Page 96 of Daily Grind
Goodness, how he loved that blush of Brian’s. Still, Rob peered at Len. No malice, but there wassomethingthere. He just couldn’t put his finger on it. “Life’s a challenge.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Tony said. He seemed to consider his wineglass and his words, but shrugged. “I hope you have room for dessert.”
He did. Barely, but yes. Especially when it turned out to be homemade tiramisu. By the end of the meal, Rob was stuffed to the gills. The worry he’d had over spending the evening with Rob’s family had melted away.
They all pitched in to clean up the meal. His job was simple—take the vegetable cuttings out to the composter in the back, drop them in, and throw some leaves on top.
He did as told, reset the lid, and marveled for a moment at the garden beds tucked into the small backyard. He should think about starting a garden. He glanced at the composter. And learning how to make his own dirt.
When he returned to the house, he wasn’t surprised to find Len standing on the back porch. “Nice night,” he said.
Rob nodded. “And a nice garden.” He dangled the little bucket he’d carried the vegetable bits in. “Wonder where they got that contraption from?”
“The composter? It was free when they signed up for a composting class. I’m sure they can give you the info.” Len rubbed his chin and watched Rob.
Slightly unnerving. “Is there something wrong?”
“No.” Len dropped his hands. “I’m just hoping you’ll be able to pry Brian away from that shop of his sometimes.”
Rob couldn’t help the bark of a laugh. “Likewise.”
That brought out Len’s smile.
“I do understand where Brian’s coming from, though.”
A nod. “I read the business news.”
So he knew Rob’s public image. Here he was, the hotshot CEO, with a little waste pail in his hand. “It’s mostly true.”
Len shifted and leaned against one of the porch roof supports. “I don’t doubt it.”
They eyed each other, and it struck Rob that Len was just as wary—and worried. “I’m not here to break Brian’s heart.”
Len’s turn to laugh. It was long, but not nearly as musical as Brian’s. “No, no.ThatI get. The most likely person to break BrianisBrian.” He sobered. “I guess I wanted to tell you not to give up on him.”
This was a very odd conversation. “I never imagined the brother of any guy I dated would tell me tokeepdating him. Expected the opposite, in fact.”
That smile was so familiar. Len looked out into the garden. “I love my bro, and I wasn’t surprised when he came out—he’s been pretty obvious andobliviousas to how obvious most of his life. He’s brought home two other people before you and I have no doubt he loved them.”
There was abutthere.
Len pushed himself off the wooden pillar. “But he’s never looked atanyonethe way he looks at you.”
Oh. Rob tightened his grip on the little pail, lest he drop the damn thing.
“I—” He didn’t know what to say.
“Thing is—I’m more worried about you than him. Like I said, I love my bro, but he can be an incredible dumbass.”
Like the other weekend up at McConnells Mill. Rob nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
Len clapped him on the shoulder and nodded toward the door. “Good. Then you’re one step ahead.”
They walked back into the house and into the warmth of the rest of the family.
* * *
Brian heldRob’s hand as they strolled back to Rob’s house. A true stroll—they were too stuffed to manage anything faster—and they each had a bag of leftovers as well.
