AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s had six hours, so that’ll do. Just a sample,” she said as she headed inside. “If you don’t like, you don’t like.”
He looked down at the dog, who looked up at him. “I just want a damn beer. I folded frigging napkins. Dragged out the ironing board I barely remember I have so she could press the table runner that’s going to end up with barbecue sauce on it. I deserve a beer.”
Howl muttered back, and Miles heard sympathy. Maybe solidarity.
She carried the pitcher to the table with the copper tub, the glassware, cocktail napkins, flowers, more candles.
“I added some club soda just now for a little sparkle.”
She poured two fingers in a glass, walked over, and offered.
“Just see what you think.”
He took a sip, scowled.
“Not good?”
“No, I’m irritated because it is good, and I wanted a beer.”
“You can always have a beer,” she said, and kissed his cheek.
He heard Nell’s voice from inside. “We’re here! I’m putting dessert on the counter.”
“Crap.” Morgan actually slapped the heel of her hand on her forehead. “I made cobbler. I forgot she was making dessert. We’ll leave the cobbler inside.”
“Hell no, we’ll have both. It’s fine.”
Nell stepped out with Jake. She, too, wore a summer dress, and Miles did his best not to imagine Jake had “thoughts” when he’d seen Nell in it.
She stopped, stared at the table.
“Well, wow. Just wow.” She looked over at Morgan. “It all looks so happy! Oh, is that sangria? Let’s have some. Jake, if Morgan made it, it’s going to be great.”
Miles thought he caught Jake’s longing glance toward the beer, but he said, “I’m game.”
By the time Liam arrived, they sat around a third table drinking sangria. He brought a sloe-eyed, raven-haired beauty named Dawn. It took Miles about ten minutes to judge she didn’t fit. Nice enough, but not someone who’d slide in when Liam was ready. Or when he wasn’t.
On the other hand, he couldn’t say the same about Nell and Jake. He knew them both too well to ignore what he saw with his own eyes.
They worked.
Liam kept the ladies entertained while Miles started the grill. And Jake joined him.
“You’ll hurt her,” Miles said. “She’ll hurt you. People do along the way, can’t help it, because people. And that’s between the two involved.”
“That’s life.”
“Yeah, but if youhurther, I’ll have to kill you.”
“What choice would you have?”
“Exactly.”
“Right now, she’s running the clock. That’s fine. I’ve got plenty of time.” Jake glanced back at the table. “And when her clock runs out, I’ll be ready.
“So how much did you have to do with all this? Table looks like a magazine.”
“I was slave labor.”
