Page 32 of Simply Irresistible
Mr. Katsaros nodded. “Listen here, Tyler. I was just telling my brother about the benefits to adding butter to your steaks when you grill them. He doesn’t believe me. Melanie said you were some kind of whiz when it came to the grill, so what do you say?”
I let out a whoosh of air. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath. Steaks. Grilling. Those were things I could talk about.
“Do you mind?” I asked, gesturing to the stainless-steel lid of the impressive grill.
He took a step back, “Go right ahead.”
16
Melanie
“Tyler and your dad seemed to have hit it off.” Meredith noted as we watched the two men from across the yard.
“Yeah,” I said, pleased but also a little disappointed. I hadn’t gotten a second alone with Tyler since I’d introduced him to my dad at the grill and it had been hours. I ducked out to help my mother in the kitchen while he helped my father finish grilling the steaks, then they dominated the conversation as we sat at the table and ate said steaks. Now, who knew what they were talking about, but a few of my male cousins had joined them, as well as my Uncle David.
“What’s eating you?” Mer asked. “You jealous?”
“A little.” There was no use in lying to Meredith. “I would have liked to introduce him to some other people, but Dad’s monopolizing him.”
“Admit it, you wanted to show him off to your single cousins.”
I scanned the yard for Valerie and Simone. “Yeah, and the worst two already left.”
“Oh, don’t worry. All the ladies noticed him the moment you guys hit the backyard. That’s why I headed out here first. I wanted to see the look on Valerie’s face.”
Valerie was my cousin, so I loved her, but she was also a class A bitch. She always had a new guy on her arm and always flaunted him at family events. She was the first one with a snide remark about my singledom. Her father, my Uncle Gus, was probably rolling in his grave at the parade of men she flounced around with. Also, the fact that he was in his grave was the only reason Valerie got away with half the shit she pulled. There were no other male uncles on my mother’s side to take over the paternal role, and my Aunt Maria—Valerie’s mother—was still a grieving widow, so she didn’t know what to do with her. Or she didn’t care. Either way.
“What did Val say?”
“Not much. She just gaped when you walked outside hand-in-hand, then muttered something to Simone, but she must not have liked whatever Simone had to say because she flaked off shortly after that. Didn’t even last until dinner.” Simone was Valerie’s older, non-bitchy sister.
“Oh well. Her loss.”
“Damn straight. Those steaks were delicious.”
I rolled my eyes. If I didn’t hear about steaks again for a month, it would be too soon.
“Hey Spice,” Tyler said in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my middle from behind. “What are you two ladies talking about?”
“Not much. Just how you and my dad are BFFs.”
“He’s a really cool guy,” Tyler said, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I can’t believe we never talked about him being a cop.”
“Would it have made you any less nervous to meet him?”
“Hell no,” he laughed. “Good call.”
“I’m glad you two got along today. That’s important to me.”
“What’s important to you is important to me,” he said, then kissed my cheek.
“It is getting late, though, we’ll probably need to catch a train out soon.”
“No problem, Spice. Let’s say goodbye.”
This time Tyler tookmyhand and led me to each of the remaining party guests to say goodbye.
Just before he kissed me goodnight in front of my apartment door, he asked “Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?” I shook my head. “Well, you are. You look beautiful today, and every day for that matter. Just in case I ever forget to tell you again.”
