Lizzy leaned her elbows on the island. “So how long have you known Stephen?” Lizzy asked.
“Not long.” A day. And now that she was here, it sounded crazy even to her. When Luke had asked her point-blank where she was going, she couldn’t lie and the conversation had gone downhill from there. No way was she going to a man’s house alone. They argued. He won. But arriving here at a strange house, seeing Stephen approaching like a man on a mission, she’d been a tiny bit glad Luke was there. She might have chickened out alone.
“I hope it’s okay that I came. Stephen said—”
“Are you kidding? Of course it is,” Abby said. “And trust me, Gracie never met a person, animal, or rock she didn’t like.”
“And Luke, too. He uh…kind of cornered me about where I was going tonight and insisted on driving me.”
“He’s protective. Don’t worry about it.” Abby angled her knife toward a large window facing the front yard. “Those men have more testosterone than they need. Your brother will fit right in.”
“Brother?” Lizzy raised an eyebrow. “That hot, broody man I just passed with Matt?”
Abby gave her sister-in-law a look.
“What? I’m married. Not blind.”
Still unsure, Hannah held up a bag. “This is for Gracie.”
“You didn’t have to do that. But thank you,” Abby added, with a warm smile that put her at ease.
Lizzy and Abby worked in tandem like they’d done it a million times. She’d never done that. Cooked with a woman. Gossiped and girl-talked.
“Okay. The dip is ready,” Abby said. “And Hannah, if you’ll grab the vegetable tray.”
She followed the women through the house onto a large deck. Late-afternoon sun cut a slash of sunlight across the outdoor living space complete with upholstered seating areas, balloons, and a crowd of people. The sound of squealing children hit her well before she saw them.
She added her tray to a table draped in pink, fitting it between a bowl of potato salad and a platter of paprika-sprinkled deviled eggs. When she turned, she almost ran into a small, middle-aged woman with graying hair and eyes the same brown as Stephen’s.
“Hi. I’m Marge, the birthday girl’s grandmother. So glad you could come.” She added that last bit with a squeeze and Hannah hugged her back.
A willowy brunette introduced herself as Beth, married to Stephen’s brother Tony, and offered her a drink. More introductions were made, each one of them warm and welcoming. Even if they did all seem more than a little surprised at her being Stephen’s date. Because he brought someone or her in particular?
A small boy with bright blond hair raced over, snatched a juice box from a silver ice bucket, and took off down the steps again.
“That little thief was my son, Charlie,” Abby told her. “And that’s Beth’s Louisa.” She gestured to the girl running after him. “But don’t worry. You don’t have to remember everyone.”
That was good, because names and faces were starting to blur.
“Did Stephen abandon you?” Beth asked.
“No. We stole her.” Abby bent to pick up a little girl with a head full of brown curls toddling at her feet. “This is Mary.” She was maybe two and wearing a pink gingham dress with tiny kittens around the neck. She hid her face in her mother’s neck before Hannah could say hi.
“She’s better off with us,” Lizzy continued and popped a grape in her mouth. “Stephen joined the man club at the grill. I swear I think half the time they’re just standing around that thing with nothing on it.”
Lizzy pointed with her drink toward a group of men surrounding the grill on the patio below. Stephen stood with them, but seemed slightly apart somehow.
In jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, this was the first time she’d seen him casual. It suited him as much as the serious businessman. She’d never gotten the chance just to watch him, just admire without him seeing. His skin was tan, like a man who spent more time outside than in an office. Thick biceps flexed against the fabric when he raised a glass bottle to his lips. Even without the suit, Stephen looked like ruler of the universe. Effortlessly warrior or knight, whatever suited him, while she was just…her.
A child yelled over the balcony and he glanced up, his gaze clashing with hers, and she got a jolt straight to the heart. Jeez. Even from a distance, he did something to her. Made her skin buzz with just a look. He mouthed Okay? and she nodded then quickly focused on the other end of the yard.
At least twenty kids, boys and girls, ranging from ten to toddler ran around a swing set draped with pink and purple streamers. She’d been sure a party with Stephen was a bad idea, she’d barely fit in at the restaurant, but then he’d mentioned it was a kid’s party and…kids she could do.
“Last batch coming off now,” Matt called from below.
Lizzy stepped beside her at the railing. “Prepare for chaos.” Her words were almost drowned out by happy screams and pounding feet coming up the stairs. In seconds, the deck swarmed with little people and the air filled with shouts of I’m hungry, when can we eat, and a chorus of Mom!, to which every woman answered, What?
Except her.
Before she had time to dwell on it, she felt a small tapping on her leg. A little girl peered up at her, summer-blue eyes pooling with tears. “I dwopped my weenie.”
“Well, let’s get you another one.” Hannah took the tiny angel by the hand and walked her to the table.