Thrilled To Death by Jennifer Apodaca

door?”
    I wiped my hands on a towel. “Ali. She knows Gabe’s truck, and that’s her Gabe-bark.”
    Bo made an impressed face. “Animals aren’t my thing, but that’s cool.”
    â€œFinally met a female you didn’t want to charm? Who knew?” I grinned, then added, “I’ll be right back.” I turned and headed to the front door, then laughed at the scene. “Joel, you and Ali need to let Gabe and Cal in.” Ali had jumped up to put her front paws on Gabe’s shoulders to greet him while Gabe held a bakery box out of her reach. In the meantime, Joel was talking a mile a minute to Cal, who had a grocery bag in his hand. They were still on the porch. Cal looked relaxed and appeared to be answering Joel. I hurried over and put my hand on Joel’s shoulder. A small part of my heart worried that Joel had been scarred by his rotten dad and was therefore desperate for male attention. But most of my heart knew that was just Joel. He was outgoing and thought every minute was a new adventure.
    Joel was still talking. “. . . so Ali is special because she was trained as a police dog.”
    Cal turned and looked at Gabe scratching Ali’s ears. “I can see that. She looks like she’s very smart.”
    I used my hand on Joel’s shoulder to guide him back from the door. “Hi Cal, come on in. We’re just about ready to eat. Cal looked freshly showered and had on clean jeans and a button-down shirt. His lip had scabbed again. I hoped he could eat the jambalaya. He stepped in, then leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.
    â€œThanks for inviting me. I’m starved.” He held up the bag and added, “I brought wine. I’ll find the kitchen.” He headed off in the right direction.
    I turned back to look at Gabe. Ali had gotten down and trotted over to follow Cal into the kitchen. Gabe came in and closed the door. He had on a green shirt and black jeans. “Are you hungry?” I asked him.
    He did his wicked grin. “Oh yeah.”
    My stomach somersaulted. It was official, I was a hussy. “Good. Bo cooked a lot of jambalaya.”
    He laughed, then reached out to wrap an arm around my waist and pull me to him. To his mouth. Then he looked at me. “That’ll hold me until later.”
    â€œRight. Later.” God he was hot.
    â€œI started some searches and should have the information by tonight. After everyone leaves, I’ll get my laptop and we’ll see what we got. Cal drove his truck so he can get home on his own.”
    I nodded. Work. Could we work in my room naked? I glanced at my sons chatting with Cal as they walked with him into the kitchen and had a moment of shameful regret. The boys needed a mom not a sex addict.
    â€œWe’re ready!” Bo announced.
    I was ready. But Bo meant dinner, not sizzling sex with Gabe. I turned out of Gabe’s arm and headed to the kitchen. The food was all laid out on the table so we could fix our plates and take them to the backyard. I looked at TJ and Joel. “Don’t feed Ali any of this stuff. It’s not good for her.”
    They both rolled their eyes.
    â€œWe know, Mom,” TJ said in teenage exasperation.
    Bo looked up from where he was serving bowls of jambalaya. “Feed my masterpiece to a dog?”
    I laughed at the outraged look on his face. “Go eat, Bo. I’ll finish dishing this up.” I elbowed him out of the way.
    â€œCome on, TJ and Joel. You can taste my food and tell me how gifted I am. Then I’ll do some magic for you.”
    â€œAwesome!” Joel took his plate and bowl, then bounced alongside Bo. “I can do the cups and balls trick. I’m pretty good. Grandpa says so. . . .” His voice faded.
    I looked up at Grandpa. “He loves magic.”
    He nodded. “He’s got passion for it. But he loves a lot of stuff, Sammy.”
    Warmth and love for this man washed up the back of my