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“Steak.”
He waited a few moments. “Just steak?”
“Of course not just steak,” Asher groused. “Honor’s got potatoes and some vegetable in the oven.”
Silence fell again, and after Loyal downed about half his beer in a couple swallows, he lowered his hand and said, “Can we just get this the fuck over with?”
His brother looked up from the grill, his dark hair dotted with snowflakes and drops of water from what had already melted. “You better not just be screwing around with her.”
“I’m not.”
“You sure about that?”
Loyal narrowed his gaze as annoyance surged through him. “You sure you’re not jealous?”
“I’m sure,” Asher replied calmly. “Maybe you’re not nearly as bad as Merit, but I also know you’re not looking for anything serious.”
“Wasn’t looking.”
His brother’s head jerked up, surprise evident on his face. “And now you are?”
He shrugged. He and his brothers were close, but they didn’t usually talk about feelings. And while he thought he could be falling for Roxanna, he wasn’t about to spill his guts to Asher two seconds before they all sat down to dinner.
“Rox has been through an awful lot with her family. I don’t want you to hurt her if you suddenly decide this isn’t for you.”
“What if she hurts me?” he asked indignantly. “I take it you got no problem with that side of it?”
“She wouldn’t hurt you intentionally.”
“Neither would I her. Give me some fucking credit, man.”
“You used to.”
Sonofabitch, he had him there. He downed the rest of his beer. “I didn’t understand I was hurting her at the time.”
Asher gave a soft snort of disbelief.
“You know what, she and I have talked about all that already.” Loyal blew out a silent sigh. On the one hand, he was pissed Asher was making such a big deal about him and Roxanna together. On the other, he had to admit he liked knowing someone had her back. Someone like his brother, who he knew was a hell of a good guy, and a good friend to her. And his family, who he did not doubt would be there for her no matter what.
“Listen, I know she’s been through a lot. She told me all about her mother and family issues.”
Asher’s surprise was evident once again. “She did?”
“Yes. And I know we’ve done an about face these past few weeks, but I never really let myself see her these past six years. The situation with Lisa tainted everything.”
“But suddenly you’re just over it?”
“Basically, yeah.” He reached up to rub the back of his neck, then brushed the snow from his hair. “I swear to you, Ash, I’m not just messing around with her. First of all, I wouldn’t do that knowing she’s your best friend, and second…well, now that I know her better, I can see she’s pretty great, and I think I might be—”
The sound of the sliding glass door cut him off, and they both jerked around to see the women in the doorway.
“How are the steaks coming?” Honor asked in a cheerful voice.
“Almost done.” Asher gave him an assessing look before turning back to the grill.
Loyal breathed a silent sigh of relief. He’d almost spilled his guts anyway. When his future sister-in-law stepped outside, he quickly traded places with her to join Roxanna inside.
“How’d you fare?” he asked in a low voice as he set his empty on the ta
