Tempting Love (Cowboys & Angels 3)

“Yer?” Corina asked.

Laughing, Mrs. Johnson said, “Boy howdy, that’s the back woods country in me. Mr. Johnson, God rest his soul.” She looked at us expectantly.

“God rest his soul,” Corina and I said together.

“He rescued me from the swamps of Louisiana. I had no schoolin’, no knowledge of nothin’ but helping ma and pa around the farm.”

“I didn’t know you were from Louisiana, Mrs. Johnson,” I said.

She grinned. “Oh, yes. I met the mister in New Orleans. I went for a job cooking in a restaurant. That’s how I learned to cook so well, Corina.”

We grinned at each other and then turned back to Mrs. Johnson. “He promised me a life I could never have in New Orleans. He was studying to be a dentist. I thought that was kind of gross to be lookin’ in people’s mouths all day, but who was I to judge? I was making the food that went into them. Might as well marry the man cleaning ‘em!”

“Did you get married in New Orleans?” Corina asked. “Mitchell’s younger sister, Amelia, was just married there. She came back today.”

Mrs. Johnson’s eyes widened. “Amelia Parker is married? Heavens to Betsy, you don’t say. I thought that girl was still in high school.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “No, ma’am. She’s twenty-two years old. She writes books.”

“I love to read. Just ask that nasty old mean librarian we got at the public library. Ornery thing, that woman.”

Corina chuckled. “Now, now, Mrs. Johnson, that’s not nice. She’s just…old fashioned.”

With a huff, she looked at me. “She refuses to carry Fifty Shades of Grey!”

My cheeks heated. “You do know what type of book that is, don’t you?” I asked.

Flashing me a look that said I was insane, she brushed me off with her hand. “Just because I’m eighty-two years old doesn’t mean I don’t like a little naughty in my life, Mitchell Parker.”

Corina busted out laughing. “You’re making him blush, Mrs. Johnson.”

“Good, the boy needs to get some color on that face. You should read the book. Try some of the moves out on Corina here.”

And just like that, Corina stopped laughing. We tried not to look at each other and failed. Corina Miller was as innocent as they came. Her honesty with me about her sexual inexperience had actually turned me on. There were so many fucking things I wanted to teach her. Do to her.

My cock grew in my pants as we stared at each other. Corina was looking at me with a heated stare.

“Hell, maybe you have tried some of the moves on her, with the way you two stare. I feel like I’m watching a porn movie!”

Corina’s head snapped to the older woman. “What? No! No, I think we’re just both shocked, Mrs. Johnson, that you know what the book is about.”

The old woman shrugged. “We watched the movies at our monthly quilting meeting.”

Christ Almighty, as my father would say. I needed to change the subject fast.

“About those pies. When did you notice they went missing and where were they, Mrs. Johnson?”

She slowly stood. “If that wasn’t a change of subject, I don’t know what is.”

Corina pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as I followed Mrs. Johnson to the dining room window.

“Look here, one of the pies is back!” Mrs. Johnson exclaimed.

“I’ll be,” I said, shaking my head. With a glance out the window, I couldn’t help but notice one of the Gates boys leaning over to throw up. That’s what the little bastard got. “I have a feeling I know who took your pies.”

Mrs. Johnson glanced out the window and covered her mouth.

She placed her hands on her waist. “Well, if karma ain’t a bitch.”

I dropped my keys on the coffee table and collapsed on the sofa. I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and thought about my day. It had started with finding out I was going to be teaching kindergarten.

Oh joy.

Then I’d seen Mitchell. Twice. Then a flat tire on the way home from Mrs. Johnson’s.

A cracking sound made me open my eyes.

“What is that?” I walked to the wall that separated the living room and the dining room. I had bought an old house that was in need of serious renovations. Paxton had talked me into it, and I’d regretted it every darn day.

“Cheese and crackers, what is making that noise?”

I pulled my phone out and hit Tripp’s number.

“Hey, I heard you had a flat,” he said.

Snarling, I asked, “From who?”

“Karen had the day off. She said she drove by and noticed you changing it. I’m super impressed you can change a tire, Corina.”

With a roll of my eyes, I huffed. “Yes, Tripp, I can change a tire. And you let Karen off?”

A low, tumbled laugh came though the phone. “I do let my poor secretary take days off, ya know.”

“So you’re not a cold, heartless boss who works his legal secretary to the bone?”