her?
Squelching the sadness that seeped into her soul,
Mia gathered plates and glasses and set the table. Already the scent of grilled
steaks drifted through the open windows. It had been awhile since she’d had a
man-grilled steak. Her attempts to use the grill back home resulted in epic
failures. Jason wasn’t too bad with it, but they’d decided to give up on it
because char-burned meat wasn’t very appetizing.
As she put silverware by each plate she allowed
herself to dream for a second that the three plates belonged to her happy
family. That she was happily married to Brendan and their house exploded with
joy. She’d always wanted that. A man who loved her. A good man. One who loved
her son as much as she did.
Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, she poured
lemonade into the glasses and went to put the dessert together now that the
crust had cooled.
By time she had everything cleaned up the boys came
in bearing meat and potatoes. Jason proudly set them on the table.
“Those smell delicious,” she said. “And they aren’t
burned.”
Her teasing tone drew a smile from her son, making
this day perfect.
“Yeah, seems turning the heat all the way up on the
grill is the wrong thing to do,” Jason said.
She laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
“Oh, no, you won’t,” Brendan cut in. “Grilling is a
man’s domain. No women allowed.”
“Yeah, Mom, no women allowed.”
Instead of feeling like an outsider to their man
club, she was filled with happiness. This was what she’d always wanted.
“All right, all right, you win. I’ll stay away from
any and all grilling. You guys sit down while I get the salad.”
Her men sat down while she tossed the salad,
grabbed two kinds of dressing and set them on the table. She took her seat and
motioned for them to get started. “Dig in.”
They chatted lightly as they ate, Jason asking
Brendan questions about free climbing and sports. She didn’t like the sound of
free climbing but kept it to herself. Jason had an interest and Brendan had the
answers so she let it go.
“Whatever you put on these steaks is incredible,”
Brendan said, reaching for another.
Mia preened. “Thank you. It’s a homemade seasoning
blend.”
“Well, it’s the best I’ve ever had. And I thought I
knew everything about grilled steaks.”
A man who could admit he was wrong. Yep, the
inevitable had happened. She’d fallen for this man.
“Thank you.” She took a drink of her lemonade to
hide her epiphany. How had this happened? They hadn’t known each other long
enough for her to fall for him. She didn’t even know that much about him except
what he’d proven so far. That he was a standup guy. One who didn’t want to be a
father, but would make an excellent one. A man who put himself in danger to
protect others.
“Wait until you taste the dessert,” Jason said,
bringing her out of her thoughts. “It’s one of my favorites. Do you like
bananas?”
Brendan nodded. “I do.”
“Then you’re going to love this dessert.”
“I can’t wait to try it.”
The comment was directed toward her and her stomach
flip-flopped. She met his gaze, captured by the allure in his. Did he feel it
too? The chemistry between them.
Was she prepared if he did?
Yes. She’d been a long time without a man in her
bed and right now she wanted this man next to her, making love to her, showing
her the passionate side of herself. Because sex with this man would be anything
except mediocre.
Something sparked in his eyes and she knew for
certain he felt it, too.
She better be ready because tonight just might be a
turning point in her life.
Chapter Eight
Brendan did one last perimeter check of the house,
making sure all the doors and windows were locked. Restless energy zinged
through him. Dinner had been amazing. Good conversation, comfortable, the best
steaks and dessert he’d ever tasted. It felt like home, as much as that thought
bothered him. Home for him was anywhere the wind took
Squelching the sadness that seeped into her soul,
Mia gathered plates and glasses and set the table. Already the scent of grilled
steaks drifted through the open windows. It had been awhile since she’d had a
man-grilled steak. Her attempts to use the grill back home resulted in epic
failures. Jason wasn’t too bad with it, but they’d decided to give up on it
because char-burned meat wasn’t very appetizing.
As she put silverware by each plate she allowed
herself to dream for a second that the three plates belonged to her happy
family. That she was happily married to Brendan and their house exploded with
joy. She’d always wanted that. A man who loved her. A good man. One who loved
her son as much as she did.
Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, she poured
lemonade into the glasses and went to put the dessert together now that the
crust had cooled.
By time she had everything cleaned up the boys came
in bearing meat and potatoes. Jason proudly set them on the table.
“Those smell delicious,” she said. “And they aren’t
burned.”
Her teasing tone drew a smile from her son, making
this day perfect.
“Yeah, seems turning the heat all the way up on the
grill is the wrong thing to do,” Jason said.
She laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
“Oh, no, you won’t,” Brendan cut in. “Grilling is a
man’s domain. No women allowed.”
“Yeah, Mom, no women allowed.”
Instead of feeling like an outsider to their man
club, she was filled with happiness. This was what she’d always wanted.
“All right, all right, you win. I’ll stay away from
any and all grilling. You guys sit down while I get the salad.”
Her men sat down while she tossed the salad,
grabbed two kinds of dressing and set them on the table. She took her seat and
motioned for them to get started. “Dig in.”
They chatted lightly as they ate, Jason asking
Brendan questions about free climbing and sports. She didn’t like the sound of
free climbing but kept it to herself. Jason had an interest and Brendan had the
answers so she let it go.
“Whatever you put on these steaks is incredible,”
Brendan said, reaching for another.
Mia preened. “Thank you. It’s a homemade seasoning
blend.”
“Well, it’s the best I’ve ever had. And I thought I
knew everything about grilled steaks.”
A man who could admit he was wrong. Yep, the
inevitable had happened. She’d fallen for this man.
“Thank you.” She took a drink of her lemonade to
hide her epiphany. How had this happened? They hadn’t known each other long
enough for her to fall for him. She didn’t even know that much about him except
what he’d proven so far. That he was a standup guy. One who didn’t want to be a
father, but would make an excellent one. A man who put himself in danger to
protect others.
“Wait until you taste the dessert,” Jason said,
bringing her out of her thoughts. “It’s one of my favorites. Do you like
bananas?”
Brendan nodded. “I do.”
“Then you’re going to love this dessert.”
“I can’t wait to try it.”
The comment was directed toward her and her stomach
flip-flopped. She met his gaze, captured by the allure in his. Did he feel it
too? The chemistry between them.
Was she prepared if he did?
Yes. She’d been a long time without a man in her
bed and right now she wanted this man next to her, making love to her, showing
her the passionate side of herself. Because sex with this man would be anything
except mediocre.
Something sparked in his eyes and she knew for
certain he felt it, too.
She better be ready because tonight just might be a
turning point in her life.
Chapter Eight
Brendan did one last perimeter check of the house,
making sure all the doors and windows were locked. Restless energy zinged
through him. Dinner had been amazing. Good conversation, comfortable, the best
steaks and dessert he’d ever tasted. It felt like home, as much as that thought
bothered him. Home for him was anywhere the wind took
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