by Taryn Quinn
“He did great,” she lowered her voice, “but he’s worried you won’t like it.”
This woman had some weird mojo I didn’t understand, but I was too tired to try to figure it out. She nudged me forward and I sighed. This polite thing was hard. He’d just done the job we agreed on—no big deal.
Lies.
He’d gone above and beyond.
And I had to tell him so. Even if I wanted to saw off my tongue.
The sun was barely a sliver on the lake, just enough to highlight his cheekbones and far too tempting mouth. I came up beside him and spotted the logo on his red apron of a guy wearing sunglasses. Under it, “Mr. Good Lookin’ Is Cookin’” was stamped in bold black.
I huffed out a laugh. “It looks amazing.”
“Smells good too.”
“No, I mean everything.” I cracked my knuckles and resisted the urge to fidget. “Doesn’t look the same as when I left.”
“I hope not. We busted ass to get it entertainment ready.”
“Yeah.” I toyed with the end of my ponytail. “I’m not sure how I ended up with so many people here.”
“People want to get to know you.”
“Why?”
He laughed. “You’re mysterious and hot. Two definite reasons to find out more.” Then he waggled his eyebrows at me. “Hope you’re hungry.” He nodded toward the matte black side of the grill where the pipe rose from. Upon closer inspection, I could tell it was a temperature gauge. “I started smoking a pork shoulder this morning so we could have some pulled pork too.”
“And burgers?”
He let out a moan that made me think of things other than burgers. “Oh, Ruby. Haven’t you ever had both together? And the bit of coleslaw with lime. It’s gonna knock you out of those sexy boots.”
My traitorous mouth watered. I wasn’t sure if it was from the groan or the meal coming my way. “I’ve had a lot of things, but I think this one’s a first.”
His eyes glinted in the last fading rays of the sun. “I don’t mind being your first.”
“Please.”
He grinned. “So, come on. Tell me more about how amazing I am.”
I folded my arms and tried not to pick at the tray of cheese awaiting the burgers. I was freaking starving. “Not sure you need me to.” I gave up and reached for a piece.
He smacked my hand. “Did you wash your hands?”
“No.” I sighed. He was right. I tucked my thumb into my belt loop so I didn’t lose control again.
He smashed the row of burgers in front of him before flipping them. “Now back to telling me I’m awesome.”
Nerves laced his voice. Hmm. Interesting.
I pressed my lips together and swiveled to take it all in. He’d created the perfect setting. Even the dumpster had been camouflaged with a tarp to make it less offensive. He’d cleared away all the rusty tools, carted off the guts from the barn that he and the kids had pulled down, and tidied up the area. The old tractor was gone too.
The sad excuse for grass looked a little better without the carpet of dead leaves. My picnic table was also missing. What was left of it was probably in the pile of wood stacked neatly against the dumpster.
I felt a small pang that didn’t make much sense.
He followed my gaze. “I’ll grab some fresh lumber and rebuild the picnic table. A few of the legs were too rotten to just patch.”
I jammed my hands in my pockets. “No problem.”
He hip-checked me lightly. “I’ll make it just like it was, just stronger.”
I felt stupid for caring so much about a stupid table, but things were changing really fast. I cleared my throat. “I’m going to go get cleaned up.”
“Hurry up. Food’s almost ready.”
“You guys can start without me.”
He nodded toward the table where Luna and a tall brunette were already filling their plates. “No worries with this crew.” He cracked the tab on his beer then lifted it to salute Caleb when his friend waved from the other end of the beach.
The clang of metal echoed off the water.
“What’s he doing?”
“Horseshoes. He wanted to try out the lawn sports pack he bought last week. I told him summer was over, but he wouldn’t be denied.”
A series of torches came to life at the edge of the beach, then Caleb jogged our way with Butch bringing up the rear. “I’m starving.” He held up his hands. “Could use a wash up though.”
“I was just going in to do the same.” I stole Lucky’s beer before he could get it to his mouth. “Need anything from the house?”
