Page 38 of Without You

“Dad. He’s been helping a lot. So has Chad. He’s a contractor so he helps when he’s not busy.”

Brody stands up, grabs the steaks, and motions with his head for me to follow him outside. I pick up our drinks and we step through the door. I can smell the grill heating off to the side of the small patio where he has a table and four chairs. He lifts the lid and places two steaks on the grill with a satisfying sizzle. Once they’re in place, he closes the lid.

“Want to sit out here while we wait?”

Nodding, I take a seat on one of the patio chairs. The table is square, made of tile and metal and has a built-in fire pit in the center. The chairs are oversized with thick cushions on the seat.

“So what are your plans for the kitchen?”

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and goes to his photos, showing me not only a plan but several pictures. “This is what I’m using for inspiration. But my dad is the one who drew up the actual plans. He loves messing with this stuff.”

After working in an architecture firm for several years, looking at the plans brings me a sense of nostalgia, even if the plans aren’t at the same level as what architects create.

“Wow. I love it. When are you starting it?”

“Well, it was going to be in a couple weeks but now I’m so busy with work so I hired Chad to get it going for me. He’ll work on it after he’s done building my new shop.”

“So… how many rings do you have thrown in the fire right now?”

He chuckles and stands up, opens the lid to the grill, and my mouth instantly waters at the delicious aroma. “Quite a few,” he says honestly. “That’s why I decided I needed to hire the kitchen done. I’m too busy and Chad and his crew can get it done in a quarter of the time that Dad and I could. Plus, Chad said that my dad could help them mainly because he enjoys the work and Chad likes being around him.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“Yup. I’m ready,” he says, leaning back in his chair now and crossing his leg, his ankle resting on his knee. “The look on your face when we walked in was priceless, though. As much as I want that room finished, I’m so glad I got to see your reaction.”

“I was so shocked,” I admit.

The corner of his mouth curves up and he says, “Oh, trust me. Your emotions are like an open book. You don’t hide anything well. At all.”

I blush because I really hope that’s not true. If he has any idea of what I’m thinking, I’ll die of embarrassment. Right here in this incredibly comfortable patio chair in front of the man who should be on the cover of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue, I’m going to die.

“Don’t worry, I expected it,” he says and again, it sounds like he’s teasing me and I don’t know what to make of it. Is he talking about the kitchen only or is there more that he picked up on? Gah.

To cover up my own embarrassment, I roll my eyes and scoff. “Okay. As long as I didn’t offend you.”

“Never. I think the steaks are done. You want to eat inside or out here? The potatoes should be ready by now, too.”

“Let’s eat out here.”

“My kitchen that offensive?”

Laughing, I shake my head, but still say, “Only a little bit.”

While Brody gets the steaks off the grill, I go inside and take the potatoes out of the oven. He’s already set out condiments along with plates, steak knives, and forks. He comes inside carrying the platter with our steaks and we get to work getting our plates ready. I help myself to a bottle of water in his fridge and he looks over his shoulder and murmurs, “Get me one, too, will ya?”

“Sure.”

Once we’re set up with our meals, we go back outside and dig in.

The first bite of steak melts in my mouth and a moan slips out.

“To think I once thought you were a vegetarian. You really know how to eat a steak.”

“You know, if this wasn’t so freakin’ delicious, I’d be a little embarrassed but seriously, I can’t even get myself to be ashamed. This is so good, Brody.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”

“Love it,” I correct him.

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