The Flavor Of Love by Shiree McCarver, E. Gail Flowers

and cleared her throat. “I think I’ve been running off at my mouth a bit too much. Etta doesn’t like people talking about her.” She chuckled, touching her hair as if making sure it was still in place.
    Keigo figured a wind sheer could tear through here and not budge Auntie Loo’s stiff hair sprayed do. Looking at his wristwatch, he said, “I knew I was early, but I hadn’t realized I was this early . Do you think Etta is awake or should I call my driver back and return in a couple of hours?”
    “ She is awake. If you leave now, you won’t be able to catch up with her again until late this afternoon,” Auntie Loo informed him.
    Keigo shook his head and laughed, “Is that another prediction?”
    “ Oh, you are trying to be a funny,” she harrumphed. “Actually, I know her habits,” she assured him. “Let me see, at this time of morning, Etta is probably doing yoga in the atrium. If you leave and come back in two hours, she will be talking Sandy down on her prices for the best produce at the farmer’s market. They let her in about thirty minutes before they open to the public and she gives free advice for what ails them and advertise on her Internet website.”
    “ She does this every morning?”
    “ Etta is a creature of habit,” Auntie Loo cut her hooded eyes as him.
    He looked at her doubtfully. Were they speaking of the same person? Never had he met such a flighty woman.
    Her smile broadened. “I know she seems to be a bright spark with a capricious nature, but when it comes to running a kitchen, she is as serious as they come.”
    “ That remains to be seen.” Keigo shook his head decisively.
    “ Don’t let her chatty approach fool ya. The girl is as sharp as a tack, so as you become more irritated with her constant talking, her mind is tallying up your weaknesses.” Auntie Loo grinned at him and reached out to tap his arm with her hand. “I personally think she irritates people on purpose because eventually she breaks you down and you find yourself doing nice things for her. Anything to shut her up.”
    “ Well, I’ll be damned.” Keigo let out a long, audible breath. “I suspected as much. No one could be asinine enough to misbehave in my courtroom the way she did the other day.”
    “ Courtroom, you say?” Auntie Loo’s eyes gleamed with newfound interest. “Tell me, what did she do? Are you here to take her to jail? Need some handcuffs? I got some of those furry ones.” She wiggled her makeshift eyebrows at him.
    Keigo shook his head. “What kind of psychic did you say you were?”
    “ An angry one if you keep provoking me,” she warned, half seriously. “So what is this about Etta being in your courtroom?”
    “ If Etta hasn’t already told you, it’s not my place to say.” Keigo rubbed his chin. “I suppose you better go consult that crystal ball of yours, Auntie Loo.”
    She leaned further over the short bushes between them and spoke in hushed tones, “Look here, don’t think because you are tall and handsome I won’t take a cane to that tight little ass of yours. You keep pissing me off and I’ll get Big Bertha to put a hex on your pecker.” She held up her thumb and forefinger barely two inches apart to illustrate. “It will shrink it up to this size,” she threatened with a raspy cackle.
    Keigo bit down on his back teeth to keep a straight face as he asked, “Auntie Loo, if this ‘Big Bertha’ can shrink my penis, does that mean if I say I believe in psychics, she will make it bigger?”
    “ Wee!” Joy bubbled in her laugh and watered her dark eyes. “I got to remember to tell Bertha that one,” Auntie Loo complimented. “I like you Keigo Kyou. So I’m going to give you some good advice.”
    “ If you are about to school me on the fine arts of lovemaking, then I’m afraid you’re a bit late. I already had that discussion with my father, years ago.” His mouth twitched with amusement.
    “ You don’t know anything about lovemaking until you allow