Page 10 of His Big Pipe

I pull my shopping list out of my pocket as I maneuver through the aisles of the grocery store. I run through the various dishes I plan to make for Sully this week—dumplings, stir-fry, and maybe sweet and sour pork, if I can find everything I need here.

As I reach for a bottle of fish sauce, I hear a cheerful voice behind me.

“Hey, aren’t you Talia, the one who bought the Deepwood Inn?”

I turn to see a smiling woman with long, sleek dark hair in a chic ponytail, holding a basket overflowing with items. Beside her a tall, rugged guy with piercing green-blue eyes plays with the chubby-cheeked toddler sitting in the front of his cart.

“That’s me,” I say, and she extends a hand out to me.

“Violet,” she replies, and I shake hers. “This is my husband, Nick, and our little munchkin, Ethan.”

Nick waves in greeting, and Ethan gives me a toothy grin.

“I’ve seen you around town,” Violet continues. “You’re the one driving Sully crazy with all the renovation noise, right?”

I huff. “Sheesh. For someone so shy, he sure has no problem complaining to everyone about that.”

Nick chuckles. “Hey, it gives him something to do.”

Violet levels her gaze at him. “Don’t be mean. He’s one of your best friends.”

“Which is why I give him such a hard time,” he replies, grinning.

“Well, he’s actually been helping with the plumbing at the Inn.”

“Uh, Sully?” Violet’s eyebrows shoot up. “Sully O’Neill?”

I nod. “We have a deal—he helps me with the plumbing and I cook him dinner for the week. Chinese food, to be specific.”

Nick and Violet exchange surprised looks.

“Sully’s not one to sacrifice his alone time,” Nick says cautiously. “You must be some cook.”

I smile, feeling a little proud. “He seems to like it.” I pause, and an idea strikes. “You guys should come over tonight! I’d be grateful for the company, and I’m sure Sully would want to see his friends.”

Violet’s eyes light up. “We’d love to! It’s been ages since we’ve been out. And trying to find decent Chinese food around these parts has been more than difficult.” She chews her lip and glances at Nick. “I bet the rest of the gang would love to get together, too.”

“There’s a whole gang?” I ask.

“Yeah, there are five couples in our little group,” Nick explains. “We used to hang out more often, but life gets in the way, you know? Timing’s great, actually. I think we’re all in town.”

“But that’s a lot of people, Talia,” Violet says. “If it’s too much?—”

“Nonsense! I adore cooking for big groups. Invite them all,” I say enthusiastically. “It’ll be fun. And don’t worry about Sully—I’ll handle him. It’s my place.”

Nick chuckles. “Alright, we’ll see you tonight. But don’t say we didn’t warn you—Sully might give you a hard time.”

“Nothing I haven’t dealt with so far,” I reply with a grin. “See you at seven?”

“We can’t wait,” Violet confirms and grins at Nick. “Text the sitter, babe. We’re going out!”

“Whatever,” Sully grumbles, going back to work under the kitchen sink.

Nick wasn’t kidding. I told Sully I’d run into Nick and Violet at the grocery store and that his whole crew was coming over for dinner, and the man got even grumpier. If that’s possible.

I guess he really is a recluse at heart.

But watching him under the sink, his thick, muscled body flexing as he tightens something there, loosens another thing here, adding glue, a clamp… I realize I don’t mind that he’s a homebody. Knowing that he’s doing all this to make my place run smoothly…is hot.

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