He frowned when I took a deep drink. Foamy cold goodness flowed over my tongue. It had been a minute since I’d had a good brew. I couldn’t stop the laugh when he took the tall can back from me. “Get your own.”
“Sure you don’t want a new one?”
“I don’t mind your backwash, Ruby.” He gave me a hot look over the rim then kicked up his foot and tapped my ass lightly. “Get moving.”
Caleb looked between us, his smile growing. “Interesting.”
It certainly was not. Interesting in the Cove meant someone was about to climb on top of some hapless dude and play hide the sausage while their birth control swirled down the metaphorical drain.
“Come on, I’ll show you where to wash up.” Butch danced around me, jumping up to brace her little feet against my knee. I gave her a quick scratch before we headed up the lawn.
Butch trailed after us into the house.
“I heard Lucky traded some home renovation for my engagement stunt on Main Street.”
“Well, he didn’t know it at the time, just that he owed me. It worked out. Apparently, for both of us.”
Caleb grinned then threw a look over his shoulder. “Sure did.” Little heart bubbles might as well have been popping around his head. “Perfect woman and a baby on the way. I’m a lucky guy.”
“If you say so.”
“I sure do.”
I unlocked the door and pointed to the small bathroom down the hall. “You can clean up in there. I’m going to go change out of my work clothes.”
“Sounds good,” he said with a cheerful whistle.
I wasn’t sure what to do with all these happy people. It wasn’t as if it would rub off.
At least I certainly hoped not.
I ran upstairs to my room and swapped my shop T-shirt and the bra that had been strangling me all day for a comfortable tank and hoodie with Godsmack’s band logo across the front. After a quick brush of my tangled hair, I headed back downstairs.
Butch was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. She was staring intently at something down the hall.
“Oh, hell.” I peeked around the corner and saw Dusty. They were in the middle of some sort of silent eye-to-eye showdown.
In the background, I could’ve sworn I heard the whistling from the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”
Before I had to contend with a pissed-off fur pile, I ushered Butch outside, much to her unending disgust.
There was a line of couples waiting for Lucky’s grill masterpiece. He was rather adorable as he built the burgers and asked cheese preference and heat level.
Ryan and Preston were the last ones in line, and she leaned back to speak to me. “Hey, thanks for doing this. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to hang with Lu. Work’s been madness.”
I smiled. “Sure. At least I’m getting fed out of the deal.”
“Damn right. I’m about to drool on my shoes.” Ryan grinned as she leaned into her guy. “PMS, meet the owner of this little piece of amazing, Tish Burns.”
Preston gave me a rueful smile. “Preston Shaw.” He held out his hand. “Pleasure.”
I shook his hand then quickly tucked my hand back into the front pocket of my hoodie. “Glad you could come.”
Ryan’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “We’re totally barging in. Luna tends to do that. Just takes over and makes you think it’s a good ida.”
“Fair assessment.”
I really sucked at the chitchat thing. It had to end soon, right?
“It’s okay. I had to get used to all the peopling too.”
I laughed. “Sure about that?”
Ryan lifted a shoulder. “Luna likes her people together—new and old. And we do what the pregnant lady says. It’s just easier. Did she drag you into the wedding yet?”
“God, no.”
Ryan sipped from a bottle. “Give her time. Oh, our turn.” She skipped up to Lucky. “Hotter the better for me, sir.”
“All right, all right,” Lucky quipped with a decent McConaughey inflection.
The heavenly scents of food made my mouth water. Thank God for the music or everyone would’ve heard my growling belly.
Finally, it was my turn. All the couples had paired up around the bonfire, their chairs clustered close as they shared plates and drinks with naturally flowing conversation between them.
I couldn’t remember a time when I’d been that relaxed in a group. I’d always moved around too much to make real friends. I could talk trash in the garage with guys without trouble. Most of the time, they didn’t want more than a beer and to crack a few jokes.
