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If he only knew…
If things didn’t go well today, he would know. I’d go to my father for help.
The mouthwatering smell of burgers wafted in from the kitchen. I took Daphne’s hand. “She’s okay. Come on. Lunchtime.”
Belinda set the plate of burgers on the table. “Hot off the grill,” she said. “Where’s your father?”
“I have no idea.”
Then the door slammed, and my father’s cowboy boot footfalls clomped through the corridor.
Dad was home.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Daphne
Mr. Steel was a big man. He was the same height as Brad and only slightly broader, but something about his presence filled the room.
“Hey, Dad,” Brad said. “This is Daphne Wade. Daphne, my father, George Steel.”
Mr. Steel didn’t smile but held out his hand. “Daphne.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Steel.” I took his hand. It was big and rough and calloused. A lot like Brad’s, only more so. And his grip didn’t seem nearly as friendly. “Thank you for opening your home to me.”
He nodded. “Happy to.”
His attitude negated his words. Brad had said he was gruff, so I decided to go with the flow.
“It’s a nice day,” Mr. Steel said. “Let’s eat outside, Belinda. I’m going to wash up.”
“Of course. I’ll set it up.”
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked her.
“Aren’t you a dear? Yes, take this plate of lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. I’ve got the burgers.”
“I’ll grab the condiments,” Brad said.
In a few minutes, everything had been transferred onto a glass-topped table on a sprawling redwood deck. I gaped at the huge backyard. In the distance, another house stood.
“That’s the guesthouse,” Brad said.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, though it’s nearly as big as this one.” He laughed and held out a chair. “Have a seat.”
I sat down. Should we wait for Mr. Steel?
Brad answered that question for me when he grabbed a bun. “Help yourself.”
I took a bun and topped it with a freshly grilled burger. I inhaled the savory scent of grilled beef. I hadn’t eaten meat in a few days due to my new restrictions, and boy, had I missed it. I topped it with lettuce and tomato. I loved onion, but I passed on it. I didn’t want onion breath for kissing Brad later.
Of course, when Brad added a huge slab to his burger, I wished I’d done the same.
Mr. Steel joined us a few minutes later. “Well, what do you think?” he asked me.
I swallowed my bite of burger. “About what?”
“Steel beef?”
“Oh, it’s delicious, of course.”
He smiled. Sort of. “She’s a smart one, Brad.”
“Daphne only eats humanely raised meat,” Brad offered.
Mr. Steel nodded. “What are you two going to do for the rest of the day?”
“I have some business to attend to,” Brad said.
“And you?” he said to me.
“I’m taking her into town,” Brad answered for me.
I nodded. First I’d heard of any of it.
“You’ll love Snow Creek,” Brad said. “You can explore the town while I’m taking care of some stuff.”
I swallowed another bite. “Sure. Sounds good.”
I’d grown up in a Denver suburb. A small town might be fun.
“You really taking care of it this time?” Mr. Steel asked Brad.
Brad simply nodded.
I had no idea what they were talking about.
And I got the distinct impression I didn’t want to know.
Brad and I drove into Snow Creek after lunch. He showed me around a little and then left me to my own exploration while he took care of whatever business awaited him. He didn’t volunteer any information, and I didn’t ask. I was horribly curious, but I didn’t feel it was my place. If he’d wanted me to know, he’d have told me.
The town was adorable. I walked down the main street and spent time in an antique shop. When I was done browsing there, I stopped at an ice cream shop and tasted a couple flavors before deciding on my standard vanilla cone. Who cared if Patty and our first nighter dates had laughed at my favorite flavor? I was hardly alone. Everyone loved vanilla.
I took my cone to the nearby park and sat on a bench, watching some kids play Frisbee. When I’d polished off the ice cream, I walked back to the main street to explore the other side.
A small café and coffee shop, a hardware store, a tattoo—
Oof!
A guy exiting the tattoo parlor nearly knocked me off my feet. He grabbed my arm and steadied me. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little startled.”
He had dark hair and tan skin, quite attractive, and his eyes were a fascinating blue that looked almost…unreal.
“Can I buy you a coffee or something? By way of apology?”
“Oh, no. That’s okay.”
“Come on. I insist.” He pointed to the café. “Best coffee in town. I’m Theo, by the way. Theo Mathias.”
“Daphne Wade.”
He cocked his head. “Wade. Not Larry Wade’s sister?”
I nodded. “Guilty, though I hardly know Larry. We didn’t grow up together. I’m here visiting Brad Steel.”
