Page 45 of Firecracker

Mila helped herself to some Soprasetta and olives, and they all chatted, Emma and Mila getting to know each other and discovering a mutual love ofKeeping Up with the Kardashians.

“I don’t even know why I love it,” Emma said with a laugh. “It’s crazy.”

“I know, right? We should get together next week and all watch it together. How about here?”

“Depends if I work.” Arden wrinkled her nose. “Damn job is going to interfere with my social life.”

The others laughed. “Yeah, working for a living does put a crimp in fun. Okay, we can DVR it and watch it together when we can all do it. With lots of wine. We’ll make a date.”

“Sounds good.”

A knock sounded on the door of the apartment, and the three women turned to see Tyler.

“Hi, Tyler!” Mila called. “Are you geeks getting tired of gaming?”

Tyler grinned. “Never. Okay, maybe a little. We thought you might want to come down and join us…” His eyes fell on the food spread out on the coffee table. “Or maybe we’ll come up here…you have better food than we do.”

Arden smiled. “Sure. Come on up. I’ll make more bruschetta.” She’d added pita chips and hummus to the spread, and she could whip up her famous five-ingredient dip and put out some crackers with it.

Tyler disappeared but came back moments later with Jamie and two other guys he introduced as Danny and Asher. Jamie and Emma greeted each other with friendly ease, and Arden watched Tyler make more introductions from her kitchen where she stirred together mayonnaise, bacon bits, slivered almonds, cheddar cheese, and green onions.

Jamie set a case of beer on the island and started handing them out. Tyler leaned on the island. “Anything I can help with?”

Oh hell yeah, he could help with something. He could help with that ache low down inside her that appeared when she was around him. Or when she thought about him. When he smiled that easy, sexy smile and his eyes crinkled up. When she watched his big strong hands with a crowbar or a hammer and thought about his hands on her, and how he could definitely help her…

She pushed a box of crackers and a plate toward him, clearing her throat. “You could put some crackers on this plate.”

“What are you making? It has bacon in it. I love bacon.”

“It’s a dip for the crackers.” She set the bowl onto the plate.

Tyler picked up a cracker and scooped up dip with it. “Goddamn. That isgood.”

Arden smiled, a lightness filling her.

Look at her—in her new apartment that was now noisy and full of people, and she was serving them food and making them happy.

At that moment, she felt…maybe her life was going to be okay.

A swelling feeling of gratitude rose inside her. She looked over at her brother, talking to Emma and Danny. Yeah, she could see that women would find him good looking, with his shaggy dark curls and beard stubble, and tall, lean build.

Family was important. Thanks to him, she had a place to live, and all these new friends. She swallowed away the thickness in her throat.

“You okay?” Tyler’s eyes were watchful.

She smiled and nodded. “I’m great. You can take that plate over there.”

Tyler carried it and set it on the now-crowded coffee table. “Try this dip, Jamie. It’s fucking fantastic.”

Everyone reached for crackers, and Arden watched in pleasure as they enjoyed the food.

Arden’s attention caught on Mila, who was watching Jamie and Emma with a notch between her eyebrows. Jamie laughed at something Emma said, and Mila’s eyebrows drew down even more.

Hmmm.

Arden went over and sat beside Mila on the sofa, between her and Asher. “Well, this turned into a party.”

Mila smiled. “Are you okay with that? We all kind of barged in on you and Emma.”

---