Occasionally, it ended in a bounce, but that was always a fine line for me. Getting men to give me my due on a professional level was always the hardest part of being a successful woman in a field made up predominantly of males. Muddying it up with sex wasn’t worth it the majority of the time.
My family was easy with little bouts of drama here and there, but even that was few and far between with all of us scattered around the country. And even less after…
Well, after Jimmy.
I lifted a beer from the tub of ice and cracked the can. I sure didn’t want to think about Jimmy tonight.
“Looks good, Thor. Smells better.”
“Just you wait.” With a flourish, he built the Lucky-sized slider. First, the burger then pepper jack cheese topped with piping hot pulled pork. The sharp scent of lime made me take another sip of my beer to cover the drool.
Finally, he topped it with coleslaw. I almost stopped him, but he seemed to have a goal in mind. The buttered bun was set on top with a sword-shaped toothpick to hold it all together.
“I’m not really a cabbage person.”
“Special recipe. Trust me.”
He made another larger one for himself, though not that much different, to be honest. He was generous with his portions. A growing Thor, I supposed.
Also, I had no desire to think about Thor growing in any shape or form.
He jerked his head toward the table laden with salads. “Fill up a plate and we’ll share.” He lifted each of our plates dripping with barbecue goodness.
“I don’t share.”
“C’mon, make it easy. I see you eyeing this thing of beauty.”
I huffed out an exasperated breath and did as I was told, scooping up pasta salad and baked beans. Holy hell, more of that lime scent wafted off the corn on the cob ribs piled on a platter that I had admired during late night scrolls through social media.
I filled half the plate with that and grabbed some silverware and a stack of napkins. I tucked two beers in my sweatshirt and followed him toward the fire pit.
Now that I got a better look at the bonfire, I realized he’d actually made a fire pit out of cement blocks to contain the fire. With the windy days of autumn upon us, that was especially important. No need to take out the lake with a blaze.
Unsettled by his attention to detail on all fronts, I paused outside the circle of couples.
Lucky dragged one of the chairs closer to Gage and Rylee so we made a little quartet. Luna and Ryan were chatting about wedding things, so I was more than happy to stay to this side of the nosh fest. The Adirondack chairs were oversized which let me sit cross-legged to give myself maximum lap space.
Lucky stood beside me so we could fix up our plates. We naturally divided things without much chatter. He palmed his plate with his long-fingered grip then tucked the now empty second plate under his. “See, teamwork.”
I forced my lips to bend into a smile. He really took up far too much space. “So I see.” I shoved my hand into my sweatshirt and came out with a sweating can. “Here.”
“Ah, perfect.” His fingers brushed mine, the calloused tips leaving a buzz of awareness in their wake before he moved away and dropped into his chair. “Now this is what it’s all about.”
The flames flickered in his sea-colored eyes. I could see some fatigue in the lines around the corners, but it seemed as if he was a happy tired.
Butch came running down the hill and flew over the rocks to jump up on the arm of Lucky’s chair. She curled up, hoping for a treat or two as she kept her one open eye stationed on her owner.
“I didn’t realize you were so close to us, Tish.”
I turned toward Rylee. “Oh, right. I was out of town when you guys had your little housewarming thing.” On purpose. I really wasn’t into all these coupled up things. It seemed like every-damn-one was paired up in this town. w
And more often than not, a baby stroller was included.
Gage crossed his legs at the ankle, digging his heels into the sand. “That’s Tish. She isn’t much for get-togethers.”
“Nope.”
“Why I was shocked you invited us.” He bit into one of the corn ribs. “Man, these are good.”
“Not ashamed to say TikTok made me do it.” Lucky grinned. “I’ve never cooked so much until I started looking around on there. They make it look way easier than they are. Took me about five tries not to burn the fuck out of these.” He lifted one and sampled it. “I finally got the right technique from Macy’s chef. Decker’s making some Halloween ones for The Haunt.”
“Well, I’m in.”
I cleared out my entire pile of them.
