“I already have a glass of wine.”
She went into the kitchen, leaving him alone, and presenting him with an ideal opportunity to plant the listening device. The room transmitter weighed practically nothing, but he was as aware of it in his pants pocket as he would have been of a boulder.
Talia and Jasper spent a lot of time on their porch, sitting side by side in twin rocking chairs. He would like to be privy to those conversations, but the environment wasn’t an ideal place to hide the electronic transmitter. It would be susceptible to humidity and dust. Inside the house would be less corrosive and better for clearer reception.
He poured himself a bourbon on the rocks and took it with him as he wandered over to the open door of the kitchen and looked in. “Ah. You can cook.”
Talia shot him a glance over her shoulder from where she stood at the range. “I can boil water. Which is what I’m doing for corn on the cob.”
He went inside and walked over to her. Three ears of corn, still in their husks, lay on the counter. “They’re better cooked in the microwave.”
She turned toward him and slid the towel off her shoulder. “Jasper wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Jasper isn’t here.” He set his drink on the counter. “Where’s your microwave?”
She pointed to where it fit inside the cabinetry. “Are you sure about this? These are all we have, so if you ruin them—”
“I won’t. Observe and learn. Step one. Pick ripe ears of corn off stalks in field. Oh, done that already.”
She laughed.
“Step two, place ears of corn into microwave.”
“Shucks and all? Without washing them or anything?”
“As demonstrated.” He used flourishing motions like a magician to place the ears of corn in the oven. “Close door.”
“That’s step three?”
“No. That’s the second part of step two.”
“I see,” she said with a seriousness belied by the smile she couldn’t contain.
“Step three is to set the timer to cook on high for four minutes for each ear of corn.”
She counted on her fingers. “Twelve minutes.”
“Very good, sous chef. Maybe you should be writing this down.”
She tapped her temple. “Taking notes.”
“Good. Because you’ll want to remember.”
“Says you.”
“Trust me.”
“Not as far as I can throw you.”
This time her serious tone wasn’t phony, and it took Drex aback. His teasing smile collapsed. “Why not?”
She ducked her head and gave it a small shake. “Never mind.”
“No. I’d like to know why you said that.”
Raising her chin, she looked him straight in the eye. “You’re way too cool.”
“Way too cool for what?”