Page 55 of Keep On Loving You
They locked eyes, and Andy held her gaze for a moment longer than he probably should have.
It was Annie who cleared her throat and pulled his attention away.
Andy shook his head and chuckled. “I think I’m half asleep.” He looked around at the women, who all watched him with various expressions on their faces. He silently cursed himself for letting his guard down when it came to Kat. He needed to remember that they were just friends. Especially where her family was concerned.
He pushed himself up from the chair. “Where are all the guys? Out at the smoker?”
“You know it,” Lucy said. “I swear, I’ve never seen men so excited for meat.”
Andy laughed. “Obviously you haven’t spent enough time around smoked food. I, for one, am very excited about dinner. But I am going to go in search of a beer.”
He knew none of them would object, and as much as he wanted to check on Kat before he left, he didn’t dare risk a glance in her direction.
Andy found the men just where he’d expected they’d be: gathered on the deck, watching the smoker. “It smells amazing out here.” He grabbed a nearby chair andcollapsed into it before Symon handed him a beer. “Thanks. This is either going to wake me up or put me to sleep.”
“I heard you were hiking Pulpit Peak today.” Asher pulled up a chair and joined him. “Was that?—”
“I know what you’re going to ask.” Andy stopped him. “And before you do, please direct any and all questions to your sister.”
“Pulpit Peak, huh?” Chase said. “That was on her list?”
“I told you?—”
“I’m not asking,” Chase interrupted. “Just guessing.” He nodded, satisfied with his own explanation. “That’s a hard hike.”
“Dad did talk about it,” Craig joined in. “I actually remember him and Kat talking about doing it together one day. That was years ago, but it makes sense if it was on the list.”
They all nodded in agreement.
“Good for you for doing it with her,” Symon said. “I don’t think I would be up to a climb like that right now. Not without training all summer.”
“Interesting.” Andy shot him a look. “Maybe I should put that in the training protocol for the team?” Just as quickly as he said it, he shook his head, dismissing the idea. “Except we can’t risk anybody getting hurt in that scramble.” He looked at Symon. “But if you’re ever up for it…”
“Oh yeah? You’d do it again?”
“Hell no.” Andy laughed. “I was going to suggest you take one of these guys. They all look like they could use the challenge.”
The conversation quickly devolved into challenges about who was in better shape than who, and Andy relaxed into the evening. Being around the Carlsons was good for his soul. These guys were all like brothers to him. He’d do anything for them.
Apparently that also included pushing the feelings that were growing stronger and more dangerous with each passing moment, further down. But if that’s what it took to keep hisfamily, he’d do it.
Dinner was delicious, and Kat ate way too much. But then again, she’d more than earned it.
“More ribs, Kat?”
She reached for the platter Charli held out before snatching her hand back and shaking her head. “I want to. They were delicious. But I may explode if I do.”
Charli laughed. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you eat so much. And I mean that in the best possible way.”
“She earned it,” Andy said from across the table as he took the platter from Charli. “And so did I.” He wiggled his eyebrows and heaped more meat on his plate.
“Speaking of the hike…” Asher refilled Noa’s wine glass before topping up his own. “We’ve already kind of guessed that climbing Pulpit Peak was on your list.”
“You did, did you?” She crossed her arms and leaned back. She probably shouldn’t take so much joy in it, but Kat couldn’t seem to help herself. She knew Asher especially waslikely going crazy not knowing what was on her list. “Good guess.”
“Come on, Kat.” It was Craig who finally lost his patience. “Are you really not going to tell us what Dad asked you to do? Really?”
She took her time and looked at each of her siblings in turn, as well as all their significant others. The family dinners really were getting bigger. Each of her siblings had not only completed their specific tasks assigned by their deceased father, but they’d also done so while finding love.
