“And some kind of ability with food.” Naomi took an appreciative whiff. “What is that wonderful dish I smell?”
Jordan smiled. “Garlic chicken. I have mashed potatoes and carrot souffle too.”
Naomi sighed. “I’m starved, and that sounds fantastic.”
Smith watched her, keeping his distance. Unlike Jordan, whom he understood, Reid’s girlfriend remained a puzzle. Naomi Starr had looks, class, and a brain. She seemed kind of distant, as if too pretty and better than everyone else. She fit Reid in that way.
Reid had an elegance about him. The guy was upper management all the way. Sophisticated and brainy, he wore khakis and button-down shirts all the time and looked right at home in them. While Cash and Smith did manual labor and liked it, Reid seemed to prefer sitting behind a desk.
The Griffith brothers shared the same dark hair and height, but Reid had gray eyes and a more streamlined build. Not so broad in the chest or packed with muscle. And of the two of them, Reid was by far the more laid back, easier to get along with.
Yet Reid and Cash had grown up together, tight brothers who loved and respected each other.
Something Smith had never, and would never, have.
“Oh, and I brought dessert,” Naomi claimed and held out a covered pan to Jordan. “Chocolate cake.”
“Yum.”
“I hate chocolate.” Smith’s confession had everyone turning to him. Probably shouldn’t have mentioned that out loud. Yet everyone acting all schmoozy and as if his being present didn’t bother them annoyed the shit out of him.
“That’s not humanly possible.” Naomi looked dumbfounded. “It’s chocolate.”
Reid gave him a look and said to Naomi, “Everyone has their own taste, honey. But I’m sure he’ll try a piece just to be polite.”
The subtle warning made an impact, and Smith flushed, feeling like a bratty kid told to behave.
Smith shot Reid a look. “I’ll shove a piece of your—”ass through the wall, you dick, went unsaid as Evan’s timely interruption saved the gathering.
“Hey, we’re here. Sorry we’re late.” Evan and Kenzie breezed into the living room with wide smiles. “We had to drop Daniel off at a friend’s and got caught in traffic.”
Smith liked Daniel, Kenzie’s younger brother. The kid was scary smart, obnoxious, and funny. They’d met back when Evan had started dating Kenzie, because Evan had been working alongside Smith and the others while Cash healed from a broken arm.
Hmm. Should have arm-wrestled the other arm.He glanced at Cash’s weak hand and saw Cash staring at him.
“Bring it,”Cash mouthed.
“Anytime,”Smith mouthed back and grinned. Cash grinned with him, and at that moment something clicked. A feeling of camaraderie. Smith immediately backed away from it and scowled at the guy.
Kenzie stepped into his line of sight, smiling and exchanging hugs with everyone while Evan greeted the gang. Smith had a soft spot for Evan. Technically, they weren’t related by blood. Evan’s dad and Reid’s dad were brothers. Yet Evan was the cousin everyone liked and wanted around. He did Vets on the Go!’s financials, was a CPA, and filled in when anyone needed a hand. It was tough not to like the guy. He seemed to charm everyone, including Smith.
To the extent Smith had been bamboozled into calling Evan’s mom Aunt Jane and sharing a dinner with Evan’s family. The experience had been eye-opening, because even knowing who Smith really was, everyone had been accepting and fun to be around. Kenzie and Daniel in particular had talked to him, while Aunt Jane mothered him with Evan watching on in kind amusement.
So strange that they’d taken to him and that he’d…liked it.
“Hey, Smith.” Kenzie hugged him, and he couldn’t help smiling down at her. Man, was she pretty, especially glowing with happiness. In a way, she reminded him of Erin.
Once again, the thought of Erin made him want to smile.
She took a step back, and he gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. “I see you’re still pretending to be Evan’s girlfriend. That pity date really spiraled out of your control, huh?”
She laughed, and Evan rolled his eyes.
Smith smirked. “When you get tired of him, you know my number.”
“Yes, you’re on my speed dial.”
Evan chuckled. “For when we need someone to watch Daniel. He’s still in awe and fear of you. It’s the fear we need to keep him in line.”
