Page 62 of His Tenth Dance

Kristie beamed down at him. “Yes, please, baby.” She leaned over and touched her lips to his in a quick peck. “I’ll be right back.”

He watched her walk away, everything about her so captivating to him on this slow, easy, hot summer night, with the sun gone behind the Rocky Mountains and the fire blazing on the farm.

Mission didn’t particularly love a larger crowd of people, but he knew everyone here, and he’d always loved the gatherings Molly and Hunter did here. And before them, Gray and Elise.

Mission had always felt so welcome by the Hammonds, and that extended to those important to him.

He switched his attention from where Kristie perused the dessert table to his granddad. He sat on the end of the bench only a few feet away, and he met Mission’s gaze. “You want something to eat, Granddad? I’m going to make hamburgers for me and Kris.”

“Yeah, I’ll take a hamburger.”

Mission grunted as he got to his feet. He knew the toppings and sides his grandfather liked, and he moved over to the table to get the burgers and buns he needed.

He took a spot at the griddle and laid down the trio of hamburgers. They immediately started to sizzle, and Cord turned to him and handed him a spatula.

“I’m done with that,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you.” Mission grinned back at Cord.

“I didn’t know you were seein’ Kris,” Cord said.

“Yeah,” Mission said with a nod. He picked up the salt and pepper shakers that had been stowed in the gravel nearby. “For about a month now.” He seasoned the meat and put the shakers back.

“That’s great,” Cord said. “She’s really pretty.”

“I’ve never been out with a blonde, is what you mean.” Mission grinned at him.

Cord chuckled and glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to the type of woman you date.”

“I’m more naturally drawn to a brunette,” Mission said. “But there’s something about Kristie I really like.”

“I’m glad,” Cord said. “Good for you, brother.”

Mission slipped the spatula under the first burger and flipped it. “I miss you here, Cord.”

“I was just going to say, everyone’s said how awesome you are as foreman.” Cord passed the plate with hamburgers on it to Jane and turned back to Mission. “I knew you’d be great.”

“Glad one of us did.”

“New job, new girlfriend,” Cord said. “Anything else new I should know about?”

Mission shook his head. “I still don’t like living alone, so nothing new there.”

“And your granddad didn’t want to come stay with you?”

“He’s got his drum studio,” Mission said, casting a glance across the flames to his granddad. “He’s definitely getting older. I’m worried about him.”

If he lost his grandfather, Mission would have no one. Literally. He tried not to dwell on the idea of a world where he was the only person in his family, but the truth was, the thoughts came more and more often.

Every time he saw his granddad, he was reminded that the man was almost eighty-six years old, and he wouldn’t be around forever.

“You need cheese for those,” Cord said, and he took the few steps to the toppings and got the slices for Mission. Cord laid the cheese over the burgers, and Mission pulled the top from the bottom on the first bun and placed it on the griddle over the fire too.

Things moved quickly then, and Mission placed the finished burgers on paper plates Cord held for him only a few seconds later.

“Thanks, brother,” he said. “You should go eat. I think your wife is waiting for you.”

“Probably.” Cord handed the plates to Mission and nodded. “Good to see you, Mission.”

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