A Curvy Girl for the Cadet: A Perfect Fit Novella by Sugar Jamison Page B

that?”
    “I do.” She sobered. “I still feel like crap. Let me apologize. Let me feed you ice cream. We’ve got all the fixings and two cans of whipped cream.”
    A thought of him licking whipped cream off her lips entered his head as well as an unexpected surge of desire. It had been a long time since he felt anything like that. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman made him feel anything close to that.
    “We’ve got bananas too,” he heard a small voice say. It was then he remembered he wasn’t alone with beautiful Daisy. There was a kid watching everything they did.
    “She wanted me to invite you over for dinner. She said it was neighborly. Come over for dessert. Twenty minutes. I promise I’ll be sane.”
    “Okay,” he said, knowing he should have said no. “Ice cream sounds good.”
    Her house was very similar to his in size and layout, but unlike his, it hadn’t been updated in the last fifty years. The windows needed to be replaced, the floors re-sanded, the baseboards totally redone, but the way Daisy had it decorated was a throwback to another time. She had 50s style replica appliances in her kitchen in a shiny white with chrome accents. Her kitchen cabinets were painted baby blue and a large rustic table that looked perfect for family meals.
    “Cool refrigerator.”
    “You like it?” She smiled at him as she set her groceries on the island. “I’ve always wanted a kitchen like in I Love Lucy, but more colorful. Danny, my husband, thought it was a huge waste of money, but when me and Cookie moved here I decided to get what I wanted. Because life is too short, you know?”
    “I do. Can I help you put away anything?”
    “No sit. You are our guest. Cookie, grab the ice cream bowls.”
    “Okay, Mama. What color bowl would you like, Mr. Calhoun?” Aubrey asked him sounding like a small adult.
    “What colors do you have?”
    “We have the rainbow. Mama likes things in color. She says black or white is never an option.”
    “Okay, I’ll take blue then.”
    She nodded and then climbed on a stool to retrieve to bowls. “Please have a seat. Mama usually picks blue. She says blue makes her feel calm, but since you’re our guest you get to have it. Mama can have red this time. That’s the color she picks when she’s feeling feisty.”
    He looked up at Daisy then who was smiling bashfully. “Don’t judge me.”
    “I’m not. What color do you pick, Aubrey?”
    “Green.”
    “Green is the color of balance and harmony. Is that why you picked it?”
    “No. I just like green.” She shrugged as she set the bowls and spoons down on the table and took the seat across from him.
    “Okay, Mr. Calhoun.” Daisy walked back over to them her arms full, her heels clicking on the hardwood floors. “We take our ice cream very seriously here. We have dulce de leche. Mexican chocolate, avocado coconut, or if you’re really feeling adventurous we have plain old vanilla.”
    “I want to taste them all.”
    “Ah,” she sighed. “The most perfect words in the English language.” She handed him a spoon. “We’re not fancy people here. Dig in.”

 
    Chapter 6
     
    She had only asked him to stay for twenty minutes, but an hour and a half later Clayton was still sitting in her kitchen. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed until Aubrey yawned and stood up.
    “I’m going to get ready for bed, Mama.”
    “You can stay up late. There’s no school tomorrow.”
    “I know, but I’m ready to go to bed.”
    “You need me to tuck you in?”
    “I can do it.” She kissed Daisy’s cheek before she turned around to face Clayton. “Goodnight.” She extended her hand and Clayton shook it. “Thank you for coming.”
    “Goodnight, Aubrey. Thank you for having me.” Clayton smiled again. It was a shame that his beard covered up so much of his face because she wanted to see more of it. He had one of those smiles that made his eyes crinkle in the corners. It was a very good smile.
    “Why do