When You Were Mine (Second Chances 2)

His lips quirked as he studied her. Finally, he said, “Fine. Name your price.”

“I need help replacing my bathroom vanity. The bathroom flooded a couple weeks ago and it’s got water damage. I was going to beg Evan to help me this weekend but then there was all this opportunity...” she trailed off, a hopeful look on her face.

“I’m glad you see my possible systematic torture by every relative I have for the rest of my life as an opportunity, Cora,” he complained.

“One day of helping me and I’ll take it to the grave,” she cajoled. “If you don’t want to, I guess that’s fine. While you think about it, I think I’ll go call Taryn.”

“Sweet, lovable Cora. She’s forever lost to the world,” Jamie lamented. After a lengthy pause, he added, “Fine. I can help you Saturday.”

“Yay! Thanks,” she said.

An incredulous look on his face, he asked “Did you just thank me for something you blackmailed out of me?”

Cora grinned and said, “Yeah. I guess I did. Seems silly when you put it that way. Oh. And I got you this for your office.”

She held the bamboo out toward him.

When he took it from her, he said, “Thank you. That was very sweet of you. Now, I’ll have to try not to kill it. I kind of have a black thumb.”

“I’m two doors down the hall. If I see it taking a turn for the worse, I’ll take custody of it,” she assured.

He walked toward the nearest window and placed the plant on the sill. When he turned to face her again, he said, “You know. I would have helped you with your sink if you had just asked.”

“I know,” she agreed, unable to keep the smile off her face. “This way you feel like you’re getting something out of the deal, too, though.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but a knock on the door interrupted.

“Yesss. Tell me you got pot stickers,” she demanded, poking him in the ribs as they walked toward the lobby.

“Only enough for me,” Jamie said, as he greeted the delivery man. After signing the slip, they headed back into the kitchen area with a brown paper bag filled with food. Once he had moved the gym bag, he unpacked the food and slid the pot stickers toward himself.

Cora raised an eyebrow and asked, “Really?” as she grabbed a set of chopsticks.

He grinned and moved the container toward the middle of the table.

She watched as he opened his food, inhaled almost reverently and then popped a piece of chicken into his mouth.

“Thank you for lunch,” she said, lifting the lid and nabbing a pot sticker.

“No problem. I’ve been dreaming about Golden Palace for weeks now. They don’t deliver to my place,” he said, frowning.

Cora swallowed and said, “They deliver to mine. I have to bargain with myself to cook though. I could eat this all the time.”

Jamie sighed and said, “I’ve gotten somewhat passable in the kitchen but...you. Do you still make that awesome meatloaf?”

“I can throw one together before you come over Sunday. It’s only fair since you’re helping out.”

“Cora,” Jamie said, shaking his head and laughing. “You’re terrible at blackmail. You’re thanking me and offering me meatloaf.”

“I don’t handle guilt well,” she said, flushing. “What can I say?”

“Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”

She reached over and snagged a piece of his sweet and sour chicken, then said, “Or maybe I was just lulling you into a false sense of complacency.”

In answer he put the lid back on the pot stickers and slid them back toward himself with a grin.

The banter continued for the next twenty minutes until she had to get back to her office for an appointment. After a quick hug, she walked back down to her office.