Her Very Own Family

by Trish Milburn

  A jolt of fear that she was being so transparent raced through her. “I was watching for the plumber and the electrician. And I’m expecting a delivery.” She had to get away from him before she started babbling like an idiot.

  He released his grip, and for a moment she wasn’t sure she was glad. But then she regained her common sense and moved toward the debris pile again. Brady pitched in and helped carry the rest of the unusable materials to the barrel. Talk about twitchy. Being around him made her feel more on edge than watching for the feds to show up on her doorstep. Something about the intensity of his eyes and the powerful physicality of him made her hyperaware of his every movement. She so didn’t need to be feeling that way about a guy.

  She’d caught herself watching him on occasion today, how the muscles in his arms flexed as he sawed lumber, how much power was behind his strikes of the hammer, how the sweat soaked through his white T-shirt.

  She eyed the creek and nearly took a flying leap into it to cool herself off. As if the early-summer heat wasn’t enough, her temporary carpenter had to increase her body temperature even more. Maybe she’d find her sanity again when he went back to Kingsport and his real job.

  When he dumped the last of the accumulated debris in the barrel, she glanced up at him and tried to convince herself that he wasn’t a well-built, gorgeous man who made her wonder what he looked like without that dirty, sweaty T-shirt.

  “Thanks,” she said before lowering her gaze again. Good grief, if she didn’t get away from him soon she was going to embarrass herself by drooling.

  So desperate was she for a distraction that she didn’t even remember to be nervous when she heard a vehicle coming up the lane. Thankfully, it revealed itself as the UPS guy with her expected delivery—the wildflower-ringed dishes for the café.

  Audrey shooed Brady back inside to help his dad as she took care of hauling the delivered boxes upstairs for storage until the lower level was totally finished. A couple of times, she caught Brady glancing at her as she went up the stairs. Only he wasn’t looking at her as if he was searching for signs of an asthma attack. She got the impression he was watching her legs. Her face heated even more at that thought, so after carrying the last box upstairs, she flopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

  Why was simply being near Brady affecting her this way, making her all jittery? She barely knew the guy. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this strangely around Darren, and she’d thought she would spend the rest of her life with him. Was it only a physical, hormonal thing? Brady was bigger, masculine and very, very sexy. Darren had been attractive and capable of getting her blood pumping, but there was just something…more about Brady. Maybe she was just enjoying the sexy-carpenter fantasy. After all, she’d never heard of a sexy-stockbroker fantasy.

  Especially not a stockbroker who dumped the woman he supposedly loved because her tanking reputation might ruin his career.

  Not wanting to go down that mental road, she sprang from the bed and walked to her desk. She pulled her checkbook from the drawer and, after running some numbers, wrote out checks to Nelson and Brady. To prove to herself that she could avoid any infatuated feelings about Brady, she deliberately didn’t brush her work-messed hair before descending the stairs.

  “I was beginning to think you fell asleep up there,” Nelson said as he held a two-by-four in place for Brady to hammer.

  “No, had to do a bit of paperwork.” When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she extended the checks to them.

  “What’s this?” Nelson asked.

  Audrey caught Brady’s eye before looking away. “Payment for all the work you two have been doing.”

  “We’re just being neighborly,” Nelson said.

  “Dropping off someone’s mail or giving her a potted plant is neighborly. This,” she said as she indicated the interior of the mill, “is a lot of work for which I insist on paying you.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Brady said, surprising her with the sincerity of his tone.

  She caught his gaze again and held it this time. “It is if you want to continue helping. Who do you think I would have hired, anyway? I’m guessing there’s only one construction company in town.”

  His eyes stayed locked on hers for a moment, then he nodded as he took the proffered check from her. She thought she saw respect in his expression, and that meant more to her than anything he’d done for her so far. Her heart swelled at the thought of that much-desired respect.

  It meant so much that she forgot her decision to not think of Brady in a romantic way and smiled at him. When he smiled back, her heart somersaulted like it was trying out for the U.S. gymnastics team.

  Afraid she might start giggling like a thirteen-year-old girl, she glanced over at Nelson, who unfortunately looked like he was trying to hide a smile himself. Fantastic. He’d probably caught the goofball look on her face and knew his son was the cause of it.

  “It’s been a long day,” she said. “Why don’t you two pack it in for the evening.”

  “On one condition,” Nelson said.

  Wary, she examined his expression. “And that would be?”

  “You let us make you dinner.”

  She nearly laughed at the stricken, openmouthed expression on Brady’s face as he shot a look at his dad. She might have declined otherwise, but that look sealed the deal. This had disaster in the making written all over it, but in a hilarious way. She couldn’t resist seeing what these two came up with. They could always drive into Willow Glen or even Elizabethton if the culinary results were inedible.

  “It’s a deal. What time?”

  “Six-thirty,” Nelson said as he wiped his hands on the towel that always hung from his belt.

  “See you then.”

  From the shady area inside the doorway, Audrey watched father and son drive away and couldn’t help the excitement pulsing in her, even if this dinner might be a bad idea.

  It’s just dinner with two friends, she told herself. Yeah, but one of those friends was extremely easy on the eyes.

