Fi’s shop?
Raising a brow, she glanced at Leo. He told them? He actually talked to them about her and Fiona?
“Yes.” He smiled. “They know about your search for commercial space. I’m proud of you for helping your friend, and for going after what you want at the rec center.”
And she knew this to be true, because she saw it reflected in his eyes. “Thanks.” Warmed by his pleased look, she covered his hand with hers and didn’t think her chest could expand any further.
Jovy continued to smile at her. “So…will you help us out and let us help you out?”
The woman sure was persistent. And kind. And Kaydee caved. She agreed to contact Jovy later that week, after she talked to Fiona.
The rest of brunch went by fast, with the women filling her in on how they met their guys, and before she knew it, someone shoved a giant mouthwatering piece of chocolate cake in front of her.
Kaydee moaned. “What is this place? Shangri-la?”
“Close.” Beth chuckled. “Wait until you taste it. Emma’s cakes rock.”
Kaydee would’ve agreed, but once she took a bite, she didn’t come up for air until it was gone.
“I’ve been thinking,” Leo began.
Brick snorted. “Bet that hurt.”
Holding a hand up to Brick, Leo cupped it with his other, no doubt to shield the fact that he was flipping the guy off. When Brick’s chuckle confirmed it, Kaydee smiled. Everyone was so at ease with one another here. She relaxed in her chair and enjoyed the exchange.
Leo turned his attention back to Stone. “Ever think about building a proper mess hall here?” The room grew silent. Even his goofy friend sobered. “Maybe use my money to build it. This way Vince and Emma would have an industrial kitchen to cook and bake in.”
“Damn…that would be great,” Vince said with a grin.
Leo sat back. “And I’m betting more veterans would show up to eat.”
“They would?” Stone frowned from across the table. “Why do you think that?”
He cleared his throat. “I know from experience that it’s a little too intimate in here. I mean, we’re inside a house.Yourhouse, Stone. Granted, your dining room here is big, and the long tables and benches help, but it can still be off-putting when you’re in military mode…or living with demons in your head. It’s not a place you want to be when you’re not up to socializing.”
Kaydee’s chest squeezed.
At the rec center months ago, she’d overheard about Leo’s past, and yet his tone and his words about broke her heart. God, she hated the thought of him ever feeling the way he just described. She knew this had happened before they’d met, but still, she thought back over the past several months, recalling their encounters. He never gave any signs of feeling that way. God…if he had, she would’ve done something. What? She had no idea, but she never would’ve sat by and let him go through that alone.
Inhaling slowly, she clenched her jaw and fought the onslaught of tears, knowing he absolutely would not want them. But she squeezed his hand, needing to convey to him that she was there for him. He squeezed back.
“Huh.” Stone ran a hand through his hair. “I never thought about it like that.”
The more Leo talked, the more she fell for the man. “We can make the mess hall wheelchair accessible. With a lot more tables, so if anyone wants to sit alone, they can, or if they want to join others, they can do that, too.”
“They’ll have a choice,” Brick said.
Leo turned to his buddy and nodded. “Exactly.”
“This is a real good idea, Leo,” Cord said.
“Damn good.” Stone smiled and turned his attention to Vince. “I’ll need you to sit down with me and tell me what you’ll need, then I’ll crunch numbers with Jovy and draw it up.”
As they talked shop a little more, her mind fuzzed over with thoughts of how much she admired Leo.
Big-time.
The rest of the day and all through the evening, those thoughts stayed uppermost in her mind. During her tour, their horseback ride and picnic, supper, and even now as they hung out in the game room with the other couples and played a round of darts. Something she was actually good at.
