Title: Trouble comes in Twos - Part 11

We took our time shopping in Folsom, most of it in an adorable antique shop they have, and the rest spent in their surprisingly well-stocked grocery store. We finally compromise and decide on shrimp, especially after she dared me to try her shrimp with andouille dressing. Since they had some local made andouille sausage and shrimp so fresh I thought they were still moving, I swore I'd give it a try for her.

My mouth is watering just at the thought. I even get into the spirit of it and decide to make whipped sweet potatoes with pecans. I'm looking forward to dinner tonight, partially since Darius wasn't going to join us. We'll have plenty of left-overs to bring him some when we get back to Nola.

I had called him while we were in the car and he told me he was planning on spending the evening in Baton Rouge and not expect him until morning. With Nora sitting not two feet away from me in the car, I couldn't hiss at Darius to not play matchmaker, or whatever it is that he thinks he's doing.

Of course a part of me minds him leaving, the temptation of us alone in the house together is a bit more than I can stand to think about. However, keeping my voice calm, I told Nora and after a pregnant pause, she said she hoped he had a good time and to be careful.

Neither one of us looked at each other during the exchange, but my heartbeat accelerated until I thought I'd have a heart attack. Yes, I'm nervous. Hell, I'm terrified.

And I'm excited.

I want to be alone with her. I want to get far away from her. I want to run my fingers through her blonde locks. I want to close my eyes and pretend I'm somewhere else. I want to touch her hand in passing. I want to shake her in frustration.

I want something I cannot have.

But sometimes, we have to take a chance.

"DAMN IT!" Nora yells as she slices her finger. Apparently, although she may know how to cook, that doesn't mean she should be allowed in the kitchen where sharp implements are.

"Let me see that," I demand, crossing the small kitchen quickly and grabbing her hand. I hadn't even realized she was in the kitchen already, the last I knew she was out on the porch, enjoying the peace and quiet. That's what I get for wandering off into lala land and dozing off.

I cradle the warm fingers of her hand in mine and tug her forward so I can rinse off the blood under the faucet. I'm sure she could do this herself, but...

"Clothes-lined by a perp. Almost drowned. Bruised ribs. Bruised lungs. And now you're trying to cut off pieces of your body," I complain under my breath as she hisses at the cold water in the cut. It's not deep, but it's enough to bleed freely. "Jesus, Nora."

"It's only a cut, I've had worse," she says nonchalantly.

I continue to mutter under my breath and treating her cut a bit more roughly.

"OW!" she yelps and tries to yank her hand back but I've got a firm grip on it.

"Stop struggling, Nora," I say a bit more softly, feeling guilty for causing her more pain.

What the heck am I doing? I can't even control myself when she nicks her finger in the kitchen.

"Umm... I think it's clean." She says and tries again to gain possession of her hand, albeit half-heartedly.

I'm rather enjoying her hand and mine together, so I keep possession of it. I have to do a thorough job after all.

Taking a dry paper towel I wrap her finger up tight while she sighs dramatically and gives me a quirky grin, "Done?"

Still holding her hand between us, I turn toward her reluctantly before letting it drop. A hot blush creeps up my cheeks and I reply, "I'm being silly aren't I?"

Nora keeps her face gentle, her grin still wry. "I wouldn't say that. It's been quite a week for us."

Her face is so close, her eyes green and bright. What I wouldn't give right now just to...

"I think your sausages are burning," I comment, glancing behind her at the stove.

"Huh?"

"Umm... your andouille sausages?"

Minutes later, the sausage is saved and thankfully not burned.

We spend the rest of the time in the kitchen, side by side, dicing, peeling and chopping our way through the rest of the preparations in silence.

Today went better than I had reason to believe it would. If we can get through this weekend, then I have high hopes for our partnership.

I sneak glimpses of her as we dance around each other in the kitchen. Her blonde hair masking her face sometimes, sometimes framing it just right so I can see the curve of her jaw and the contented smile on it.

How can I not want her? It's impossible.

"I can't believe it's almost been a week," Nora says breaking the easy silence between us.

Finishing setting the table, I open a bottle of wine for us and pour a glass as she starts filling a platter with shrimp and sausage dressing.

"A bad week?" I hesitate to ask, feeling like I'm poking a possible sore wound.

"No. Actually, it's been a good week," she answers back smiling at me from under her bangs.

"Despite everything?" My glass stalls halfway up to my mouth in surprise.

Nora doesn't say anything for a couple of minutes, taking a seat at the table across from me and pouring herself a glass of wine as well.

"I think the good parts far outweigh the bad. And really... there hasn't been much of the bad," she finally says and takes a sip, humming her pleasure at the taste.

My glass finishes the trip up to my mouth and I take a long sip. Very tasty.

"You know once you say that something is going to happen now, right?" I give her a playful look.

Her lips curve into that quirky one-sided grin of hers again.

"I hope so," she replies and starts filling her plate.

Talk about tempting fate.

TBC