Kira appeared from the kitchen entryway, her red hair tied back in a blue kerchief. Gem thought her fiery hair was exquisite. The ombré effect was like nothing she’d ever seen before in natural hair.
Without a word, Kira set down a platter of hamburgers in the center of the table.
“Bravo!” Wyatt applauded. “You’re my culinary hero. Anyone ever tell you that?”
Gem was certain she caught a smile on Kira’s lips before she hustled out of the room and returned with bowls of sliced avocados, tomatoes, onions, arugula, and cheese. She had mastered the art of American cuisine but hadn’t figured out when it was appropriate to put condiments on the table.
Wyatt’s eyes lit up when she returned with a cloth-lined bowl filled with homemade french fries. He grabbed the tongs and filled his plate.
“You better eat some meat with that,” Gem remarked. “You’ll turn into a potato.”
Switch stood up and fixed Hunter’s plate. Instead of asking him what he wanted, he’d simply point to an item and wait for Hunter to shake or nod his head.
What a thoughtful thing to do.
After assembling Hunter’s meal, Switch sat down with his own plate. His large hands covered the entire bun, and Gem couldn’t stop staring as he ravenously chewed into his burger. People fascinated her. Everyone had their own unique styles, idiosyncrasies, and manner of speaking. With little to go on, she found it easy to read people. When Raven had come to Keystone, Gem sensed right away that she had a good heart. But Switch wasn’t easy to read.
“What happens if he never talks?” Wyatt salted his fries. “Doesn’t that make it hard to teach him anything?”
“Speaking isn’t a sign of intelligence,” Switch answered. “When and if he decides to use his voice is up to him. If he doesn’t want to, I’ll teach him and everyone here sign language. Sometimes it’s easier for children to communicate using sign. He’s not a toddler anymore, but his social skills are delayed.” Switch smiled at Hunter. “That’s not a bad thing. It means you’re a very special boy.”
Gem didn’t know much about kids, so she often forgot how they absorbed everything like a sponge. Even if they pretended they weren’t listening, they were. Sometimes she and the others had a habit of talking about Hunter in his presence as if he weren’t there.
Kira reappeared and took note of everyone’s plates before setting down a bottle of wine and apple juice.
After she made a silent exit, Gem fixed her plate and filled her glass.
“Can you pour me one?” Switch asked.
When Gem grabbed the wine, he shook his head.
“Don’t you drink?”
“Not when I’m on the job. I’ll have what you’re having.”
Gem poured him apple juice and then filled Hunter’s glass with the same.
“Maybe you can teach that one some English,” Wyatt said, jerking his thumb at the kitchen.
Switch finished his burger and wiped his mouth, mustache, and beard with his napkin. “If a grown woman doesn’t want to talk to you, maybe you should take that as a hint.”
Wyatt pulled the patty out of his bun and ate it all by itself. “Wanna play darts later?”
“Sure.”
The symbiotic relationship between men perplexed her. Just when you thought they wanted to kill each other, they’d go out for a beer. Christian had once explained that men didn’t dwell on the little things, and that quality was how primitive man survived in a time when large numbers mattered more than shoving a jackass into a tar pit.
Which meant women were the only ones who had evolved, and men were still living in the Stone Age.
“Gem, you in?” Wyatt asked before cramming a handful of fries into his mouth.
“Tempting, but I’ll take a rain check on male bonding. While you two get chummy, I’m going to take a dip in the pool.”
Switch gulped down half his drink. “You swim at night? Isn’t it cold?”
“Heated pool.” Wyatt shoved a few fries inside his now meatless burger and held it to his lips. “Gem is our resident mermaid.”
Switch’s eyes widened.
