Page 26 of Shadowed Witness

“Don’t feel too bad. She wouldn’t come to me either,” Corina said from beside him.

Hailey dropped a kiss on Jenna’s cheek. “It’s okay. I’ve become the one-handed queen over the last year. Mommy powers.” She winked at Corina. “Yours will be kicking in soon.”

“Can’t wait.” A sparkle lit Corina’s eyes, and her gaze lingered on her cousin’s baby for a moment. Then she seemed to remember what they were all there for. She turned to Eric. “Why don’t you head on out with the guys? We’ve got a few side dishes to finish up here.”

“Anything I can help carry?” He scanned the room. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the dining room table. The end nearest the back door sported a few baby dishes plus a stack of six adult-size plates and a matching number of glasses and cutlery sets. Bryce and Corina. Wesley and Hailey. Eric and...?

This had better not be some sort of couples thing with a surprise date for him.

He chose not to comment. Yet. No sense in spoiling the meal—but if that’s what this turned out to be, he might have to set Bryce straight later.

Corina didn’t seem to notice his reaction. She pointed at a collection of condiments on the counter. “If you want to carry those out to the picnic table with you, that would be great.”

“Sure thing.” He scooped them up and pushed the screen door open. Houston slipped past him. Oops. He glanced back.

Corina waved a hand. “He’s fine. I’d have brought him when I came anyway.”

Nodding, he stepped onto the back patio. Bryce looked up from the grill and lifted a spatula in greeting.

“Hey, man. Glad you made it.”

“Hard to turn down your steaks.” Eric deposited his load onto the cedar picnic table. “Gotta admit I’m relieved the ladies are handling the sides though.”

Bryce laughed. “You and me both.” His lack of skill with an indoor range was well-known.

Wesley looked up from a lawn chair and offered a quick greeting before returning his attention to his phone. His fingers flew across the screen. The guy had some serious speed-texting skills.

Houston nudged Eric’s knee and dropped a worn tennis ball at his feet.

“Want to play?” He grabbed the ball and tossed it across the fenced-in yard. The dog was after it in a flash. Eric moved off the patio to keep the game away from the food. They played for several minutes, Houston making him fight for the ball each time he returned with it. After a particularly hard tussle where Houston pulled him off-balance, he threw the ball to the farthest corner of the yard. He was enjoying himself, but he needed a moment to catch his breath.

The back door opened, and Allye exited with a pie dish in each hand. The tension he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying slipped from his shoulders. With Allye as the sixth adult member of their dinner party, he didn’t have to worry about an unexpected blind date.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Bryce said with a grin.

Allye stuck her tongue out at him. “Not my fault this time. I got stuck behind a tractor. Hey, Wesley.” She lifted a pie in greeting, then turned toward the table and caught sight of Eric. “Oh, hey. I didn’t realize you were here.” She shot him a quizzical look.

Right. He was still on the ground. He stood and brushed his hands on his jeans. “I was playing with Houston.” The German shepherd returned with his tennis ball, but instead of offeringit to Eric, he dropped it in the grass and jumped onto the patio to greet Allye.

She held the pie plates high. “Good afternoon to you too.”

Eric clicked his tongue, and Houston dashed back to him. He ruffled the thick fur around the dog’s neck, distracting him long enough for Allye to place her offering safely on the table and disappear back inside. With one final scratch behind Houston’s ears, he straightened and rejoined Bryce and Wesley on the patio.

“That animal has some energy.”

“No kidding. He doesn’t show his age, that’s for sure.”

Wesley finally pocketed his phone, but as soon as he stuck it in his pocket, it rang. “Ugh. Sorry, guys.” He shot them an apologetic look before stepping away to take the call.

Bryce stuck a thermometer into one of the steaks. “Almost done.” He thumbed over his shoulder toward the house. “You know, Eric, you should ask her out.”

“Who?”

Bryce gave him an are-you-being-serious look. “Well, I’m sure not talking about Corina or Hailey.”

So much for this not being a blind-date setup. “You know I’m not much of a dater.” He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d asked anyone out, and it had been years since he’d had a serious girlfriend. That breakup had been completely unexpected, but in retrospect, Rachel’s claim that he was too “emotionally unavailable” had probably been all too accurate. She’d found someone else and was now living her happily ever after. He was glad for her. She’d deserved better than he could offer her. So did Allye. “Allye could do a lot better than me.”

---