Legacy of Love by Donna Hill Page A

waist.
    â€œThe nose knows.” He poured in two cup of rice and covered the pot.
    â€œRemember those Saturdays?”
    â€œAbsolutely. I figured it would be like the old times, a pleasant memory.” He turned around.
    Michelle looked up into his eyes that were identical to her own. “I could use that right now.” She backed away and lowered her head.
    Jackson lifted her chin with the tip of his finger.“I don’t like tears in my chili,” he teased. “And I was thinking that maybe it’s time we carried on the tradition. Share the famous family recipe with Shay.”
    Michelle wiped away a sniffle and a slow smile gently blossomed. “I think she’d like that.”
    â€œGreat. You remember all the ingredients, right?”
    â€œOf course!” she said.
    He wiped his hands on a dishtowel. “Good. I got the basics started and you can finish up with Shay while I get ready for a date.”
    â€œA date! With…with Zoe?”
    He grinned like he’d won the lottery. “Yep. I’m picking her up at six.”
    Michelle leaped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I am sooo crazy happy for you.” She kissed him all over his face. “How did all this happen?”
    â€œIf you let go of my neck I swear I’ll tell you,” he said, chuckling.
    She settled down and sat in a chair. She crossed her legs and waited. Jackson leaned against the fridge and told her about going to the museum and asking for her.
    â€œSo you just asked her out to dinner and she said yes? You could be a serial killer,” she said with a grin.
    â€œThanks, sis.”
    â€œYou know what I mean. You don’t know each other.”
    â€œLast time I checked that’s how people got to know each other. Dinner, lunch, talking.” He winked.
    â€œI guess it’s been a while,” she said softly and lowered her gaze.
    Jackson came over to her. He took her hand. “Hey, sorry.”
    â€œIt’s all right.” She stroked his cheek. “I’m happy for you. I really am.”
    â€œThanks.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “So I’m going to leave Shay and the Treme family recipe in your very capable hands. I don’t want to be late.” He started out of the kitchen.
    â€œShe’s a lucky lady, Jack.”
    Jackson glanced back over his shoulder. “I have a feeling that I’m the lucky one.”
    Â 
    Zoe was a bundle of nerves as six o’clock approached. She’d changed clothes an hour earlier and spent the rest of the time pacing back and forth in her office. She’d called Sharlene at least three different times just to be reminded that she was going to have a wonderful time.
    She’d been so consumed with her impending date that she’d totally forgotten about seeing Mike and Linda together earlier in the afternoon until Linda knocked on her office door.
    â€œCome in.”
    Linda eased the door open and stuck her headin. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Zoe all dressed up.
    â€œWow. Is it okay if I come in?”
    Zoe’s face heated. “Sure.”
    Linda came in and closed the door behind her. “Great dress.”
    â€œThanks.” She quickly sat down and tried to look busy as she began flipping through papers on her desk. “What can I do for you?”
    â€œYou already did it.”
    Zoe looked up. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI talked to Mike today, like you said.”
    Zoe folded her nervous fingers together. The scene she’d witnessed earlier played in her mind’s eye. “What happened?”
    â€œHe listened. I told him that I realized that I was making his life miserable, but it wasn’t my intention. I told him that sometimes I have an unorthodox way of letting someone know that I’m…interested in them.”
    Zoe smiled. “And?”
    â€œHe said he thought I hated his guts. That’s why he never asked me