a lawyer.”
“I hear they are all liars.”
She took another bite of her food to keep her words from getting her into trouble. Only now the food tasted like dust.
Mrs. Pierre stared at her expectantly.
“The bad ones are.”
“There is such thing as a good lawyer?”
“Manman, Michelle is a great lawyer.” He frowned at his mother. “She has her own law office as well.” Guy winked at Michelle.
“A business owner? Why aren’t you married
