Beachcombing in the Bahamas (Once Again #11)

Chapter 7

7

B rock wasn’t disappointed that Yvette hadn’t let him do anything when he’d gone to her cottage. It made him even hotter for the night.

And yet it smacked of being back home, where he had to sneak over to her place a couple of times a week, because that was all she allowed. And sneak out again in the deepest dark of the night so no one saw him.

He wanted more. He wanted to wake up with her in his arms.

Later tonight, he would hold her, make love to her. But now, there was dinner with his family, with Yvette seated next to him so he could breathe in the scent of her citrusy lotion.

“The meal smells delicious,” he told Olive as she set out the selections in warming trays on a long table beside the kitchen door.

Yet again, that reminded him of the big house, with Mrs. French placing everything in the chafing dishes, then silently exiting as if she’d never been there and the food had appeared by magic.

He guessed Olive to be in her fifties as she smiled, her teeth white in her ebony face. “I hope you enjoy everything. Please do not hesitate if you need anything else from me.” Then she pointed at the array of dishes. “I have made jerk chicken and plantains, sliced and fried the way we prefer them here.” Her accent bore echoes of French, but he wasn’t sure what language was spoken in the Bahamas. “And we have rice and peas, another of our staples. But our peas are not like yours. They are pigeon peas, and the rice is spiced with tomato, onion, and thyme. There are also steamed vegetables. Please, help yourself.”

She left the room, disappearing into the fragrant kitchen.

Since it was the first night, his entire family was here, along with boyfriends and girlfriends. Brock flourished a hand toward his mother. “Please, you first, Adeline.”

Adeline always served herself first anyway. Taking a plate, she opened a chafing dish. “What is all this?” Leaning close to sniff, she turned up her nose.

Coming to stand beside her, his voice mild, he said, “You’ve heard of jerk chicken, plantains, rice and peas, and steamed vegetables.” He didn’t help himself yet.

“Is it all spicy?” She wrinkled her nose distastefully.

“I don’t know. I’ve never had jerk chicken before.” Though he suspected it was spicy. And it looked appetizing.

She took a bit of chicken, one plantain, a small scoop of rice and peas, and a much heftier portion of the steamed vegetables.

He called Trevor and Lorna next, because letting the kids go first would mean hours before his brother and wife got something. Then he jutted his chin at Yvette. But she smiled, saying, “I’ll wait.”

They got in line together at the end, where he could feel the heat of her body and dream about the night to come. He let his arm brush hers as he leaned over to open a serving tray.

And that was all he allowed himself. Too much and his eagle-eyed mother would notice.

For himself, he didn’t mind, but he knew how Yvette felt.

His first bite of chicken was sweet and fiery, its flavors imbued with smoke and fruit. Oh yes, it was spicy, and he glanced at Adeline.

Her eyes narrowed, a grimace on her lips. But that was not an unfamiliar look for her. Seated at the far end, she called down the table to him, “What’s in this jerk chicken?”

He replied as mildly as before, “I have no idea, Adeline.”

“Then look it up on your phone,” she snapped.

He smiled, despite her tone. “I thought you didn’t like us to use our phones at the table,” he chided her.

She glared. His mother’s glare was meant to intimidate, but now it only made his smile grow. “All right, I’ll look it up.” And then he read aloud. “Jerk chicken is seasoned with scotch bonnet peppers.” His smile stretched ear to ear. “I believe they’re intensely hot peppers.”

Adeline slammed down her fork. “I absolutely cannot eat anything that is intensely spicy. It will give me indigestion. I won’t sleep tonight.”

Wiping away his smile but still feeling it on the inside, he said, “I can’t ask Olive to prepare two meals, one for you and one for the rest of us. And all of us want to try something new and different. So buck up, Adeline.” He enjoyed baiting her, probably because she stood between him and the life he wanted with Yvette.

Oh, if looks could kill. But before she could stalk from the table, Olive pushed through the swing door, striding efficiently to set a plate in front of Adeline. “I have made a special fish for you, madame.” She said it in the French way, ma-dame instead of madam.

“Is it fried? I can’t have anything fried. And the only spices I tolerate are salt and pepper, if used in moderation.”

“I think you will approve of its preparation. Please, try it,” Olive urged.

Adeline brought the fish to her mouth, sniffing first, then chewing. When she closed her eyes to savor it, he knew Olive had saved the day. “Thank you,” he said.

Olive replied smoothly, “I have no problem preparing extra dishes which do not have as much spice in them. It will be my pleasure.” Then she left for the kitchen once more, the door swinging behind her.

Adeline smiled smugly at him as she enjoyed her fish. And he leaned to his right, saying to Yvette, “Too spicy for you?” Yvette loved a lot of spice, especially the things he did to her in her bed.

She shook her head. “Oh my God, this is so delicious. I need the recipe. I’d love to make this at home. I wonder if Olive gives out recipes.”

His family enjoyed the feast just as much.

