I find her in the kitchen. “Come downstairs. You’ve got to see this.”
“What’s wrong? What happened?” She races ahead of me and down the stairs.
I double-time behind her, nearly running her over when she freezes at the bottom.
“Oh. Oh my God.” Amy covers her mouth with her hands. Gabe and Alex are posed like two magazine models at opposite ends of the organized storage.
Maybe I should have sent one of them to get her.
She turns. “Did you do this?”
Her brown eyes are wide. I feel like a freaking superhero. “I helped.”
She throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”
I get what the Grinch felt when his heart grew two sizes. I wrap her in a hug. “You’re welcome.” A tinge of guilt runs up my spine. “But really, all I did was assist. Those two were the geniuses behind it all.”
She steps out of my embrace, and I hate my honesty. But she grabs my hand, her long fingers laced through mine. “Thank you, guys. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted something like this.” She sweeps her arm out like a game show hostess. “All this space.”
“Had to find something to keep me busy since the security door still hasn’t come in.” Alex wipes some nonexistent sawdust from the edge of a shelf, his cheeks slightly pink.
“Gabe, you should stay for dinner,” I say. “We’re grilling.” I don’t know where that invitation came from, but it was the right thing to do based on Amy’s approving smile.
“I’ll call Katherine and tell her to come over.” Amy releases my hand. “You two can’t eat pizza every night.”
Gabe laughs and gives a thumbs-up. There must be an inside joke I don’t know about, but Amy’s happy, so I’m happy.
Stone grills steaks, potatoes, and asparagus to fill up all the hungry working men’s bellies. After we finish, Eliot, Cade, and Blake get into a deep conversation with Gabe about some video game I’ve never heard of. Blake acts out blasting some monster, including facial expressions. The rest of the guys laugh and nod. Stone paces at the back fence with his phone to his ear. Amy and Katherine went inside to get dessert a few minutes ago. Alex is reclined in a lawn chair—a picture of a relaxed cowboy with his boots crossed and his hat low enough on his forehead it’s almost impossible to see his closed eyes. I’m restless with Amy out of sight. I pick up my empty glass with the pretense of getting a refill.
“I really like your husband.”
I pause just out of view of the kitchen, waiting to see how Amy will respond.
“I’m so glad.” Not quite the passionate endorsement I hoped for from my “wife.”
“How did you two meet?”
“Long story. I’ll have to tell you over a glass of wine. Can you hand me those plates? Let’s take this out back.”
I dart back to the door as if I was just coming in. “Can I carry that out for you?”
Amy hands me the tray laden with brownies and cookies and small plates with a quizzical glance that I ignore.
“I’ll get the door.” Katherine moves past us.
“These look great, dear,” I say for Katherine’s benefit as we go through the door.
“Thanks,honey,” Amy sasses.
Damn, I want to spank her ass. Just for fun. Because I miss it.
I set down the tray, and Blake freezes mid-animation. “Are those homemade brownies?”
He’s already got two on a plate before anyone else moves.
“I love you,” he tells Amy and smacks a kiss on her cheek. Anybody else would earn a deep scowl, but it’s Blake. He’s like a big fluffy puppy with an encyclopedic knowledge of tech gadgets. He snaps a picture of his plate with his camera. “I’m sending this to Reed. He’s gonna be so jealous. Amy, how do you feel about sharing?” Blake waggles his eyebrows.
Amy laughs him off and plates up everyone’s request in her hostess element. She really does enjoy taking care of people. I get it. It was the part of my job I always liked best too.
