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“Turned you into a cheese grater,” my brother said quietly and I knew he’d been listening for some time. The little I knew of that mission, it had been my brother who saved him.
“Wasn’t for you and that little ballpoint trick of yours, I would’ve filled up right there.”
Steve sucked in a deep breath that sounded like he was trying to stem a tide of emotion and he raised the bottle to his lips. I knew the memory was flashing before his eyes as he took a deep, careful swallow. “Yeah, well…don’t give me any reasons to stab you again, Beckman.” His tone was teasing, but I caught it when his eyes darted quickly in my direction.
Adam blew out a laugh. “You’ve been looking for your second chance for years, man.” He stood, slapping my brother’s shoulder. “Not gonna give it to you tonight, since I’m not feeling like an adventure in the ER, but thanks for having me. Food was great and the company was better, as always. Might need to put restraints on that grandmother of yours, though. Got bruises on my ass.”
I heard Kennedy call my name from inside the house and reluctantly I excused myself to see what she wanted.
“Grab those tote bags by the front door,” she instructed when I drifted into the kitchen. “I packed some leftovers for Adam, so you’ll need to drive him home.”
“Kenny, I’m not sure that’s a great idea.” It wasn’t because I’d had allthatmuch, but being in a confined space with Adam seemed like a really dangerous idea. I couldn’t guarantee I’d keep my hands to myself, and I wasn’t sure that was something he’d appreciate, especially after Grams had spent the afternoon glued to his ass.
“Follow my finger,” she instructed, holding her index finger up in front of my nose and watching my eyes track it. “You’re fine. Now drive the man home so he doesn’t have to lug all of this, because youknowhe’s not going to let you walk him home and then walk back by yourself.”
She was right about that, I was pretty sure.
She tossed me the keys to her car and the smirk she’d been trying to hide for the last two minutes finally made an appearance.
“I hate you,” I muttered under my breath, and she leaned over to pinch my cheek just as Adam walked through the door.
“I am the bestest sister in the world,” she sang cheerfully and I shook my head. She was the only sister I had in the world, and she knew it.
Adam leaned in to hug Kennedy and she shoved an enormous, wrapped platter into his hands. “Take this with you. Madelyn can get the rest by the door.” She wiggled her fingers at me in an exaggerated wave. “She’ll drive you home.”
I didn’t see the look on Adam’s face, because his back was to me, but I felt it: I felt him tense, the same way I had when Kennedy floated the idea.
“Thanks for having me,” he said slowly, and as he turned to me I thought his smile seemed stretched awfully tight. Forced. He was at least as uncomfortable with the idea as I was, if his body language was any indication.
“Come on, you wuss,” I teased as I loaded the tote bags up on my arm and I caught him staring at my bicep. “Don’t worry, I’ll do all the heavy lifting for you, cupcake.” I flexed the other arm teasingly, letting him get a good look.
“Oh, please.” He snorted as he held open the door to let me pass. “You could ride my shoulders and I wouldn’t break a sweat.”
I didn’t hear his footsteps behind me and I turned to see him standing on the porch, his jaw working frantically but no words coming out as his brain tried to wind that blunder back in.
I had never in my life seen Adam Beckman blush, but he sure as hell was doing it now and it was just about the most adorable thing I’d ever seen. The man couldn’t even handle his own accidental innuendo.
I decided to be kind and let him off the hook, so I dumped the bags into the back and crawled in to start the car.
The trip took all of two minutes, and only because I was doing well under the speed limit on the sleepy city streets. He directed me toward the corner unit of a building and I parked in one of the open spaces, killed the engine and hopped out to pull the bags out of the car.
“It’s ok, Madelyn,” he said quietly, rounding the car to take the bags from my arms and I startled at his use of my full name. “You go home and get some rest; I can manage.” He eyed his front door like he wanted to run and hide behind it, easily balancing the platter on one broad palm.
Maybe he doesn’t want you in his house.
“Thanks for the ride.” The tight smile was back, if it had ever left. “I suppose I’ll run into you again at Vito’s one of these afternoons, if you’re half the coffee fiend I am.” He looked positively uncomfortable.
“Thanks for running interference with Grams.” I tried to smile. “Catch you around, I guess.”
I backed out of the spot and pointed the car toward home, my eyes drifting to the rearview mirror as I slowly pulled back out onto the street and my stomach fluttered when I realized he stood there watching as I drove away.
The house was mysteriously dark when I pulled into the driveway, though I’d been gone for all of five minutes, and I rolled my eyes. Kennedy was nobody’s fool. She’d probably wanted to get me out of the house on her charitable mission,Poor Madelyn hasn’t had a man in a very long time,and she could simultaneously take advantage of the fact Teagan’s teeth had finally broken through and she was starting to sleep through the night.
Clever, that one. I was going to have to keep a closer eye on her, trying to pawn me off on Adam–and I was definitely going to need my earplugs tonight.
Sleep was an elusive bitch, though I went to bed tired. There was something churning in my gut that I didn’t like, and I suspected it would be nothing but trouble.
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