Tina who set the cooler down on the deck and handed off the potato salad to her. He watched as she made her way over to where he stood next to the grill.
“This was not my idea. Just so you know,” he said as soon as she was within hearing distance.
“I figured that out all on my own, thank you.” She pushed the platter towards him.
He started to grab it, but she jerked it away.
“It’s hot. I just took it out of the oven. Use the potholders.” She indicated the potholders she was using with a nod of her head.
He frowned, but reached over to take the pan from her using the potholders. Their fingers touched, and he nearly dropped the pan when she suddenly let go.
“Whoa! Careful. I almost dropped it.”
“Sorry.” She took a quick step back.
Damn, was she afraid of him? Why? He hadn’t hurt her. He was damn sure she had enjoyed the kiss, at least at first anyway. Riley and Jenna returned from inside the house talking as if they had known each other all their lives. The afternoon couldn’t get any worse, he decided. The two walked up where he and Tina were standing.
“You going to hold the chicken or put it on the grill?” Riley asked with a knowing smirk.
“Open the grill, and put them on. I was waiting for you. I didn’t want Tina to get burned.”
“Right.” Riley opened the grill and added the chicken to the steaks.
“Turn the steaks while you’re in there,” Logan said.
Jenna took the pan from Logan. “I’ll run this back over to the house. Be right back.”
Tina was left standing between them looking a little uncomfortable. Riley noticed and started talking to her.
“So, how long you known Jenna?”
“Oh, maybe ten years. We’ve worked at the same company for that long. She’s a really nice person.” She looked at Riley like he needed to back off.
Logan wanted to smile and knock Riley on the back. He wasn’t the only one who thought they weren’t for each other.
“Yeah, I get that. I’m not going to hurt her. Just a little harmless flirting.”
“As long as you remember that,” Tina said.
Logan was impressed. She was obviously intimidated by Riley, but she stood up for her friend. Good for her. Riley nodded once, and then turned and popped Logan on the arm.
“She’s got spunk, man. Watch out.” Then he left them alone and headed for the deck where Jenna had returned and was getting a drink out of the cooler.
“I’ll make sure he behaves,” Logan said.
“Are you saying I can’t trust him to keep his word?” She looked worried.
“No, I mean yes, you can trust him. He won’t hurt her. But he will flirt.”
“I guess a little flirting wouldn’t hurt her. She could use the attention.” Then as if realizing what she said, Tina changed the subject on him.
“If I decide to get a dog, what kind would be best? I am not really that comfortable around big dogs.”
“If you aren’t going to be comfortable around one, you don’t need to get one. They can sense your fear. You get a little dog, and it’s going to yap all the time so you won’t know when someone is actually around the house.” Logan hoped like hell she didn’t decide on some yapping miniature mutt.
She heaved out a sigh. “What do you suggest then? I don’t know what more I can do to be sure I’m safe.”
“Why wouldn’t you be safe?” Riley and Jenna had just walked up in time to hear the last part of her statement.
“Someone tried to break in on her the other night,” Jenna explained.
“You need good locks and a security system. Logan, why haven’t you set her up?”
“She already has the best there is. I made sure when I checked it out yesterday.” He risked a glance at Tina and found she was blushing. It looked cute on her.
He realized his friend noticed as well. He raised his eyebrows at Logan. Logan shook his head. Now was not the time for the man to play around. The glint in Riley’s eyes told him things could definitely get worse.
* * * *
“I think the food
“This was not my idea. Just so you know,” he said as soon as she was within hearing distance.
“I figured that out all on my own, thank you.” She pushed the platter towards him.
He started to grab it, but she jerked it away.
“It’s hot. I just took it out of the oven. Use the potholders.” She indicated the potholders she was using with a nod of her head.
He frowned, but reached over to take the pan from her using the potholders. Their fingers touched, and he nearly dropped the pan when she suddenly let go.
“Whoa! Careful. I almost dropped it.”
“Sorry.” She took a quick step back.
Damn, was she afraid of him? Why? He hadn’t hurt her. He was damn sure she had enjoyed the kiss, at least at first anyway. Riley and Jenna returned from inside the house talking as if they had known each other all their lives. The afternoon couldn’t get any worse, he decided. The two walked up where he and Tina were standing.
“You going to hold the chicken or put it on the grill?” Riley asked with a knowing smirk.
“Open the grill, and put them on. I was waiting for you. I didn’t want Tina to get burned.”
“Right.” Riley opened the grill and added the chicken to the steaks.
“Turn the steaks while you’re in there,” Logan said.
Jenna took the pan from Logan. “I’ll run this back over to the house. Be right back.”
Tina was left standing between them looking a little uncomfortable. Riley noticed and started talking to her.
“So, how long you known Jenna?”
“Oh, maybe ten years. We’ve worked at the same company for that long. She’s a really nice person.” She looked at Riley like he needed to back off.
Logan wanted to smile and knock Riley on the back. He wasn’t the only one who thought they weren’t for each other.
“Yeah, I get that. I’m not going to hurt her. Just a little harmless flirting.”
“As long as you remember that,” Tina said.
Logan was impressed. She was obviously intimidated by Riley, but she stood up for her friend. Good for her. Riley nodded once, and then turned and popped Logan on the arm.
“She’s got spunk, man. Watch out.” Then he left them alone and headed for the deck where Jenna had returned and was getting a drink out of the cooler.
“I’ll make sure he behaves,” Logan said.
“Are you saying I can’t trust him to keep his word?” She looked worried.
“No, I mean yes, you can trust him. He won’t hurt her. But he will flirt.”
“I guess a little flirting wouldn’t hurt her. She could use the attention.” Then as if realizing what she said, Tina changed the subject on him.
“If I decide to get a dog, what kind would be best? I am not really that comfortable around big dogs.”
“If you aren’t going to be comfortable around one, you don’t need to get one. They can sense your fear. You get a little dog, and it’s going to yap all the time so you won’t know when someone is actually around the house.” Logan hoped like hell she didn’t decide on some yapping miniature mutt.
She heaved out a sigh. “What do you suggest then? I don’t know what more I can do to be sure I’m safe.”
“Why wouldn’t you be safe?” Riley and Jenna had just walked up in time to hear the last part of her statement.
“Someone tried to break in on her the other night,” Jenna explained.
“You need good locks and a security system. Logan, why haven’t you set her up?”
“She already has the best there is. I made sure when I checked it out yesterday.” He risked a glance at Tina and found she was blushing. It looked cute on her.
He realized his friend noticed as well. He raised his eyebrows at Logan. Logan shook his head. Now was not the time for the man to play around. The glint in Riley’s eyes told him things could definitely get worse.
* * * *
“I think the food
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