“Stop judging me, Grace,” he said with his mouth full. “I’m good to work out if you are. I mean, you’re probably still jet-lagged from all the travel to get here. Gosh. I’m surprised you managed it.”
He learned she’d spent an extra day to herself at a hotel and spa before arriving. Needing an extra burst of fortitude to deal with the parents.
She gave him a look he ignored.
“Man, you guys are such great cooks. Seriously.” He didn’t say much more as he ate, his thoughts turning to what Marlie might be up to with her family.
Last night, after she and Jeff had left, Will, her brother, had cornered him. Instead of begging for hockey tips, he’d asked about Damon’s intent with Marlie.
Damon found he liked the guy. Will had that guy-next-door handsome thing women seemed to like. Open and charming with a smile that invited others to laugh with him, Will had seemed to know everyone at the party. Cade gave the guy glowing recommendations. Not just as an electrician, but as a decent human being.
So Damon had been honest when he’d told Will, “Your sister is hot. She’s a little mean. No way I could ever push her around even if I wanted to. I like her. What’s the problem?”
“She’s not some easy conquest.”
“Buddy, I hate to say it, but easy is boring. And nothing about your sister has been easy since I met her. Besides, she’s a grown woman with a brain. I respect her choice to say yes or no. You should too.”
That seemed to mollify Will enough to relax on the interrogation before turning the conversation to hockey and how they really needed to beat the Flashmans’ team on Sunday.
Damon loved a good rivalry. He liked Deacon Flashman, but Mitch Flashman had been giving him the stink-eye since they’d spoken. Maybe because Damon had been so effusive about his wife’s amazing baking skills. But still, he?—
“Yo, bro. What are you thinking so hard about?”
He glanced up at his sister. “Huh?”
His father smirked. “It’s the Sinclair Gift. He’s met your future sister-in-law.”
Damon groaned. “Please, Dad. Stop.”
Grace smirked as well, looking so much like their dad that Damon couldn’t help laughing at the pair of them. “Well, well. Little guy falls hard.”
“You’re just piling on because we don’t know about your personal life.” In a lower voice, Damon added, “Because you ran from home like the scared little girl you are.”
“You got that right.” Grace speared a slice of turkey from his plate.
“Hey.”
She chewed. “Mm-mmm. Man. Mom, you and I make a great team.”
“We do, honey.” Leila grinned. “So what are we cooking tomorrow night?”
“Mom, we’re not having people over tomorrow. I wanted to spend my break with you guys. I don’t have a lot of time before I head back Sunday.”
“Wait. This Sunday?” Leila blinked. “I thought you were here for a week.”
“No. I’m saving my leave for Christmas, so I can come back. I worked this around my ninety-six.” Her four-day government holiday, ninety-six hours of leave.
“Oh, well then. We can see the Flashmans later.”
“Wait. The Flashmans?” Damon perked up at the name. “I met two of them last night at a party. And the guys I’m coaching are playing them Sunday.”
“Yes. Lee and Brenda Flashman are the pair I was hoping to have here for dinner. You must have met their boys, Mitch and Deacon. A lovely family. The boys are married and have children.” She pointedly stared at Grace and Damon.
So Damon turned to his sister and said, “You know, I could have sworn you told me you were interested in someone. Who was it again?”
“Ha ha.”
Their father had heard enough. “Well now, Grace. We haven’t heard enough about you and what you’re up to. We need to schedule a visit to come see you at Camp Pendleton, don’t we, Leila?”
