Read Joy and Tiers for Free Online Page B

They’re so gentle that they wouldn’t hurt a fly. Literally. In fact, I think Fannie Farmer is harboring a family of fugitive flies in her mane.”
    I giggle, and Ty gives me an odd look. “I’m sorry, but the name of your horse is funny in light of our conversation this afternoon. I don’t know if you realize this, but your horse is named after a vintage cookbook. I find that ironic, especially since your favorite food is microwavable pizza.”
    “If you think that’s funny you’ll get a kick out of the fact that I have two other horses named Julia and Jacques.”
    “You’re kidding me! Please tell me it’s not coincidental and that you get the cultural reference behind their names.”
    “Gidget, I didn’t say I was never exposed to cooking. My mom is a huge fan of Public Television. I think you’re reading far too much into my dislike of noodles. My transition from dorm food to the Army’s finest cuisine didn’t do much to develop a sophisticated palate either. But, it doesn’t mean I’m a total idiot. In fact, my mom would be pleased as punch to meet you. She always wanted to go to culinary school.”
    “What does your mom do now?” I ask, realizing that I’ve never seen her at any of Jeff and Kiera’s family events.
    “My mom is a retired third-grade teacher and my dad owns a local hardware store back in my hometown in Oklahoma.”
    “You’re from Oklahoma? I knew you had an accent, but I didn’t realize that’s where you’re from.” 
    “I’ve been from so many places recently, sometimes it’s hard for me to remember. What? You don’t think I have an authentic Ory-gun accent?”
    “I’m probably not the person to ask about that since I grew up around Harvard Yard and spent my summers in North Carolina and Texas. My dialect is so confused it doesn’t know if it’s coming or going,” I tease.
    “Speaking of places to visit, I would like you to come see my ranch, remember? You never answered my question,” Ty remarks, pinning me with a direct gaze. I look into his eyes that are so sexy, and I almost forget what my objections are.
    “I was hoping you would miss that artful little dodge,” I confess “If I come see you, do I have to touch the horses?”
    Tyler chuckles as he assures me, “No, Heather, I wouldn’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. I promise. We’ll just have a nice visit. Maybe you can even Skype with my mom and say hi. That way you can hear what a real Oklahoman accent sounds like.”
    “Okay, that doesn’t sound too dangerous,” I remark.
    “Well, Gidget, I suppose the level of danger is entirely up to you.” 

 
     
     
     
    I can’t believe I cut myself shaving today. I haven’t done that since I was a kid. I guess it just goes to show how nervous I am which is weird because this isn’t even my first date with Heather. If you count the time I spent helping her with the wedding cake, it’s almost like our third or fourth date. The whole food truck fiasco turned out to be a positive experience for me because it’s given me an excuse to hang out with Gidget. Although, it feels odd to call her that now because I can see her fashionable clothes are more of a defense mechanism than a reflection of who she is comfortable being.
    The lot where her food truck was parked turned out to be the center of a turf dispute in a gang war between drug factions. They had actually been shooting at each other from inside her truck like some sick kids game using her humble little business as their home base. The narcotics task force in Salem made an arrest. Hopefully, that nightmare will soon be over. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of the case, her food truck has been tied up as evidence far longer than any of us anticipated. There was a fire in the commercial kitchen that she rents which complicated matters even more. She got permission from her client to use my kitchen at the ranch to make the cake since the facility was once used as a