Page 24 of Hot Zone
“The number of dishes I make really well is pretty limited. Truth is, I was never much of a cook, at least not until my ex wanted me to learn. So, basically, I make just a few of his favorites, and that’s about it.”
“So I have him to thank for this delicious meal, then?”
“Oh, heavens no, he hates shrimp.”
I knew things hadn’t ended well between them, but I could tell by the pure enjoyment Mars got out of making a dish the other man hated that there was a story there. I couldn’t help but be curious. Fortunately, Mars was eager to tell me, so I didn’t have to ask.
“He says they’re bottom-dwelling water bugs and that they’re nasty. But I love them. And because he didn’t like shrimp, he never wanted me to eat it either. So, right after he left, I made it my mission to learn to cook the very best shrimp dishes.”
“Because he hated them?” I asked with a chuckle.
Mars shrugged. “Because he hated them and because I was through letting someone who only cared about himself decide what I did or didn’t do. But still, I’m glad you’re enjoying my spite dish.”
“Spite shrimp? Who even knew that was a thing?” I asked with a laugh.
Chapter 8
Mars
Even though Ziva technically covered the shop on the weekends, I usually still went in to try and get some work done. But I had enough other things to deal with, so today wasn’t going to be one of those days. I sent her a message to let her know that if she needed me to just call, and then I climbed out of bed.
I still had shopping to do, even though boxes had been steadily pouring in fromAmazon, filling up poor Samuel’s garage. Not that he seemed to mind—he didn’t.
As had become our norm, I went into the kitchen to find him at the table, drinking a cup of coffee. I stopped and shook my head. “You do realize it’s Saturday, right? You don’t have to go to work, so what are you doing up so early?”
“Honestly, it’s just habit at this point. You’re up just about as early, and you don’t have to go to work today either, do you?”
“I don’t. Not this Saturday, anyway.”
“Well, I didn’t expect you to be up yet, so I haven’t made breakfast.”
“I can cook my own breakfast, you know,” I said. “And I can even double it, like you do, and make some for you.”
He laid down the tablet he’d been holding and looked at me over the top of his glasses.
“Well, you could, but you made dinner last night, so it’s my turn. How about breakfast burritos again? Or would you rather have pancakes?”
“Let’s do the burritos. I love pancakes, but I actually prefer them for dinner instead of breakfast. I know that’s weird, but I’m not asweet thingsearly in the morning person.”
He laughed and shook his head.
“The lies you tell. I’ve seen the way you take your coffee.”
“Coffee’s different.”
“If you say so.” He pushed back from the table and went to the fridge, pulling out the ingredients for the burritos. “Which do you prefer? Bacon or sausage?”
“Well, that’s a pretty personal question there, Samuel. But just so you know, I’m always here for good sausage.”
“Note to self, Mars likes a good sausage in the morning,” he said with a chuckle.
“That I do, but seriously, let’s do the sausage. I liked the burritos you made the other day.”
“All right then, burritos with spicy sausage coming up.”
It didn’t take long for him to get everything ready. I refreshed our coffee, and we sat down to eat.
“So, Mars, what’s on your agenda for today?”