“Doesn’t hurt to give it another shot. Second chances dohappen.”
Bree stepped onto the deck with two bowls of food before he could respond. She set them on the table, then joined them at the grill and slid an arm around Jase’swaist.
“How muchlonger?”
He slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her. “‘Bout fiveminutes.”
Chris shifted his gaze away from them and locked eyes with Denise as she exited the house. Her eyes flared and then went flat before she looked away and set down the plates she wascarrying.
That hollow feeling he’d had since leaving months ago spread a few inches deeper in hischest.
She put two fingers in her mouth and blew a sharp whistle. “Kimber! Kaden! Come washup.”
The kids ran up the steps, across the porch, and into the house, their shrieks of laughter and two dogs followingthem.
“See,” Bree said to Denise. “Perfect.”
“You don’t have to sell it to me. I already saidyes.”
“Yes to what?” Jaseasked.
“Denise is going to move into the house with the kids. It’s perfect. There’s plenty of room and the schools in the district are some of the best in thestate.”
“I said yes, Bree. Quit Vanna Whiting yourhouse.”
Bree dropped her arm from around Jase. “Did you just useVanna Whiteas averb?”
“I don’t know any of the models’ names fromThe Price is Rightor I would have used one of them as a verbinstead.”
Chris looked down at his shoes to hide his grin. God, those two were a riot when they were together. He’d forgotten how funny they were while he was knee-deep in the excrement of human existence during the last assignment. Denise’s sarcastic wit was one of the things that had attracted her to him in the firstplace.
The kids burst out of the house. “All clean, AuntDenny.”
“Good job. Can you guys get cups and the pitcher of water and bring themout?”
“Okay,” the little girl said. They ran back into thehouse.
“Do they ever walk anywhere?” Breeasked.
“Notusually.”
The kids returned with the cups and pitcher and everyone jockeyed for seats around the table. For one awkward moment, he thought he and Denise would end up sitting next to each other, but Kimber asked Bree to sit by her, leaving him the seat at the end of thetable.
Disappointment and relief warred for top billing position. He wanted a chance to talk to her, but here and now would be uncomfortable. Better to try to get her alone afterdinner.
A lock of hair fell across his eyes when he reached for the coleslaw. Shoving it behind his ears wasn’t working. “Bree, do you have any hairthingies?”
“Pretty sure she’s got some bows and ribbons you can use, Rapunzel,” Jasesaid.
Kimber giggled next to him and he winked ather.
“Don’t be an ass.” Bree whacked Jase in the chest with the back of her hand. “I have some hair ties. I’ll grab youone.”
“Why don’t you just buzz it?” Jared asked around a mouthful ofburger.
“You gotclippers?”
“Yeah.”