Finally, I went for the sandwich. Lucky watched me out of the corner of his eye. I really wanted to just put it down in indifference, but my mouth was having an orgasm. “Dear God.”
He grinned and took a big bite of his own. “Hell yeah.”
Rylee held up hers. “Here’s to the magnificent chef Lucky.”
I couldn’t disagree. “Hear hear.” Then I was too busy clearing my plate.
Conversation flowed around me. I threw in a comment here or there, but I was happy to just bask in the warmth of the fire and relax. They didn’t make it hard on me, which helped.
Lucky hopped up and collected plates. I really should have gotten up to pitch in, but I was so damn cozy. I closed my eyes as the breeze came up off the water. The fire popped with the air pockets in the old wood just adding to the ambiance.
This was what I’d wanted when I bought the house—the quiet and nature surrounding me. I sure didn’t mind the cooler temperatures to combat the bugs. Every little thing was perfect.
I must have dozed off, because the chink of horseshoes and Luna’s delighted laugh dented my consciousness. But not enough for me to open my eyes. I just wanted to stay on the drift.
Then the light strum of a guitar pulled at me. It wasn’t intrusive, just the kind that belonged by a fire. But the voice made it impossible to stay under.
I turned my head to find him with a beat-up guitar on his lap, sitting on the edge of the chair. The firelight turned his hair a burnished gold. It was down and hiding half his face. His voice wasn’t perfect, but it suited the old guitar.
Just singing for the pleasure of a song.
I knew the lyrics vaguely. I had an eclectic taste when it came to music, but it was more that I just knew when I liked a song rather than the artist specifically.
The lyrics spoke of longing and might-have-beens. Of moving on with more good memories than bad.
I curled up my knees and tucked them into my sweatshirt, my body angled toward his. No one else was around. The clang of horseshoes down the beach told me where the other couples had gone. Butch was curled up on the arm of the chair, snoozing.
When the song ended,
he glanced over at me. “Hey there, sleepyhead.”
I slid my hands under my cheek. “Full belly and a fire. I didn’t stand a chance.”
He placed his palm over the strings. “Did I bother you?”
“Didn’t you mean to?” I arched a brow at him.
“Maybe.” He chuckled lightly. “You’re just lucky I didn’t pull out a Joni Mitchell song with this campfire.”
I grinned. “What was that song you just played?”
He tucked his hair behind his ear. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “A buddy’s song.”
“You’re buddies with a famous dude?”
He shrugged.
Interesting that he didn’t want to share. Knowing a musician was pussy points for most guys I knew. “I’m pretty sure that was radio hit. I’m not sure who it is, but I know I’ve heard the song a time or eleven.”
He strummed the guitar lightly. He was quiet for a few moments, then sighed. “Flynn Sheppard.”
I whistled. “Country rocker hybrid guy? I saw one of his shows when I was in…” I had to go back a few years of memories. “Think I was in Georgia at the time. Some festival when I was still patient enough for that kind of deal.”
He laughed. “I hear that. We did a lot of those. Flynn is one of those guys who lives for the road. Goes a bit batshit when he doesn’t have a show lined up.”
“Sounds like you know him pretty well.”
He twirled the guitar and set it on the side of his chair. Butch took the opportunity to find her rightful place in his lap. Lucky automatically stroked her back, settling her on his flat belly. “I did the roadie thing for a few years. Flynn was good to me. Taught me how to play guitar, actually. There’s a ton of downtime on the road.”
“Wow. That had to be wild.”
“It was. A lot of fun for a few years. But the endless hours of boredom then the thankless hustle for the shows eventually killed it for me. I still keep in touch with Flynn though. Probably the closest thing to a dad I’ve ever had.” Butch inched up until she was sprawled across his chest. “Don’t tell him that though.”
His smile was sweet as he stared into the fire.
I couldn’t imagine not having my dad around. He’d been a hardass, but I’d never wondered if he loved me. My mom had split when I was little more than a toddler. She’d wanted a different life. One that didn’t include having car parts strewn all over her home.