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“Nana put me on grill duty,” he said. He studied her face. “You look upset. What happened?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Zoey.” His voice was barely a whisper, then he gave her a soft smile. “Go grab the platter of burgers from the kitchen and join me at the grill.” He dipped his head to meet her eyes with a playful grin. “No one will think twice about you and I arguing over how to cook hot dogs.”
She got the burgers from Maura and met Mike outside, where two grills were blazing. He’d put the hot dogs on one, and she put the burgers on the other. Mary stepped outside and laughed when she saw them together.
“I hope everyone wants their hot dogs burned to a blackened crisp,” she announced loudly, “because that’s how Zoey likes them. My brother, on the other hand, wants his burgers so rare they’re still mooing when they go in the bun.” She pointed at the two of them. “I love you guys, but try to meet in the middle on cooking times, okay?”
Everyone laughed and went back to their own conversations, giving Mike and Zoey a semblance of privacy at the grills.
“I’ve never seen you grill in a dress before—be careful.” His voice was low and slightly amused.
She rolled her eyes. “I know how to wear a dress and still function, thank you very much.”
One of his eyebrows rose. “I know that. You look nice, by the way. Really nice.” He leaned his head closer. “I look forward to peeling that off you later.”
She licked her lips, then shook her head sharply. “None of that talk here. We agreed to befriend-friends today, remember?”
“That was before you sashayed in here looking like sunshine, babe.”
She stepped back, shaking her spatula at him and fighting a smile. “Knock it off. Everyone’s watching.”
His gaze flickered up to the house and back to her. “No one is watching. They just want their dinner.” He made noeffort to hidehissmile. “And I just want you.”
“Seriously, Mike. We cannotdo this here. My daughter is in the house.”
The light in his eyes cooled so quickly that she wondered if she’d been worried about the wrong obstacle to a future with Mike. Maybe living up to Becca’s example wouldn’t be enough. He said he’d told Becca he wasn’t ready to have children. How would he feel about helping to raise someone else’s child? If he wasn’t ready to be a stepparent, then what was the point of bringing him into Hazel’s life at all?
“Do you really not want children?” The question came out before she could stop it.
“Holy shit.” Mike stepped back, his eyes wide. “I’m not allowed to even flirt with you here, butyou’reokay dropping that bombshell of a question on me right now?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...” Today was a bad idea. She sighed. “Maybe I should fake a headache or something and just leave.”
“Hey...” Mike’s fingers entwined with hers for just a moment. “Don’t do that. But let’s put a pin in the do-I-want-children discussion until we’re alone, okay?” The corner of his mouth tipped upward. “You’re burning my burgers.”
She jumped, then started flipping them. “They’re not burned. They’recooked. I know that’s a novel concept for you.”
And just like that, they were back on steady ground again. This was an argument they’d had all their adult lives. She wanted her hot dogs and bacon crispy and blackened. He wanted his steaks and burgers barely warmed. She always told him he was going to die of salmonella, and he always said she was destroying perfectly good food by incinerating it.
She forced him to leave the burgers alone and he insisted on pulling the hot dogs before they were completely charred. They were laughing together while they cooked. As they plated the food, she pointed out the one burger she’d pulled off early—and pink—for him. And he’d left two hot dogs—her favorites—on the grill until they were black and crispy.
When they both turned around with their platters of food, they found Mary standing right behind them, eyes narrowed.
“Is something going on with you two?”
“Besides our usual cooking debate?” Mike asked. “No, why?”
Her expression hadn’t changed. “I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it.”
Mike answered again, steady as always.
“Good. Because I don’t want your finger on meormy food. If you’ll get out of the way, I’d like to take this inside so people can eat.” He brushed by her, but Mary stopped Zoey, stepping directly in her path.
“Are you and Mike...?”
Zoey channeled some of Mike’s snark.
