all, her father had graduated from West Point, her mother was an aspiring artist, and her brother a veterinarian.
After enlisting heâd taken advantage of many of the incentives and benefits the Army offered, and one was earning a college degree, something his mother had always wanted for her children. âYes. I can take apart and put a carâs engine back together, but I prefer restoring classic cars.â
âLike Classic Car Restoration ?â
He nodded. Sheâd mentioned the reality TV show that had become one of his favorites. âYes. My father had sixty-four and sixty-eight Mustangs, and I filled in as his apprentice when he restored them to mint condition.â
âDid he sell them?â
âHe sold the sixty-eight, but wouldnât part with the sixty-four. It was one of the first to come off the assembly line during its inaugural year. Itâs parked in the garage behind the house. As soon as I check it out, Iâll take you for a drive.â
Cradling her face in his hands, Collierâs tongue traced the fullness of her lower lip. âItâs getting late and you need your sleep, so Iâm going to head on home.â
Heâd mentioned going home when it was the last thing he wanted. Sharing Thanksgiving dinner with his sister, niece, and Irisâs family had made this homecoming even more momentous. If he stayed over tonight, heâd never hear the end of it from Tracy. The last thing he wanted was for his sister to believe he was taking advantage of her friendâs vulnerability.
âDo you have an extra set of keys?â he asked Iris.
Her forehead furrowed in confusion. âYes. Why?â
âI want to come over tomorrow morning to make breakfast. Afterward youâre going back to bed where Iâm going to give you the extra-special Ward full-body massage to help relax you.â
Her eyes grew wide. âBut my folks are coming over?â
âJames told me theyâre not coming until six, so donât try to wiggle out of my wanting to take care of you.â Collier kissed her forehead. âRemember, weâre not going to have a lot of time to be together, so what do you say? Yes or no?â
 Â
When Collier walked into the apartment earlier that afternoon asking to date her, Iris had felt as if sheâd been enveloped in a cocoon with a happiness expiration date stamped on the outside. Collier would only be around for another couple of weeks and then heâd be gone. And yet, here he was, offering her a chance atâ¦She didnât want to say love, because falling in love with him wasnât an option. But trust perhaps. If nothing else, maybe Collier could finally teach her to trust a man without looking for an ulterior motive in his interest.
âWait here,â she told him.
Iris went into her bedroom and retrieved a second set of keys to the apartment, knowing her life was about to change. She planned to give a man the keys to her sanctuary.
Iris returned to the living room, reached for Collierâs hand, placed the keys in his palm, and closed his fingers over them. âYes.â Going on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek. âGood night, and thanks for making this Thanksgiving one Iâll remember for a very long time.â
Collier ran a finger down her nose. âGood night, babe. Sleep well.â
Chapter Five
Gullah-Style Grits
4 cups of water
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 cup old-fashioned grits (not instant)
1 tablespoon salt
Bring water to boil in a heavy pot. Add salt and butter. Once water is hot, add one cup of cleaned and rinsed grits. Cook and stir for about ten minutes until creamy. Cover and let grits bubble for twenty minutes on medium heat.
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Sausage Gravy
1 cup milk
1 cup self-rising flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon sage
6-7 sausage patties
Place sausage patties in cast-iron skillet, and use a wooden spoon to crumble as they