Page 38 of Edge of Steele
She made the turn down a short hallway that opened into a throwback kitchen from the fifties. Pale yellow metal cabinets ringed the room, combined with a retro powder blue refrigerator, and black and white checkerboard floors. Frilly white curtains hung across the window over a white porcelain sink and were flanked by white laminate countertops. A blue Formica table with chrome edging and chairs sat in the middle of the room.
“Wow, is this all original?”
“It is and was the reason Felicia bought the place. She loved it. Me? Not so much. Dishwasher is ancient. Fridge barely holds anything, and the freezer? Forget about it. I have to go to the store all the time and that’s just for two people. How did families live with such a kitchen back in the day?”
“With the mom typically staying home, she had more time to shop and do dishes, I guess.”
He stilled and watched her. “Would you ever do that? Be a stay-at-home mom, I mean.”
She’d never really given it a thought. “I don’t honestly know.”
“Not that I would expect it.”
“Um, Finn. I’m only staying for a few nights, not marrying you.” She grinned up at him.
“I wasn’t…I mean…” His face flushed fire engine red. “I’ll need to get dinner started. We planned to have burgers on the grill, and last night I made a packet of veggies to cook alongside it.”
Ah, a change of subject. For some reason she wanted to continue to tease him, but gave in to the dinner talk. “What can I do to help?”
“I’d like to eat outside. Avery seems to like that best. Sometimes I can even get her to kick a soccer ball around with me after dinner.”
“We’re cooped up inside so much during the rainy season and the weather is gorgeous today so that sounds perfect. And I’m not sure if I told you, but I played a lot of soccer when I was younger.”
He smiled, broad and potent. Ooh, this might be a dangerous decision. Thank goodness they had Avery to keep things platonic between her and Finn.
“I’ll light the grill then gather the things I need,” he said, all business now. “But if you want to grab cleaning supplies to wipe the outside table, that would be great. You can find stuff in the laundry room.”
They split off, and he stepped out the french doors to the back. She set her purse on the kitchen table then went back to the laundry room. Music played somewhere in the house. Likely Avery’s room, but Ryleigh wouldn’t go see. She found some disinfecting wipes and headed out the same door Finn had gone through.
The fenced backyard was wide and flat and had a concrete patio with a dining set and grill. A wooden play structure had been placed near the fence with mulch underneath, and a manicured green lawn filled the rest of the space.
Finn stood at the gas grill looking very domestic. A sight she never thought she would see, but it was far more attractive than any of the dreams she’d had of this man.
She doubted she would ever start anything with him again, but she didn’t trust her heart not to betray her and give him a second chance. Especially when they could so easily fall into the personal realm like this.
Something she had to guard against and focus on what she needed to do. Finding and stopping the bomber before he struck again.
Finn couldn’t decipher Ryleigh’s mood as she stared at the kitchen cabinet, an odd expression on her face. Looked almost like longing for this lifestyle, but that would be odd. She hadn’t been the settle-down kind of woman when they dated. Made her the perfect woman for him. But seemed as if that might’ve changed. If her anger at the breakup told him anything, anyway.
She shook her head, then charged outside with a stack of plates and silverware as if needing to get away from him. She set the table with a fury. Almost like she was mad at the dishes. He was tempted to ask what was going on in that pretty head, but no reason to go there until after Avery was fast asleep and couldn’t overhear their discussion.
He left to grab the burgers and the veggie pack from the refrigerator and to tell Avery he’d started cooking. He found her in her room, sitting at her desk, drumming the beat with her finger on the wood and reading a book.
“Burgers on the grill for dinner.” He crossed the room to her. “And we’ll eat outside. It’ll all be ready in less than thirty minutes.”
She peered intently at him. “I like burgers. Mom didn’t know how to grill. I like that you grill.”
What? A compliment.That was a first. “I’m making them just for you.”
“Doesn’tshelike burgers?”
Ouch.And a slam. “Ryleigh does too. At least she used to when I knew her before.”
She scrunched up her face. “Before when?”
Oops.Maybe shouldn’t have brought that up, but now that he had… “We dated a couple of years ago.”
Avery’s eyes narrowed. “You gonna go out with her again?”
