Page 29 of Her Summer Hope

She smiled at his joke. “I’m glad. I’m almost finished here and then I have to be getting home.”

“Your husband must be missing you sorely right about now,” he teased, implying that her food was just that good.

She frowned, confused until she remembered that she still wore her wedding ring. She twisted it and then chuckled self-consciously. She didn’t correct him.

She didn’t know why she didn’t, but she didn’t. Perhaps she didn’t want to see the pity on his face, or maybe she just didn’t want to talk about Rob to this man.

She wanted Kyle separate from her ill-fated marriage.

She also didn’t want to let anything slip about the children. She didn’t want him to think she wouldn’t be able to do the job properly.

“Well…oh, dessert is right over there on that cart. It’s bread pudding and it’s still warm. There’s vanilla ice cream in the freezer that will be amazing with it. Would you like me to bring it out for you?” she asked, bringing the conversation back into safe territory.

“No. You go ahead and finish up here and get home. I can take it out there. The guys all loved the meal. It’s the best we’ve had in a long time,” he said seriously.

“Alright, then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow evening,” she said.

“Yep. Come as early as you need and let me know if there is something you need to add to the shopping list.”

“Okay,” she said, gathering her purse to her chest. “I’ll just go then.”

He dug in his pocket and pulled out a key. “Feel free to pull right on back here tomorrow. That parking place near the patio is yours. Here's a key to the kitchen door. Drive safely.”

He was placing a significant amount of trust in her, and it made her feel worse than she already did, but she managed to nod and get out without blurting out the truth.

On her way out, she saw the scarred and brooding young man sitting in his wheelchair near the window. She smiled at him as she passed and he gave her a single nod, watching her warily as she left.

She looked back in the mirror after she turned the car around.

Kyle had brought him a bowl of dessert, and he looked to be enjoying it. It lifted her spirits a little that she could bring him a small amount of happiness, even if it was just food.

Chapter Eight

Kyle

Kyle reined in the rowdy talk after Madison left.

The woman had garnered everything from marriage proposals to potential lifetime commitments to be their cook, and the dessert she had made only cemented the guys' feelings on the matter.

Murdock had even grunted in appreciation at the meal, which was so far outside his range of normal that everyone paused a moment to make sure he hadn’t been kidnapped and replaced with a doppelganger.

Aiden had finished his and come back for seconds, which also hadn’t happened since he’d been there. That could have had something to do with Kyle’s own efforts at cooking the evening meal, which—while great that first night— had become less appreciated as time went on.

Jimmy still complained about the bag of chili in the freezer.

Kyle had to threaten to halve his grocery budget until the man let up. It was a close thing though.

They’d really lucked out with Madison, and even Evans had said she was a good enough cook that he’d stop the blatant flirtation as long as she planned to stick around and serve them sweets and meat.

Kyle had to restrain the impulse to knock him the hell out when he murmured something about serving her some ‘meat’.

He’d had to mention the fact that she was married for him to shut up.

Evans may not have as much respect for women as he should have, but he wouldn’t harm one and he would never encroach on a marriage.

Not seriously, anyway…he hoped.

He didn’t know Madison, and he didn’t know her circumstances, but he was intrigued. Maybe they needed money and that’s why she had chosen to take the job. Maybe she just loved cooking, and as good at it as she was, that made the most sense.

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