Groom in Training (9 page)

She scrubbed three potatoes, pricked them with a fork and set them in the microwave. Then all she needed to do was punch the button. The clock read seven-fifteen. Her stomach growled. They could eat first, but doing heavy work after eating didn’t strike her as a relaxing dinner.

Hal appeared at her side, eyeing her preparations. “I thought you were making dinner.”

“After the rocks.” She dropped the pork chops into a marinade and shook her head.

“Where is the dude?”

That’s what she wanted to know. Although she felt nervy, Steph grabbed her purse and pulled out her cell, then pressed Nick’s number. Hal hovered nearby with his head in the refrigerator while she waited. His voice mail clicked in. Her shoulder’s tensed. What was wrong?

“You need to go grocery shopping.” Hal’s lanky frame hung on the door like a whiny teenager.

“How about you picking up some groceries? Get what you like. The stove’s sitting here all day long.” Her sarcasm was tinged with some regret. Her patience had “flown the coop” as her mother used to say.

“I’m a little short on cash. Can you loan me a few bucks?”

She drew in a deep stream of breath and released it. “Hal, you need to get this straight. Doug made a good salary, but he’s not here to bail you out. I had money back then. I don’t anymore. You need to fend for yourself. Dad and I can’t do it anymore.”

“I didn’t say give me money. I said loan.”

A laugh burst from her, verging on hysteria. Her hands
knotted into fists and a nerve ticked in her cheek. “You still owe me thousands for loans, Hal. I’m telling you I don’t have it.”

He swaggered to a counter and rested his back against it. “So you’re telling me Doug left you destitute?”

The smirk on his face chilled her to the bone. “I haven’t told this to anyone, but I’m going to tell you. Doug left me in debt except for the house. He’d lost tons of money gambling. I had no idea. He took care of the bills.” Tears inched to her eyes, tears she’d thought ended long ago.

Hal jammed his hands into his pockets. “Come on. You guys were loaded. He couldn’t have—”

She flexed her palm upward like a cop. “He did. I was nearly broke.” She brushed the tears with the back of her hand, wanting to scream. Three years she struggled to pull her life together. She had no skills for working and no confidence. Being an executive’s wife meant socializing and entertaining. That’s all she’d done. “I told you to get a job and make up with Dad until you can get your own place, but you didn’t listen.”

“That’s what I plan to do, but not with Dad. I came here.”

She drew back with such force, she whacked her head against the edge of a cabinet door. “You’re kidding. You think you can stay with me while you look for work. Michigan is in bad shape. People are out of work all over the place. The auto industry is laying off, not hiring. You’re not making sense.”

“Thanks. I thought you’d understand. I am your brother.” He dug his hand into a bag of cookies and stomped as best he could with stockings out of the kitchen.

If she weren’t so upset, she might have laughed. Instead gooseflesh prickled down her arms. Dealing with Hal seemed to be more than she could handle today. And Nick?

She eyed the clock—nearly eight. Something must have happened. God, if you’re really there…What was she doing? If there was a God, He’d be irked at her prayer while questioning His existence, and if He wasn’t there, her prayer was useless.

But lately she’d begun to sense—

“Someone’s here.”

Hal’s shout broke her thought. She headed to the door, and as soon as she entered the living room, she saw Nick through the window and her pulse accelerated. He was okay.

She stood at the door, and he stepped in. “Sorry I’m late. I ran into some snags.”

“You didn’t call.” She wanted to say so much more.

“I left my cell phone at work. I’m really sorry.” He glanced at Hal spread out on the sofa, giving him the eye.

“Tell that to my stomach.” Hal didn’t lift his head.

“Hal.” Steph narrowed her eyes. “This is Nick.” She turned to him, arching a brow. “My brother, Hal.”

Hal managed to pull himself up from his reclined position and grasped Nick’s offered hand.

Nick gave it a shake but kept his eyes on Steph. “I held up your dinner. I’m really sorry.”

“I thought we’d move the stones first, then eat.”

He nodded. “I know, but…” He hitched his shoulder toward Hal.

She gave a quick shake of her head, hoping he would let it drop.

He shrugged and turned to her brother. “Could you help me carry some rocks into the back?”

