Free All That I Desire by Francis Ray

if
     it tastes as good as I remember.”
    Me or the food? He looked up to see Mrs. Grayson turning away. Ordinarily he’d let her leave. He
     was on her marriage hit list.
    Skylar bit into his fajita. “Almost as good until I get to taste the real thing again.”
    Rio placed the fajita on his plate and rose to his feet. He needed a third party here
     to make Skylar behave, even one who had a bull’s-eye with a capital M on his forehead. “Mrs. Grayson, please join us.”
    “Hello, Rio and Skylar. I don’t want to intrude,” she told him.
    Skylar cleaned her hands on a napkin and scooted out of the seat to hug the older
     woman. “Impossible, Mrs. Grayson. Especially since you’re the reason this fantastic
     food is on the house.”
    “Thanks for keeping me updated. I can’t wait to see the entire collection. Thank you,
     Rio, for staying and ensuring its safety.” Mrs. Grayson smiled at Rio.
    He shook his head once. Not happening. It didn’t faze her.
    “Please have a seat and join us.” Skylar motioned to the U-shaped booth. “There’s
     more than enough food.”
    “That’s kind of you, but I have an appointment. Brandon said you were coming for a
     late lunch and I just wanted to say hi and thank you.” Mrs. Grayson took Skylar’s
     hands. “I can’t cook as well as Brandon, but I’d love for you to come over tonight
     for dinner. If you don’t have plans?”
    “Do we have plans, Rio?” Skylar asked.
    The women stared at him. He should just say no.
    “Trying to surprise me, huh?” Skylar faced Mrs. Grayson. “Why don’t you come out and
     I—” She stopped abruptly. “It will be dark when you leave Navarone Castle.”
    “I left the other night and it was dark, but don’t worry.”
    Rio knew Skylar was thinking about the incident last night. “She always has an escort
     to her door, the house is checked, and she’ll be safely inside with the best security
     system in the world before my man leaves.”
    “Thanks to Rio and Luke. I appreciate the security system, but the man following me
     is unnecessary. However, no one listens to this old woman,” Ruth said, with a sigh.
    Brandon snorted. “If any of us called you old, you’d brain us. Watch out when she
     pulls the old card.” He kissed his mother on the cheek and placed three large take-out
     bags on the seat. “That should hold the men.”
    “Thanks,” Skylar said.
    His mother patted his cheek. “I love you, too.”
    “You’re welcome to come over tonight and look over the collection,” Skylar said. “Or
     do you want to wait until Tuesday afternoon when everything is finished?”
    “Tuesday will be fine.” Ruth hugged Skylar again, and patted Rio’s arm. “We’ll talk
     later and firm things up. Enjoy your meal.” She walked away with Brandon.
    Skylar sat back down and reached for Rio’s fajita. “Eat up. The clock is ticking.”
    Rio took his seat, picked up a flour tortilla, and prepared a fajita. Skylar didn’t
     even seem to notice. She was up to something.
    *   *   *
    Skylar insisted on carrying one of the bags with Rio’s men’s food. “How many minutes?”
    “Eighteen.” Rio opened the back door and placed the three bags inside.
    “Cutting it close. You sure you don’t want me to drive?” she asked with a straight
     face.
    “Not—”
    “Happening.” She opened the passenger door. “Didn’t your mother or father ever teach
     you about compromise?”
    “I was raised in a church orphanage,” he said, his voice flat.
    Her heart stopped, aching for him. “Then neither got to know the intelligent and wonderful
     man you are.” She climbed inside. Her nails dug into her palms to keep from crying.
     “I peeked in one of the bags. I might wander over and join you.”
    Rio backed out. “You wouldn’t get within fifty feet. Sensors.”
    “I sort of figured that’s what posed a problem to Sierra,” Skylar said, hoping she
     hadn’t brought up bad memories earlier. “But after meeting