“This is freaking good.” Jodi said. And her grandmother glared at her as if she’d used the F-bomb . Ignoring her, Jodi added, “I’ve never had jerk chicken before, but I’ll sure as heck have it again.”

Yvette smiled that beautiful smile of hers. “I’ll make it for you the next time you and Kacey are home.” Which would be spring break in about three months.

Brock found the rice and peas to be delicious also, dark brown pigeon peas, with the onion, thyme, and tomato adding extra notes of flavor. The fried plantains were crispy on the outside and subtly sweet on the inside, the grill stripes adding extra flavor.

Conversation flowed around the table, and Yvette said, “I wonder if I can get pigeon peas at home and make this dish as well.”

“We can go shopping in the city to see what we can find,” he suggested. “It’s San Francisco, after all, and I’m sure we could find a Caribbean grocery store somewhere. You could probably find the Scotch bonnet peppers too.”

It sounded innocuous, just a kind offer. But it would allow him to spend more time with her outside the office, maybe a three-hour lunch. He wondered if she’d let him rent a hotel room. They’d done that a time or two, when his need for her ratcheted up, and he’d seduced her into saying yes.

When they’d all devoured seconds, Olive sent in the maid—whom she introduced as Samara—to clear the dishes. Then Olive arrived with dessert, explaining as she placed slices onto dessert plates. “This is a very special dish of ours called guava duff. It is a steamed pudding rolled with fresh guava in the middle.” After placing all the slices, she ladled sauce over each piece. “And this is a rum butter sauce.” She and Samara passed out each plate, but to Lorna, she said, “I have not put the rum sauce on yours. For the baby.”

Lorna smiled her thanks.

“This doesn’t look like pudding,” Adeline groused. “It’s some sort of rolled cake.”

Olive smiled. “It is denser than cake, which is why we call it pudding. But you’re right, madame, it is not like American pudding.” With a little wave, she added, “Enjoy,” and once again disappeared into her domain.

“Oh my God.” Francine, Ethan’s girlfriend, moaned over the first bite. She was a lovely girl, her long dark hair trailing to the middle of her back, though now she wore it in a high ponytail. She closed her eyes, tipped her head back, and murmured her appreciation. “This is so good.”

It was the same sound Yvette made, and the same words, as he feasted on her beautiful body and made her come. With thoughts of Yvette, he realized he should have changed into his shorts after the flight, because now his slacks were a tad too tight.

“This is yummy,” Jodi said, licking the sauce from her fork. “Do you think Olive will offer seconds?”

Iris, Malcom’s girlfriend, held up her hand as if she were in class. “I’m willing to go into the kitchen and beg.” A tall blond woman with bright blue eyes, she and Malcolm made a handsome couple.

Before she could jump out of her chair, Olive waltzed through the door again, another platter in her sturdy hands, as if she’d been listening at the door. “I’ve made a second guava duff. Just in case.” She set the sliced duff on the sideboard, accompanied by a fresh bowl of rum sauce. “I must tell you, it is just as delicious for breakfast.”

Beside him, Yvette said to the entire table, “If I keep eating like this, I’m going to gain ten pounds while we’re here.”

He wanted to say that he’d more than enjoy her lush curves, but when he rose to retrieve a piece for her, she waved him away. “No, not for me.”

Adeline signaled Brock. “Just a half slice for me, please.”

But when Lorna began to rise, Adeline waved a hand at her. “Dear. Don’t you think one slice is enough?” She pursed her lips. “You know how hard it is to get rid of baby weight.”

Lorna sat. Even Trevor didn’t jump up to get her another piece, while Adeline tucked into her half slice, giving a dainty moan of pleasure.

It was a mean thing for her to say, and Brock said, “Your figure looks perfect, Lorna. I’ll get you a slice.”

The young woman waved him away. “No, honestly, I’m full.” She put her hand on her belly. “The baby makes me feel it if I have too much.”

Christ. His mother. Brock met Yvette’s gaze. She would remember the games his mother had played with her all those years ago.

They rounded off the evening with coffee in the living room. Then Adeline stood. “It’s been a long day. I’ll turn in.”

When she’d floated up the stairs like a queen leaving her subjects, Garth said, “Why don’t we all have a couple of beers out on the beach by the fire pit?”

Kacey added, “Just one, then I’ll go to bed. I’m tired.” She yawned. Fishing her phone out of her pocket, she looked at the time. “Back home, it’s already eleven.”

Next to her, Darryl sniped, “Since when do you go to bed at eleven?”

She smiled at him, ignoring his tone. “Since we got up so early and it’s been a long day and I’m tired.” She let that sit for a moment before adding, “Aren’t you a little tired?”

Brock recognized the invitation for him to leave the group, but Darryl just laughed. “I’ll be tired after a few beers.”

The rest of the party broke up then, first with Trevor leading Lorna upstairs, then with Yvette saying she also was tired. He was already planning his route to her cottage while the kids were on the beach.

But first, he needed to have a talk with Adeline.