Page 103 of Beach Vibes

He hugged her. “I like the company.”

Any tension she’d had at seeing him again quickly faded as she realized she was happy to hang out with her brother.

“We’re both so busy these days,” she said. “I hardly get to see you.”

He helped her unload the takeout. She’d stopped at a local Italian restaurant and had picked up a couple of different green salads, three kinds of pasta and the garlic knots they both loved.

“You’re not complaining about being busy, are you?” he asked, his voice teasing. “You and Teddy seem pretty hot and heavy.”

She did her best not to blush. “We’re getting along.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Rick!”

He started dishing up his dinner. “I’m just saying you’re spending quality time with him. You seem happy.”

“So do you.” She waited for him to set down his plate before taking food for herself. “You had a good weekend away?”

“It was the best. Jana’s terrific, and we really got along. She’s sweet and funny and beautiful. The whole package.” He put down his fork. “Thank you for slapping some sense into me before. I was such a fool with that other woman.” His mouth turned down. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I know I got caught up in having an attractive woman come on to me. I reacted without thinking about what’s important, and I nearly lost Jana because of it.”

His gaze sharpened. “You were there for me. You told me the truth when I needed to hear it, and I want you to know I’m grateful.”

She smiled at him. “Of course. I’m glad it all worked out.” She was still a little weirded out that Rick had cheated in the first place—it so wasn’t him. But he’d made a mistake, realized it, self-corrected and moved on. That was what mattered.

“How was it hanging out with Linnie and the other kids while Jana and I were away?” he asked.

“Good. Intense. Teddy’s children are really fun. Their personalitiesare so distinct.” She thought about all they’d done and how she’d managed to spend one-on-one time with each of them. “I freak out a little when I think about what it would mean if Teddy and I got serious.”

“You’d be a good stepmom,” he said casually. “You like to take care of people, and it suits your talents.”

“My talents?”

“The things you’re good at. You know, like making sandwiches.”

Her good mood seemed to fade a little. “That sounds like you’re saying making sandwiches is the best I can expect from myself. There’s more to running the business than adding mayonnaise to a ciabatta roll.”

He stared at her in obvious confusion. “What did I say? You’re upset.”

“Sometimes you act like I’m incapable of doing much of anything. I might not have gone to medical school, but I’m not dumb.”

“I never said you were. You’re mad. I just said you’re good at taking care of people. Like with the sandwiches. You connect with your customers and do special things for them.” He looked baffled. “Why is that the wrong thing to say?”

Is that what he’d meant? “It’s not what you said. You made a crack about me making sandwiches. It felt like a dig.”

“Beth, I genuinely have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sometimes you act like you don’t respect me, Rick. You put down what I do. Yes, you’re a surgeon, and that’s amazing, but the rest of us have value, too.”

She could see him struggling to understand. No doubt he was thinking something along the lines of “but anyone can make a sandwich,” which really pissed her off. Not that her reaction was fair, because he hadn’t said the words.

Wow, she was in a mood and she had no idea why. Maybe it really was being tired. Or maybe it was something else shedidn’t want to define. Because as Agatha had pointed out more than once, Rick never brought her takeout. He never did anything for her.

“It’s what we’ve always done,” she said aloud.

He frowned. “What is?”

“This.” She waved between their plates. “We’re in a pattern. I take care of you, but you don’t take care of me. You’re my little brother. I look out for you and do things for you. I always have. Just like you’ve always been the smart one, while I’ve struggled. Or at least I did.”

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