Page 50 of Only You

“But her partner had your mushroom and Swiss burger. He apparently raved about it for a week afterward.”

“I already took her Shepard’s pie once a couple weeks ago.”

“She also adores your clam chowder with the ham sandwich thing. She mentioned that.”

He frowned. “Does Eileen talk a lot about food?”

“Maybe. It’s because Eileen can’t cook.”

“Just because she has a time-consuming job doesn’t mean she can’t cook.”

“No, as in boiling water is hard for her. She just hates it, too.”

Hates cooking? What the hell?

“Hey, don’t look so upset. I think it’s perfect.”

“That she doesn’t cook?”

One of his greatest joys was working in the kitchen. Being with someone who hated cooking… would be a first.

“Listen to your big sister,” she said, drawing his attention back to her. “Every relationship is about things you can share, but it is also about that yin/yang thing. You know Brando and I are really different.”

“You’re both nerds.”

She cocked her head to the side in warning. His mouth was going to get in him so much trouble.

“We are different in other ways as well. Because of that military upbringing and him being in the military, he plans out every danged thing. I get having plans, but do I know what I want to do three weeks from now for dinner? No. But I bet Brando does. So, he keeps me on track for the important things.”

“That sounds like a nightmare.”

“On the other hand,” she said, ignoring his comment, “I help him be more spontaneous. Your differences should make you a stronger couple. If it doesn’t, then it won’t last.”

“We aren’t a couple.”

But you want to be.

God, that thought had him almost dropping his nephew.

“What the hell isthatlook for?”

“Should you be cussing in front of your son?”

“Did it bother you to cook for her last night?” Kaitlin asked as she motioned for him to give her Mike. With regret, he handed his nephew over.

“No.”

He liked it. He always wanted to cook for people, but something was different last night. Really, every time he was cooking for her or even plating up food for her, there was this feeling of how important her well-being was to him. He wanted to take care of her…needed to take care of her.

Oh, damn.

He might be in a lot of trouble, like in love kind of trouble.

“What’s that look for?”

He blinked, trying to push back his panic. What if it wasn’t reciprocated? He did not like that idea. Still, he knew he was helpless to avoid it…her.

“Nothing. Just, you think I should send her lunch?”