Redemption Road (Vicious Cycle #2)(35)

Rev ran a palm down his face in exasperation. “What if I don’t care whether you like it?”

I couldn’t believe his sudden audacity. “I have a very controlling father back in Virginia. I don’t need another one.”

Rev leaned his elbows on the table and shot me a no-nonsense look. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m merely showing concern for your health. You ate like a bird in the hospital, so you’re already at a nutritional deficit. I couldn’t say for sure, but I would imagine you didn’t eat well while you were with Mendoza—”

“Actually, I had all the best food available there since I ate my meals with him.” It was the truth. Whereas the girls in the barracks got the bare minimum. Mendoza was too smart to starve them because if they lost too much weight and looked unhealthy, they lost their attractiveness to potential buyers. As for me, I sat up in the main house eating lobster and steak simply because I was Mendoza’s favorite of the moment.

Rev held up one of his hands. “I stand corrected. However, with the blood you lost, coupled with your surgery, you’re going to have to fight off anemia. After you drink your milk, I would suggest you order a steak, along with some green leafy vegetables like a salad or some spinach.”

“Now you’re my nutritionist along with my rescuer?” I snapped.

“Annabel,” Rev said softly but with conviction.

I sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re just trying to be nice, and here I am taking out some shit on you, aren’t I?”

“I can understand why.”

“You can?”

He nodded. “For the last two months of your life, you were completely under someone else’s authority. It’s only natural now that you’re free that you would fight against anyone trying to exert any control over you.”

I blinked at him a few times before I could calm my emotions enough to respond. In the few days I had known him, it never ceased to amaze me how it was possible that Rev could read me so easily. None of my family or even my close friends had ever had such insight.

The waitress returned with our drinks. When she set the milk down in front of Rev, I reached out and slid it over to me. I was rewarded with a genuine smile from him.

“Know whatcha want?”

When he saw I was still uncertain, Rev went ahead with his order. “I’ll have the sirloin, well done, a loaded baked potato, and a salad with Italian dressing.”

The waitress turned to me. “And you?”

“The same. Except can you make mine a sweet potato?”

“Sure can.”

“Thanks.” When I caught Rev’s eye, I said, “They’re full of potassium, which I’m sure I could use.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you’re taking this more seriously.”

Once the waitress left, I began slowly sipping on my milk. I’d never been a big fan of milk outside of a bowl of sugary cereal, but I wanted to do everything I could to help my recovery.

We sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the hum of the conversations around us. Before I met Rev I had always rushed to fill silences with small talk. But there was something about being around him that made silence somehow more tolerable . . . more comforting.

After finishing off my milk, I asked, “So what happens when we get back to Georgia?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t thought it out that far. I assumed we could play it by ear, but most of all, I thought I would let you call the shots.”

My mouth gaped open in surprise. “Me?”

He nodded. “When it comes to you, I would assume you want to be making the decisions, right?”

“Well, yes, but at the same time, I’ll be your guest . . . or the club’s guest, or however it is. I would respect that.”

Rev appeared thoughtful. “My house is directly behind the club, so I guess you could say the two go hand in hand. But you are my guest, and my brothers will respect that.”

“I just don’t want to be an inconvenience.”

“You won’t be. I’ll put you to work earning your keep.”

I laughed. “Oh, you will, huh?”

Rev grinned. “You said yourself that you didn’t want to be an inconvenience.”

“I can cook for you.”

“You cook?” Rev asked, his voice laced with doubt.

“Yes, I do.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just you didn’t strike me as the type who could cook.”

“One of the few decent people in our household was our cook. I hung out with her a lot. You pick up things.”

“I see.” Rev rubbed his hand over his beard. “So you’re willing to cook for me.”

“Of course.”

“That’s going to upset my mama.”

“How come?”

He laughed. “She usually cooks for us.”

“Oh, well, I could help her, then.”

“Actually, I like the idea of having you in my house, cooking just for me.”

“Do you now?”

With a wink and a grin, he replied, “Yes, I do.”

“Are you flirting with me, Reverend Malloy?” I couldn’t resist teasing him, and it felt good to let myself relax a little.

“Just stating facts, Annabel Percy,” he replied.