Big City Little Rebel

“She has good taste.” Bobbie grabbed the fork from his hand. “Chopsticks.” She placed a set of chopsticks between his fingers and showed him how to use them. She spooned several helpings of everything except the mystery dish onto his plate.

He tried to pick up his food, but it slipped through the sticks. “No wonder you’re thin. It’s hard to get anything in my mouth with these things.” After he fumbled for minutes with the chopsticks, they dropped to the table.

Bobbie rose from her seat and stood behind him. She placed her hand over his and showed him how to get his grip just right. “You need to practice.” She lingered long enough to kiss him when she was done with the lesson.

The woman was like a ninja with her chopsticks. She’d eaten a third of everything before he became proficient enough to take a bite.

“Try this. It’s spicy eggplant.” She spooned a small serving onto his plate.

There was no doubt it was spicy. Just breathing the surrounding air made his throat tickle. “Is this going to kill me?”

“Don’t be a baby, just taste it.” She used her chopsticks to pick up a bite and pressed it toward his mouth. He opened obediently and took what she offered.

The heat started in his mouth but quickly spread until the top of his head tingled, and his earlobes were on fire. He swallowed the bite and reached for his water.

“Good, right?”

“If you’re a dragon. Holy hell.” He emptied his water and then took Bobbie’s. She ate bite after bite without breaking a sweat.

The song “Hey Mama” filled the air. He pulled his phone from his pocket and answered. “Hey, Mom, how are you?” He gave Bobbie an apologetic look.

She continued to eat while she watched him. She was only privy to his side of the conversation, so he made it interesting for her.

“I’m glad Aunt Sarah came to help you with the move. It’s time you left New York. Listen, Mom, I’m out to dinner with my girlfriend.” He watched Bobbie for a reaction. Her chopsticks and her jaw fell.

“Yes, it came about quickly, but it feels right.” He reached for Bobbie’s hand and squeezed it. “I’ll check in later. Take care of yourself, okay?”

When he hung up, he was filled with emotion. He was incredibly proud of his mother for taking another chance on happiness and proud of himself for staking a claim to Bobbie. If she was anything like him, she needed to feel wanted.

“Girlfriend?” Her voice sounded cross, but her hand in his felt hopeful.

“Yep, at least when you’re not trying to destroy me.”

She exhaled. “Beau, this thing between us is separate from what’s happening between Aspen Construction and me.”

“How can we separate it, Bobbie? Right now, I am Aspen Construction.” He signaled Joy for their check.

“You’re not Aspen Construction. You’re Beau Westhaven, loyal son, and super stud.” She pulled her napkin from her lap and laid it on the table. “I know you’ll do a good job. I know your heart is pure, and you’ll do everything right.”

“If you know all those things, why are you busting my balls on this?” He paid the bill and walked Bobbie outside. The clouds had rolled in, and the sky had darkened.

“Because you don’t know what you’re dealing with, and I do.” She pulled him next door into the Da Vinci Museum. “Let’s drop it. You’ll love this.” It was a builder’s paradise. He got lost in Da Vinci’s inventions, from his flying machines to his revolving bridge, and all talk about Aspen was forgotten.

The first crash of thunder sent them outside to walk home before the storm broke. It wasn’t long before the skies opened, and the rain came down in buckets. Bobbie surprised him again. Instead of running for cover like most women, she lifted her hands into the air and twirled around in circles. She danced under the torrent of rain until she was drenched through and through.

“You never cease to surprise me.” He picked her up and spun her around. “I can’t get enough of you. Where have you been all my life?”

“Right here waiting for your slow ass to get to Colorado.” She hopped on his back and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Take me home, stud.”

There was no need to tell him twice. He held on to her legs and ran the rest of the way to the apartment building. She slid down his back as soon as they were inside his apartment. Her teeth chattered, and her lips turned blue, but within minutes he had her stripped and standing in a hot shower. It wasn’t the most pleasurable way to warm her, but the most efficient way.

With her body pulled to his chest, he held her close and let the hot water cascade over them. When he was sure she was warmed through and through, they dried off and dressed. Later that night, they ordered pizza and ended up back in bed. Outside, the storm was relentless. The rain came down, thunder cracked overhead, and lightning lit up the sky, making him wonder what he’d find at the site tomorrow morning.