“This is huge.” The house was bigger thanI’d expected, but if he was working out of home like he’d said, I guessed thatmade sense.
Turning off the car, I looked around as Igot out and marveled at how his living arrangements had changed. As his frontdoor opened and Griffin stepped out on the wide porch, I smiled. “You alwayssaid you lived in that hovel so you could save your pennies. Well, I guess youweren’t kidding.”
Matthew had always teased him that he wasgoing to end up a miser swimming in a sea of gold coins, but now I was startingto think he’d been right.
“If you have a basement full of gold, I’mgoing to let Austin come swim in it. Bradley won’t let him have one.” Bradleyhad put his foot down on that one and had refused to let Austin even getcontracting estimates.
“Somehow I’m pretty sure that’s not ajoke.” He chuckled when I shook my head. “You know the most unique people.Matthew had said to be prepared for anything the first time he invited me overwhen you had your friends there, but I didn’t realize how serious he was untilAustin started telling those outrageous jokes.”
I laughed as I walked up on the porch.“Austin was really behaved that time. You should see him now.”
Griffin was smiling as he led me into thehouse. “Somehow I don’t think the bodyguard standing behind him at the club is avery good influence on him.”
“Nope. Silas finds Austin delightfullyfunny and will gladly bury anyone who even blinks at his boy wrong.” As Griffinclosed the front door, I looked around.
It was tasteful and immaculate and notGriffin at all. “This is beautiful.”
I glanced over to see him smiling as heleaned against the door. “But…I can hear it in your voice.”
I felt a little guilty but didn’t lie tohim. “But it’s not you at all.”
He laughed. “Because this is all for show.I bring clients in and have tea or coffee and we talk about what they want fromthe party…and then I do the real living upstairs.”
I grinned. “Now that sounds more like it.I’m betting you’ve got a small, dark alpha den where you’ve got oversizedchairs and a huge TV?”
“Hey, I’m feeling attacked here.” But hisgrin said he found it funny. “Come on. Before I show you my relocated hovel, Iwant to brag about the kitchen.”
He was so excited it was contagious. “Aslong as I get the promised food eventually. I’ve been waiting for this meal foryears.”
Griffin shook his head. “Me too.”
There was something in his voice I couldn’tpin down, but he seemed happy, so I didn’t worry about it. I did, however, feeljust a bit guilty. At one point I would have been a lot more confident about myability to read him.
But had that been real or just what he’dwanted me to see?
No, I was not going to let Austin eat awayat my brain. I was going to enjoy dinner and hanging out with a friend.
As I was having my mental argument, Griffinled us through the impeccable living room and through a swinging door into thekitchen. “Wow.”
It was incredibly well done. The wallcabinets were done in a cream color that contrasted with the dark wood on thecentral island perfectly. It gave it an elegant look that went really well withthe oversized shiny appliances. It was clear that it wasn’t a family kitchen,but it didn’t feel completely commercial either.
“This is impressive.” I looked over to seeGriffin beaming like I’d just said his kids were geniuses. “And the smells arefabulous.”
Whatever he was cooking had a rich,mouthwatering scent.
“Thanks. I’ve been building this in my headfor years, but I wasn’t sure it’d come out right. I found a great time torenovate it, though.” He gestured around the room. “It cost a fortune, but asyou said, I’ve been saving up for it for years.”
“I knew you sounded serious when you talkedabout wanting to do something in food after you got out, but this is more thanI was expecting.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “This clearly shows I should nothave been doing all the cooking back then.”
“Hey.” He looked a bit sheepish. “I likedgoing over and having you cook. It was homey and you’re a great cook.”
Shaking my head, I smiled. “See if I cook foryou again.”
Just the smells alone said he’d beendownplaying his talents.
Griffin pouted. It should have lookedridiculous on the large alpha, but it just made him look even cuter. “Aww, I’vebeen looking forward to your chicken noodle soup.”
That face. “Stop that.” There was no way Icould say no to that expression. “That’s cheating.”
