Temptation's Kiss by Janice Sims Page B

surprise. What can I do for you?”
    On her end, Patrice’s heart was beating rapidly. She was standing in the middle of her bedroom, having left Patrick and Nina in the kitchen so she would have a littleprivacy when she humiliated herself. She didn’t believe T.K. was going to accept her invitation.
    â€œHi,” she said softly. “I’m cooking, and…”
    â€œYou cook?” he asked, surprised.
    â€œYes, I’m making a Southwestern dish my mom used to make, and I realized that I’m making enough to feed a small army. I was wondering if, you know, you’re not doing anything special tonight, if you’d like to come to dinner. I mean, I’d understand if you can’t make it, but I thought I’d ask anyway.”
    â€œI’d love to,” T.K. said immediately.
    â€œMy brother and his wife are my guests for a few days,” Patrice warned. “They’ll be here, too.”
    â€œYour brother from Albuquerque?” asked T.K., sounding intrigued.
    â€œYes, remember I told you I’d left my car in Albuquerque? He and Nina, that’s his wife, drove it here so I wouldn’t have to go get it.”
    â€œThat was nice of them,” T.K. said. “I’d love to meet them.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Patrice hedged, offering him an out. There was still time for him to gracefully turn down her invitation.
    T.K. laughed. “I’m beginning to think you don’t want me to come.”
    â€œNo, that’s not it,” she denied. She lowered her voice, “It’s just that there’s no telling how they’re going to react when they see you. They’re big fans. I don’t want you to feel like you’re an attraction at the zoo.”
    â€œI’ll bring the wine—red, white?” T.K. said with a chuckle.
    â€œI’m making chicken enchiladas.”
    â€œWhite, it is,” T.K. said. “Are you making the chicken enchiladas spicy?”
    â€œIs there any other way?” Patrice joked.
    â€œNot in my book. What time?”
    â€œSeven,” Patrice told him. “See you then.”
    â€œYes, you will,” T.K. said, and hung up.
    Patrice was smiling when she closed her cell phone. She wondered why she was so happy. It wasn’t as if this was a date.
    She walked back into the kitchen with her head lowered and a dejected expression on her face. Nina came to her and rubbed her arm sympathetically. “He turned you down, huh?”
    Patrice grinned as she raised her gaze to her sister-in-law’s. “Gotcha! He’ll be here at seven.”
    Nina’s mouth fell open in amazement, and she was speechless, a condition that until now had never befallen her. Patrick laughed and went to pull her into his arms. “I don’t like this,” he said, peering into his wife’s astonished face. He looked at Patrice. “Do you think she’s okay?” He held Nina at arm’s length and gently shook her. Nina was smiling, but she wasn’t focusing.
    Patrice laughed. “She’ll snap out of it when she realizes that he’ll be here in less than three hours.”
    Nina startled as if she’d been poked with a cattle prod. “Oh, I have to get ready. I need to shower and do myhair and makeup, and I didn’t bring anything appropriate to wear. What was I thinking when I packed?” She turned her gaze on Patrice. “I’m gonna have to raid your closet.”
    â€œYou’re welcome to it,” Patrice told her, still laughing softly. She calmly went back to preparing the meal.
    Nina hurried from the kitchen presumably to start getting ready for T.K.’s arrival. Patrick followed mumbling, “I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all.”
    â€œRemember,” Patrice said, “you wanted to meet him, too.”
    â€œYeah, but look at her,” Patrick complained. “She wasn’t this excited on our wedding