  Chapter Five

  “What are you up to?” Brady asked his dad as he drove down the lane away from the mill.

  “Up to?” Nelson feigned innocence, but Brady wasn’t fooled.

  “Yes, up to. I swear I saw the little devil walking along your shoulder back there.”

  Nelson snorted on the passenger side of the truck. “I’m just inviting a friend over for dinner.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “What is it you think I’m up to?” His dad pinned him with a probing look that made Brady glad he had to keep his eyes on the road ahead.

  “I think you’ve let Sophie’s matchmaker instinct rub off on you.”

  “Well, now, that’s not a bad idea,” Nelson said, as if the idea hadn’t already occurred to him.

  “I’m not getting involved with Audrey, so you can put that idea out of your head right now.”

  “Why not? She’s a nice girl.”

  “Because.”

  “She’s not Ginny.” Nelson’s words were kind but firm.

  “I know that.”

  His dad didn’t respond, but Brady could imagine all the things going through his head. How Brady needed to let Ginny’s betrayal go, find a good woman and settle down. Easier said than done if you were always wondering whether dates wanted you or your bank account.

  “I’m just too busy to get involved with anyone.” His dad ought to know that, with the Kingsport office barely two months old.

  “So busy that you’re over at her place every day, stealing glances at her every chance you get.”

  “I’m here to spend time with you, and you happen to be spending your time over there.” Brady didn’t look at his father because his dad had always been good at seeing what his children weren’t saying.

  “And the glances part?”

  “You’re seeing things, old man.” Irritation colored Brady’s words as he pulled into his dad’s driveway.

  “Yeah, I’m s
eeing my son appreciate a beautiful young woman.”

  Brady hazarded a look at his father as he shoved the truck into Park and turned off the ignition. “Audrey and I are just acquaintances, friends if you stretch it.”

  “That’s how your mother and I started out.”

  Brady sighed. “We’re not you and Mom.”

  “Not yet.”

  Fatigue weighed down on Brady. He didn’t feel like belaboring this point anymore. With a shake of his head, he stepped out of the truck, leaving his dad behind, and went straight for the shower. He needed to clean up because he stank, not because he wanted to look good for Audrey when she arrived.

  Right.

  As he showered, he couldn’t get rid of the memory of her long, tanned legs going up and down those stairs leading to the mill’s loft. Those were the kind of legs that drove a man crazy with wanting.

  He rubbed his hand over his face and wondered why he was fighting this so hard. Just because his first attempt at a long-term commitment had ended in disaster didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy a woman’s company. It hadn’t stopped him before.

  But this wasn’t merely a casual acquaintance back in Kingsport. This was someone his dad was treating very much like a daughter, not someone Brady could have a little fun with and then leave. He turned off the water and stood dripping. The thing was, his normal couple-of-dates-and-out M.O. didn’t feel right where Audrey was concerned. Something about her made him want to get to know her, really know her. Maybe that’s what was so damned scary. Part of him did want what his parents had enjoyed. But when he’d thought he’d found it, he’d been burned. Finding out someone you loved was in love with someone else didn’t do wonders for a guy’s confidence in his romantic judgment.

  Despite his determination to stay detached, he still fought the urge to dress nicer than normal for dinner. He growled in frustration as he pulled on a pair of clean but faded jeans and a fresh blue T-shirt instead. When he wandered into the kitchen, he noticed his dad had showered, as well, but he’d put on a pair of khaki pants and a button-up green shirt. He was standing over the counter reading one of Brady’s mom’s recipe cards.

  Nelson glanced at him and rolled his eyes. “Nice to see you dressed up for company.”

  “I’m clean. That’s better than the last time she saw me.”

  When the phone rang, Brady grabbed it to avoid further discussion about Audrey. “Hello.”

  “That’s a nice tone to use to greet your sister,” Sophie said from the other end of the line.

  “Sorry.” No need to bite her head off.

  “What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” He leaned against the wall.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she said, obviously not believing him. “So, I hear you two are having dinner with Audrey tonight. And I hear she’s pretty. You should totally go for her.”

  Brady sighed. “Dad put you up to this, didn’t he?”

  “Oh, don’t sound so ganged up on. So what if he did? You know I want you to find the perfect girl. Maybe you’d be less grumpy.”

  “I’m not grumpy.”

  “Yeah, right. You’re a riot of fun and frivolity.”

  Brady pushed away from the wall and stared at the phone as if it were part of the conspiracy, too. “Did you have a real reason for calling?”

  “What, teasing my big brother isn’t reason enough?” When Brady didn’t respond, she went on. “Okay, fine. Tell Dad that the girls are wanting to come visit and to call me when he has a free day.”

  After Brady agreed to relay the message, he hung up.

  His dad sighed as he shook his head and consulted a recipe card. Whether his frustration was caused by the recipe or Brady’s attitude, Brady didn’t know.

  “Melt a stick of butter,” Nelson said.

  “Dad, why don’t we just take Audrey out to dinner? It’d be easier.”

  “Because I want to eat here. I want to eat one of your mother’s best dishes.” Nelson paused for a moment. “Because I want to hear a woman’s voice in this house again.”

