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She shakes her head, but makes her way around the fence.
My smile grows wider as I lead the way up the steps to the patio. “What do you drink? I’ve got beer,” I hold up mine, “or a few bottles of wine.”
“Beer’s fine.”
“Great.” I check the kabobs, then gesture toward the chairs. “Go ahead and take a seat. I’ll be right back with your drink and some plates. I’d invite you in,” I grimace at the door, “but it’s a mess in there right now.”
After ducking inside and grabbing everything we need, I meet my hot neighbor’s friend out on the patio. I hand her a beer, placing a bucket with the rest of the second case I bought on my shopping trip today on the table. I should probably see if I can buy stock in that brewery. Or at least start ordering more. Turning to the grill, I plate the sticks of meat and veggies up, and set them on the table with everything else.
“This looks amazing.” She smiles down at the platter as she takes a few skewers.
“Thanks.” I select a few, then relax in a chair beside her. “Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies.”
“Yeah, what are some of your other hobbies?” She glances at me over her plate, her words sultry and her eyes anything but innocent.
I choke on my beer, almost spitting it out.
“I need a fucking shower. I’m pretty sure I have grout from that shower up in my ass crack.” Brendan’s gruff voice interrupts us from inside the kitchen. “I’m about ready to jump in the ocean if I didn’t think my balls would freeze and fall off. Think we could get that pool cleaned out and filled tomorrow? Woah,” he steps outside behind me, “what’s this?”
“Brendan, this is our neighbor’s friend, Vivian. She’s joining us for dinner.”
“So, now you’re giving away all my food to – ”
“There’s plenty to share.” I resist telling him to play nice and act like a civilized human being as he grunts behind me.
Grabbing the platter, he sits down beside her and kicks his legs out. Dust from his jeans and work boots scatters in the air.
I purse my lips. “We have plates.”
He picks up a stick and bites a chunk of meat right off of it. “I’m good.”
Memories flood back before I can stop them.I should have never asked her to move in with us. I should have known it would never work. Not with that caveman there, too.
I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts out. It won’t do me any good to dwell on the past. It’s over. There’s no going back. Besides, he was never the real problem.
“So, what exactly are you doing inside?” Vivian asks.
“We’re redoing a few of the bedrooms and bathrooms,” Brendan speaks up, taking a gulp of his beer before tearing another chunk of meat off with his teeth.
“Basically, we’re building two master suites,” I add.
Her eyes dart between the two of us. “So, is it just the two of you?”
“Yep.” Brendan drains his bottle and grabs another.
“No girlfriends or family?”
“Nope.”
“We’ve always lived together, just us two,” I clarify. Well, mostly just the two of us. Even when I went to college and him to trade school, we found a way to stay together.Carissa doesn’t count.
“Do you do everything together?”
Brendan chuckles, leaning back in his chair while I try not to choke.What happened to me trying to ask her questions?“Not everything.”
His eyes dart to mine, a smug smile on his lips. I shake my head in warning. She doesn’t need to know just how close we are.
“What about you?” I force a smile and turn toward our guest. “Do you come here a lot?”