Hal shifted, adding his infamous grimace. “Sorry, man, I have a bad back.”

Nick flashed Steph a helpless expression as she sent him a told-you-so look. “I’ll help you.”

“It’s a man’s job, Steph. You’re a woman.” He glanced over his shoulder at her brother, then dropped his arms to his sides when he saw no reaction.

“I’m glad you noticed” slipped through her mind, but lighthearted comments didn’t fit the tension she felt.

“I’ll get some work gloves and meet you out front.”

His frustration evident, Nick headed for the front door as Steph turned away.

Steph stepped into the garage, a place that still held horrible memories. She grabbed the gloves from a bench near the door, slipped them on her hands and hurried back into the fresh air. Fred followed at her feet, and Steph sent him back into the house so he wouldn’t escape with the gate open, then headed around the front, her spirit weighted with concerns about Hal and Nick.

She liked Nick so much, but at times he seemed thoughtless. His lateness and not calling ahead of time. Yet he was thoughtful in so many other ways. Today stood out as an example. He had an excuse today, but she’d been worried about his safety. Serious accidents happen without warning.

She remembered Doug’s death, and maybe that’s why she’d become so sensitive.

On the way to the front, she passed Nick carrying a stone. He grinned, but it looked more like a scowl with the weight he carried. She reached the SUV and searched for a rock she could lift. Hal’s help would have been appreciated, and she could have worked on dinner. The idea ruffled her. She tugged off the gloves and marched into the house.

The sofa was empty, and she hurried down the hallway to the guest room. No Hal. When she returned to the living room, she noticed his car was gone. She slammed her hand
against the storm door handle and marched back outside through the garage. She had to have something there to make moving the stones easier, even a dolly.

Nick came through the gate and stopped. He set the rock on the driveway, pulled off his gloves and shoved them into his back pocket, then headed toward her.

“Hal’s gone.”

He nodded. “He left right after I came out to the car.” He rubbed his hands against his pants. “I suppose he was afraid you’d insist he help.”

She massaged the back of her neck. “That’s what I’d planned to do.” She shook her head. “I wish I had a wheelbarrow.”

He shrugged. “Let me get these. You go in and start dinner.”

When she protested, he grasped her by the shoulders and marched her toward the door. She expected him to head back out, but instead, he turned her around to face him. His eyes searched hers.

“You don’t deserve being treated like that, Steph.” He pressed his palm against her cheek. “I know you think I’m doing too much for Martin, and you’re right. I am, but—”

“I’m doing the same with Hal.”

He gave a single nod and didn’t move.

The look in his eyes tingled through her chest, a tenderness she had only dreamed about.

“You’re amazing.” His index finger moved against her cheek, then lowered his hand and traced the line of her lips.

Steph’s heart swelled and pressed against her lungs. Nick moved in slow motion, his mouth lowering to hers, an urging so gentle, she yielded with no thought to logic or reason. She’d responded from her heart. When he drew back, his face reflected his surprise and his pleasure. His
mouth curved to a gentle smile. “I didn’t plan that, but it seemed so natural.”

She couldn’t speak but let her eyes answer him. He drew her close and held her against his chest as if she belonged there.

He used his cheek to brush her hair from her ear, then whispered, “We could stay here all day, but it won’t build you a rock garden.”

His breath tickled her, and she drew back. “Or cook your dinner.”

He chuckled, and as they parted, the first sense of uneasiness marred the warm feeling she’d experienced. He squeezed her hand, then slipped on his gloves and headed out of the garage.

Steph caught her breath and made her way to the kitchen. All she could do was lean against the counter and relive the moment. How had it happened? She tried to remember what had been said. Had she given him a look? She rubbed her temples. Stop. It just happened. And she loved it. But why in the garage?

Fred leaned against her leg, and when she noticed his plaintive look, she laughed. Steph gave him some food to get him away from her feet, then washed her hands in the sink, imagining the idiotic smile she had on her face.

Trying to focus on dinner, Steph pulled the pork chops from the refrigerator. Though she’d preferred to grill them, time didn’t allow it, and then she’d have to be outside and face Nick again. The more reality settled in the more confused she became.

