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"Hi" Alex smiled while walking forward, packets of meat in her hands "Tyler said to give you this. She decided to drag Olivia off somewhere"
"Thanks" Tate croaked then cleared her throat "Sorry, Tyler was just.."
"I know, I was fair game for Olivia" Alex rolled her eyes
"Really?" Tate asked intrigued and leant back against the sink to look nonchalant even while her heart was pounding in her chest at the mere presence of Alex.
"Yep, all cause we knew each other from 5 years ago and I let you drive me here" Alex grinned placing the two trays of steak down on the bench. She looked up into green eyes that were darker than their normal and swallowed convulsively as a shiver ran down her spine. No, this could not be happening, Tate was just a kid, an ex student.
"Tyler found these in the cool room. There was a note on the freezer from your fill in saying she took them out this morning" she husked and then groaned internally hoping Tate wouldn't pick up on it. Tate blinked, she hadn't seen it in the cool room, then again she hadn't exactly been looking.
Searching Alex's face for any sign that what she was feeling was mutual she was bitterly disappointed when met by a steady gaze. Who was she trying to kid? Why would an obviously rich, beautiful, successful woman even look at her twice? She was by her own admissions a recovering drug addict who was a ranch cook. Sighing she swept her hat off her head and scratched the itch at the base of her neck
"I um left something in the fridge inside. Can you stay here and make sure nothing burns dry?" she asked and before Alex could reply she hot footed it inside to get the bacon, cursing her stupidity all the way.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief when Tate was out of sight, dragging her eyes away from where that delectable ass in those sexy jeans had disappeared out of view. Ok maybe she kinda liked that sight, not to mention those long legs of Tate's, and that enormous belt buckle sitting right there. Those shoulders too were pretty impressive, she could imagine holding onto them while Tate ... whoa cowgirl, back up. What?
She fanned herself with her hand and walked over to the stove to peak at what was cooking. Potatoes and eggs? She shrugged, they looked fine to her, no chance she was going to burn the place down at least. She groaned, Olivia better not find out Tate left her in charge of the stove or the teasing would be unbearable.
Tate froze upon seeing Tyler and Olivia in a passionate embrace up against the very fridge she needed bacon from. She wracked her brain and wondered if she had any in the cool room but doubted it and she'd have to walk past them to get to the chest freezer. Hell.
Heat suffused her cheeks as Olivia uttered a groan and Tyler a growl as Tyler picked her girl up by her buttocks and Olivia circled her legs around Tyler's waist as she carried her over to the nearby bench and deposited her on it. Heat curled low in Tate's stomach and she shuddered, that was kinda sexy. Then she realised what was going on and growled. Oh hell no they weren't, not on her kitchen bench. If anyone got to do that it was her, preferably with Alex.
"I suggest you two find a room and stop defiling my kitchen" she called as she walked forward and they sprung apart like guilty teenagers. Tate returned Tyler's force ten glare "You don't like interruptions Miss Stud go somewhere private" she offered some advice as she opened the fridge and grabbed the packet. Slamming the door to the fridge shut she gave them and her kitchen counter a pointed look and marched out.
She stepped back outside to see Alex watching the pots almost religiously. She paused in surprise and raised a brow.
"What are you doing?" she asked and Alex spun with a sheepish look on her face
"You said to make sure nothing burns" Alex stated and pointed at the pots "So I was watching to make sure"
Olivia having followed Tate out after telling Tyler 'I told you so' heard this last comment and saw Alex standing by the pots on the burner
"You left Alex in charge of the stove?" she asked incredulously and Alex glared warningly
"Olivia Serena Benson don't you dare" she growled
"Am I missing something?" Tate asked as she made her way to the bench where her chopped onions were already waiting
"Alex can't cook worth a damn" Olivia chuckled "The one time she tried for me she set the oven on fire. I turned up the same time as the Fire Department"
"I am so going to kill you" Alex growled stalking towards Olivia who hurriedly hid behind Tyler.
"Hey leave me out of this" Tyler scurried off to leave the two ladies to it, walking over to Tate who had paused in her efforts to light another burner to cook the bacon and onion for the Potato salad. They stared amazed as Alex chased Olivia around the room like a couple of little girls playing chasey. Alex was yelling at Olivia that she had sworn secrecy, Olivia just laughed and hot footed it, Alex was faster than normal without her heels.
Soon the two ladies were in a bundle on the ground having tripped and were laughing their heads off. Tyler and Tate were standing watching, smiling at their antics. As Tyler watched Olivia laugh she felt the confirmation and finally acknowledged to herself that on 3 days acquaintance Olivia had gone and captured her heart. Now she had to do everything she could to make sure Olivia felt the same.
Tate was captivated by a radiant Alex. This was a side she had never seen before, the smile that reached her eyes, the playfulness. Her heart just about beat out of her chest and she raised her hand to rub at it with her fist. Tyler turned and caught her action, her gaze turned serious as she looked between her and Alex and back again.
Tate sighed, she knew she couldn't hide anything from her friend and mentor and nodded before turning away and continuing with her dinner prep. A short time later she became aware of a presence beside her and a large hand squeezing her shoulder in understanding. She was stunned by the emergence of sudden tears and hastily blinked them away.
"You OK?" Tyler asked
"Sure" she sniffed "The onions you know" she indicated the pan as she stirred the contents. Tyler studied her a long time before nodding
"You know where to find me if you need to talk"
"Sure, no worries" Tate was quick to blow it off as she became aware of the ladies coming up behind them.
The evening progressed. They all adjourned into the outdoor kitchen/dining area. More chairs were brought in from inside so everyone could fit around. Tyler pulled Olivia close, loving the excuse to cuddle and Olivia had no qualms in leaning into her in front of the family. Judy and Hank smiled knowingly and approvingly at them.
Tate served the fish as entree, lightly seasoned in a homemade lemon sauce. Unfortunately she never got to sit next to Alex, who ended up squeezed next to Olivia with Beau on the other side. Tate tried not to glare at Beau as he was acting very attentive towards Alex. Poor Alex didn't know what to do, she was charmed by his country manners but she felt zip, zero, zilch when he smiled at her. Unlike Tate.
She looked up and over at Tate in time to see her glaring at Beau, or more pointedly at Beau's hand on her arm and she realised Beau was asking her a question.
"I'm sorry what?" she asked politely sliding her arm away and he smiled undettered
"I said I'm heading into town tomorrow and I heard it mentioned you need some better footwear. Would you like a lift?" he asked and Alex groaned internally. She was very much aware that the majority of the table had heard the question, including a tense Olivia, a curious Judy and a very jealous Tate by the looks. For some reason that idea made her feel slightly dizzy.
"Thank you for the offer Beau, but Tate is taking me in and helping me out" Alex told him.
Tate was initially surprised by Alex's comment and then she beamed. Alex had chosen her over Beau? Maybe this wasn't one sided after all. She was aware that Beau shot her a look across the table but her gaze had been captured and held by Alex's. She didn't realise she was staring dopily until Callum nudged her
"Hey lover gal, you're drooling" he chuckled and she turned and growled at him which made him laugh all the more harder. Sighing she turned back to look at Alex and her whole body froze in stunned disbelief when she caught Alex giving her a hungry once over. Every cell in her body became sensitised, oh hell yeah it was mutual. She grinned at the thought, then frowned. What the hell did she know about courting anyone, let alone a lady?