Chapter 4

Kendall and Della stood in the living room of Elijah's house, giggling as another woman dropped off another casserole.

"Poor Elijah doesn't have any more room in his freezer, and they just keep dropping them off. You'd think that after a year, they'd get the hint," Della giggled.

Kendall raised her mimosa glass and clinked it against Della's. "Oh, come on, it's Saturday morning. You know they're trying to snag a date for tonight."

"It'd be funny if it weren't true. It's been a year since Carolyn died. His period of mourning has ended, so the vultures are circling."

Kendall took a sip of her mimosa and sighed. "Elijah's a catch, and everyone is fishing."

"Except you."

Kendall blinked in surprise. "What are you implying?"

"Not implying anything, just observing. You haven't had a date since you got divorced five years ago."

"If you remember correctly, I was going to law school so I could be a hotshot lawyer like you. I didn't have time to date."

Della took a sip of her mimosa. "You're a good lawyer, Kendall, but you really need to get out of charity work and get your foot in a courtroom."

"I LIKE working for St. Jude! I make a difference!"

"Seems like I remember some first year ready to kick ass and take names."

"We are not having this conversation, Della Rose. First off, he has never offered me a job, and I don't want to take advantage of our friendship."

"Oh, we are having this conversation. Come join us. We need you."

Before Kendall could answer, Elijah entered the living room holding the casserole dish. He looked down at it and then up at Kendall and Della. "Couldn't find a polite way to say no," he said sheepishly.

Both ladies looked at him, and then burse out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

Kendall looked at Della. "You tell him."

"Tell me what?"

Della walked over to him and took his arm, gently leading him to the kitchen.

"Elijah, dear, in case you haven't figured it out, these casseroles are a woman's way of saying you'll be taken care of if you'd let them."

Kendall followed them and helped herself to more champagne. She loved Saturday brunch at Elijah's. It was always Elijah, Sydney, Jake, Della, and herself, and she looked forward to it every week.

"Ok, ladies and gentleman, shall we eat?" he asked as he pulled a dish out of the oven.

Brunch over, Sydney and Jake left to hit Beale Street and listen to live music. Della headed home to her wife and to "finish cleaning the house", which made Kendall bite her lip to keep from laughing. Della's house was always immaculate. Elijah knew it was an excuse for all of them to not get stuck with the dishes, but Kendall always stayed and helped with cleanup.

"So, was what Della said true?" he asked as they stacked the dishwasher.

"About?"

"The casseroles. Are they really an ulterior motive to get me to think favorably about dating the ones that drop them off?"

She stacked some silverware into the silverware compartment. "Afraid so."

"And she just decided to tell me this today?"

"You're a smart man, Elijah. We thought you'd figure it out."

"Not smart enough when it comes to women, I guess."

"Well, you're not the only man to not be able to figure us out."

"So, they really want to date me?" he asked incredulously.

She moved over to the sink and started washing the bacon pan. "Yes, but their real agenda is to get a ring on both fingers."

He frowned, confused.

"Hers and yours," she explained.

She looked up at the ceiling, wondering why they were having this conversation and where was it going.

"Am I that stupid, Kendall?" he asked softly.

She stopped scrubbing and looked at him. She rinsed her hands and dried them with a towel before walking over to him. She placed her hands on the side of his face.

"No," she said softly. "You're not stupid. You're just not used to modern dating rituals. You got married right out of law school and had your family. It's different now than when we were younger. Hell, they even sleep together on the first date now."

Elijah looked at her. Something inside him shifted. She was his best friend and had been since they were kids. Yet, something inside him wanted more than friendship. He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers.

Kendall felt his lips touch hers. For a second, she was torn between giving in and stopping it. She didn't want to ruin that friendship. Yet, something inside her wanted more. She moved closer and moved her arms to around his neck. He deepened the kiss. She felt a jolt all the way to the bottom of her toes. As he broke the kiss, she snuggled against him.

"Wow," he whispered.

"Double wow."

"I don't know if I should apologize or not. I'm not sorry."

"I'm not sorry either."

He stroked her back, frowning when his hands hit her bra clasp. She broke away from him, stepped back, and in a few seconds, her bra was on the floor. He looked at her in confusion.

"How in the hell did you do that without taking off your shirt?"

"Secret," she giggled. "You should see your face. You look absolutely befuddled."

"I am." He gave her another long look, then turned back to the dishwasher. "Let's finish the dishes, and then we have to talk."