She paused a moment, clutching the package of chops, returning to their conversation before the kiss. Brothers. Hal and Martin. Different men but the same problem. The revelation put a damper on her thoughts.

Instead of grilling, Steph poured a splash of oil in a frying pan, browned the meat, then added a can of mushroom soup and covered the skillet. The chops were always tender that way.

To give herself more time to get her emotions in check, she set the kitchen table, not a romantic dining room meal. Confident Hal would be back, she laid three place settings. His instinct seemed to alert him when dinner was ready.

Taking a deep breath, Steph slid open the door and stepped outside. From the patio, Steph watched Nick hoist the rocks and maneuver them into place.

She wandered closer, noticing two large bags of soil to make the garden. He thought of everything. “How’s it going?”

Nick tilted his head toward her. Perspiration beaded on his forehead. He straightened and gave her a grin as he swung his arm toward the stones. “What do you think?”

She gazed at the rock formation he’d constructed. “I like it. It’s functional, and it’ll be really pretty with flowers. I’d like to do that in a couple more spots.”

He pressed his hands against his waist and leaned back, stretching his muscles. “How many?”

She laughed at his expression, and it felt amazing. Laughter had faded from her life since Hal arrived, and she shouldn’t have let it. “It can wait.”

He reached for her with his soiled gloves, and she ducked from his grasp. “Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes or so.”

“I’ll be finished.” He stood aside, eyeing the stones, then used a pocketknife to slit open one of the sacks of dirt. “I’ll add the dirt, then I’ll be finished.” He looked over and gave her a wink. “The flowers are your job.”

The wink floated through her chest. “That’s the fun
part.” She managed a grin, then paused a moment before she spoke. “I had a revelation when I was inside.”

He arched his eyebrow, but a playful look lit his eyes. “A revelation. This could be interesting.”

She hoped he didn’t misunderstand what she was going to say. “You and I really do have the same problem.”

His grin yielded to a frown. “Which one?”

That made her chuckle. “Our brothers, as we said earlier.”

“Ah. Yes. We both have them, and they are problems.” He slit open the next bag.

She stepped closer. “You know, Nick, the problem is ours. We let them run over us.” She ran her hand down her pant leg. “Hal assumes I’m going to bow to his wishes. Today he asked me for a loan.”

Nick let the bag slip to the ground and straightened.

“I don’t have money to loan, Nick. I struggle sometimes to pay my bills. The new facility has helped, and I have more dogs now, but it’s been hard.”

He studied her face, compassion flooding his eyes. It was the last thing she wanted to see.

“I’m not asking for pity. I can manage, but I’m far from rich like your brother or you.”

His expression changed to surprise. “You have it wrong. I’m not rich. Do you think I’d live in an apartment if I could afford a house?”

Apartment. She’d forgotten. “They’re easier. No yard work or outside maintenance.” She shook her head. “But if you own a business, I assumed—”

“It’s a young company, Steph. It’ll be great in a few years, I hope, but now I’m careful how I spend money.” He held up his hand to keep her from talking. “But that’s not the point. If your brother’s not helping himself, then your help is enabling.”

“You do that with Martin. Not with money but with your time and energy.” She expected him to get defensive, but he didn’t. He only nodded.

“I told him the other day he needs to find someone else to run his errands.”

The news caught her off-guard. “What did he say?”

“Nothing. I walked out of the house.”

Her chest tightened as she pictured Nick turning his back on Martin and strutting from the house. “Really?”

His face grew serious. “Really. I haven’t talked to him since that day. I think he knew I meant it.” He stepped closer, pulled off his gloves and drew her to him. “It’s difficult, but maybe that’s what you need to do with Hal.”

She thought of him when he was a little boy—so cute; she’d adored him. He’d been indulged, and he would never learn if she continued to let him get away with it. “You’re right, but it isn’t easy.”

“He needs a job. That’s what he needs.”

He cupped her head with his hand, his eyes riveted to hers—his so close.

Steph’s pulse skipped, wondering if he was about to kiss her again.

“I see I haven’t missed dinner.”

Hal’s voice jerked them apart.

She looked at Nick, his eyes questioning as her mind filled with her own questions. She drew back, her anxious heart quieting. “Wash up, and we’ll eat.”