Page 13 of Carried Away

He snickers behind me. “You’re right. Obviously, you’re not abiding by social norms. She’s already here.”

If my hands weren’t full, I’d do a facepalm. “Shut. Up,” I mutter.

“Do you already have the ring picked out too?”

I grind my teeth together and say over my shoulder, “If she hears us talking, I’m going to tow your truck to Touche and make sure it’s never seen again.”

Hutch gasps. “I was joking, man. I’d never threaten your Mustang. Even if it is a Ford.”

My worry instantly melts away, and I’m smiling again. “Just keep it down. She’s only in town for a few days. I want ‘em to be good ones.”

When we get to the bottom of the stairs, most of the gang from high school are already milling around, and they’ve placed their side dishes on the table. Barbeques at my place on the first Sunday of the month have been going on for so long, everyone knows what to do.

My stomach tightens and I survey the crowd for Babs. She’s sticking close to Stella’s side, talking to Hugh and Lucy. My stomach relaxes. Good. She’s got a familiar face to talk to while I cook the meat.

As I’m placing everything on the Barbeque, Cimmeron comes up next to me and elbows my ribs. “Who is the brunette talking to Stella?”

“She buried her dad yesterday. She’s off limits, Cim,” I say, not looking up.

“She looks familiar.”

“She’s Freddie Babson’s little sister.”

Cimmeron grunts. “Freddy was a douche.”

I grunt my agreement. “She’s nice though. Just be respectful. She’s fragile right now.”

Cimmeron rips his gaze from Babs and focuses on me. He’s a good four inches taller than I am, and he’s stronger than an ox because of his work at the fire station. But he’s never been what I’d describe as astute.

I focus on the meat, carefully schooling my face in case he decides that now is the time he wants to play Sherlock Holmes.

“Why is she here?” Cimmeron asks.

“I towed her car and we’re waiting on parts. I didn’t want her crying alone in her hotel so I invited her over.”

“How very gracious of you,” Cimmeron says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“No good deed goes unpunished,” I mutter loud enough for him to hear.

Cimmeron breaks out into a laugh and slaps my back. “You’re a better man than me.” Then he walks off in the opposite direction, toward some of the other guys.

I’ve just put the steaks onto the barbeque when Babs sidles up to me and peers over my shoulder. “Mmmm. Those look amazing.”

I glance down at her and she has her eyes closed, inhaling the scent of the steaks.

“Thank you,” I say. “How do you like your steak cooked?”

“How about medium-rare?”

“Your wish is my command,” I say with a smile.

She grins up at me, and it’s as if her entire face lights up, brightening the entire backyard. “Anything I can help with?”

I shake my head. “I’m good…unless all these people are overwhelming you. Then you can pull up a chair and hang out with me.”

Bab’s brows lift practically to her hairline. “Really?”

“Sure. These are my friends, not yours. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

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