  Brady swallowed hard at the pain and need he heard in his father’s voice. Nelson had been doing so well lately that Brady had almost forgotten he was still in mourning. Maybe Audrey had been right. It was hardest for his dad at night, when he had to go home alone and face the house he’d shared with his wife for forty years.

  Brady walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the butter.

  By the time six-thirty rolled around, the two of them had fumbled their way through making chicken-and-rice casserole, green beans, corn-bread muffins and an orange bundt cake. They wouldn’t have their own Food Network show anytime soon, but Brady surveyed the results and figured they were at least edible.

  When he heard the sound of an engine in the driveway, followed by a car door shutting, he deliberately took his time refilling the napkin holder on the table before heading to the front door. He wouldn’t give his dad the satisfaction of witnessing how anxious he was to see Audrey again. Even if he had to admit he was.

  She knocked before he left the kitchen, and he didn’t hurry on his way to the door. Despite his attempts to be casual, he nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw her. She’d showered, too, and he’d swear he could smell flowers when he opened the door. Maybe that was the sensation a person experienced when his brain was short-circuiting. She wore a pink, sleeveless top and a white pair of those too-short pants.

  “Hello?” Audrey waved her hand in front of his face.

  “Oh, sorry. Mind was somewhere else.” He opened the door wider to let her in.

  “I’ll say. You looked like you’d gone off to a galaxy far, far away and forgot to take your body with you.”

  “Work stuff,” he said as he noticed her toes peeking out of the ends of her white canvas sandals. The toenail polish matched her pink shirt. He’d never thought toes were sexy, but hers were. She was right. His brain had taken off for regions unknown.

  Only when she raised her hands did he realize she held a bowl.

  “I made a salad.”

  He took the bowl from her. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  She followed him inside as he backed out of the way. “I have a rule. Never arrive to dinner at someone’s house without bringing something to add to the meal.”

  Now that he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine Ginny having such a rule.

  “You’re just in time,” Nelson said as he walked out of the kitchen and opened his arms wide.

  When Audrey stepped into the brief hug, a surge of jealousy shot through Brady. How sad was that? Jealous of his dad’s easiness with her. He walked past them, set the salad on the table and started scrounging in drawers to find that big spoon and fork his mom had always used for salads.

  “They’re in the drawer beneath the microwave.” His dad led Audrey into the kitchen.

  When he found them and turned around, he nearly bumped into Audrey. His breath caught as he got a whiff of some flowery scent. His imagination shot to her in the shower, lathering her hair with shampoo.

  She looked up at him. “Is something wrong?”

  “No.” He jerked himself out of that daydream and moved past her toward the table.

  “Could have fooled me,” she said under her breath.

  He needed to cool it. He’d determined not to act too interested in her, but he didn’t have to be rude in the process. He had to find a middle-of-the-road reaction and stick to it.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” Nelson said.

  Audrey moved toward the chair Nelson had pulled out for her. “Starved.”

  Brady couldn’t help thinking he was starved, too, and not only for the food on the table. Something besides his stomach was gnawing at him to be fed.

  Focus on the food, focus on the food.

  He did exactly that as they passed the dishes around. His dad carried the weight of the conversation.

  “I think a couple more days and we’ll be finished with our part of the kitchen, and you can arrange to h
ave all the appliances brought in once the wiring is finished.”

  “You two have been doing a great job. I really appreciate it. I wouldn’t be so far along without your help.”

  “I couldn’t visualize the place as a restaurant at first, but I’m beginning to see the potential,” Brady said.

  Audrey smiled at him, and this time he yearned to cover that smile with his lips. That smile could get any man to do anything for her. She lit up the whole room. Stick some wings on her and she’d pass for an angel. Was it sacrilegious to think of her as angelic and sexy at the same time?

  “I can’t tell you how excited about it I am,” she said as she placed a corn muffin on her plate. “I keep getting so many ideas that it feels like my brain is going to explode sometimes.”

  “I think your place is just what Willow Glen needs, a burst of something new.” Nelson punctuated the word new with a short thrust of his fork.

  Audrey smiled at him before taking a bite of the casserole. “Mmm, this is wonderful.”

  Brady’s dad beamed. “It was my Betty’s recipe.”

  It was the first time since his mom’s stroke that he’d seen his dad speak her name with a smile. If for nothing else, he had Audrey to thank for that.

  “Then she was a fantastic cook.”

  “That she was.” A hint of the familiar sadness attached itself to Nelson’s words when he had to refer to his wife in the past tense.

  Brady watched as Audrey steered his dad away from his sorrow by asking about all the other dishes they had prepared. He wondered if her experience helping out after Hurricane Katrina had molded her ability to pick people up after tragedy or if she possessed some innate talent.

  Brady stayed quiet while he listened to Audrey and his dad talk. For some strange reason, it struck him that maybe Nelson’s friendship meant as much to Audrey as hers did to his dad. Brady couldn’t pinpoint why that feeling was so strong, but it didn’t fade as the evening passed.

  “Oh, no, you made cake, too,” Audrey said when Nelson pulled the bundt from under its lid on the countertop. She placed her hand on her stomach. “I think you’re trying to fatten me up.”