Reid’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Can I lick the mixer thing?”
“If you can get to it before Grey does,” Lauren said as she threw a teasing look over her shoulder at Grey.
“Can I help make dinner, too?” Reid asked hopefully. Out of all the boys, he enjoyed helping to cook the most and, more often than not, he wandered into the galley while Lauren was cooking just to watch.
“I’m sure we can find something for you to do.”
“What are we going to make?”
Lauren sighed, knowing that her answer was going to push Grey’s mind right back into the gutter. “Tacos.” Sure enough, Grey sniggered, and Lauren rolled her eyes as she slapped at her leg and continued, “And those roasted veggies you guys like, and some rice, and maybe we’ll take those cookies you’re gonna help me with and make sundaes with them. Whattaya think?”
Reid grinned and threw his arms around Lauren’s neck. “Awesome!”
“Good.” Lauren hugged him loosely and gave his back a light pat. “So, you guys go play, and I’ll make you a picnic. And then later this afternoon you can be my sous chef. Sound good?”
Reid nodded and took off toward his brothers who were digging a giant hole near the water’s edge.
“Thank you for that,” Kim spoke up, giving Lauren an appreciative smile.
“Not a problem at all. So, I’m assuming PB and J for the boys since that’s their favorite,” Lauren said as she pushed herself back to her feet. “How about you guys? I can make a chicken salad, or…”
“Some kind of a sandwich is fine, really,” Kim said, shaking her head. “Just throw in some snack-type things to go with them and some bottled waters and we’ll be good.”
Lauren nodded slowly. “Okay, if you’re sure…”
“I’ll bring it all back over to you guys in a few,” Grey told the Muellers with a smile as she and Lauren started toward the dock where their dinghy was tied up. “So…tacos for dinner, huh?” she asked once they were in the dinghy and on their way back to theVeritas.
“Shut up.”
“At least you didn’t say we were ‘eating out’ tonight,” Grey mused loudly.
“Damn it, Wells…”
“Going downtown?” Grey laughed at the annoyed look Lauren shot her, and killed the outboard engine as they coasted toward the starboard dive platform on the yacht. “Just get on the boat, Murphy.”
Lauren rolled her eyes and climbed out of the dinghy. “You think you’re funny.”
“I’m hilarious,” Grey said as she tied the little inflatable off to a cleat near the platform.
Lauren looked back at Grey as the brunette leapt gracefully onto the dive platform, and was about to respond when she was interrupted by her cell phone ringing. “That’s weird,” she murmured as she pulled it from her pocket.
“There is cell service here, ya know,” Grey pointed out as she followed Lauren up the stairs to the back deck. “Big tourist resort and all. But, it’s a British tower…”
“I added international roaming for the month. And that’s not what I meant,” Lauren said, frowning as she looked at her best friend’s name on her screen. Jen Collins worked with her at Clarke’s, and was taking care of her cat for her while she was gone. “What’s up, Jen?” she answered the call, shooting Grey an apologetic look. She knew that Jen would only call her if it was something important.
“Oh, thank god,”Jen said without preamble.“What vet do you take Jenks to?”
Lauren’s frown deepened. “West Side Vets. It’s just down the block from the restaurant. Why?”
“Because the little bastard snuck out the front door and into the hallway when I opened it to get the paper, and then decided to try and throw down with old Mrs. Schwartz’s terrier.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. He just got bit on the paw when he was trying to use George’s nose like a punching bag. I don’t think it’s a big deal, but I want to get him checked out anyways, just in case.”
Grey gave Lauren’s waist a light squeeze as she eased past her into the salon. “I’m gonna go get cleaned up.”
Lauren nodded and sat down at one of the outside banquettes. “Okay.”
