“No idea.” Except she was absolutely certain they were taking the next step in their relationship by moving in together, and maybe getting a puppy.
Brek popped the top on a Coors. “I figured you and Claire shared everything.”
“Nope.” Not this time. “Claire just said she has big news.”
“Maybe she’s knocked up,” Brek suggested.
Velma’s heart skipped five beats. She grabbed a knife and sliced into an onion with renewed energy. “No way.”
“I don’t know.” He ran a palm over the back of his neck. “Seems reasonable to me.”
“Then you don’t know Claire. She’s way too involved in her career to get pregnant right now.” Velma set the onions aside and went to work on chopping carrots to top the salad.
Brek motioned to the cutting board. “Can I help you with anything?”
“Do you know how to julienne carrots?” Velma replied.
“Nope.” He shrugged. “But I know how to cook a steak.”
She laughed. “Well, tonight it’s pork roast, so I’ll have to take a rain check on your culinary skills.”
“Absolutely. Next time I’m in town, I’ll grill you up a steak.” He raised his beer to her.
She stared at him. He couldn’t actually be serious.
He was serious.
“Maybe they called us here because Dean needs a kidney?” he asked.
“He doesn’t need a kidney.” Although, Velma would probably give him one if needed. She had a remarkably hard time telling him no. “They’re probably just…”Say it out loud, Velma.She sighed. “Just moving in together.”
“Nah. They wouldn’t have dragged me here for that. Maybe their big news is they’re gonna try to hook us up.”
“You and me?” Velma pointed the knife at Brek, then back to herself.
Of all the options, that one was the most reasonable. And, yet, totally unreasonable. No way would Claire pair the two of them together.
“You said you don’t have a guy.” Brek’s tone turned serious.
Her body irrationally responded to his apparent interest with tingles.
“No.” Of course she didn’t have a guy.
She’d had lots of first dates lately.
“I get the feeling you need some help loosening up. Enjoy some time away from your five-year-husband-seeking plan. There’s a club downtown with a great band playing later. We should go.” Brek’s gaze raked over her.
His pointed interest was actually…nice. Still, there was no way she would go clubbing later. Brek wasn’t her type. Not only because of the tattoos or the extreme need for a licensed barber or his ripped jeans.No, it was more the general sense of unease he stirred within her. Also, it was Sunday. What kind of a club was open on a Sunday night? Definitely not one she should visit.
“You stressed about the dinner?” he asked.
“No,” she lied through her teeth.
“You’re stressed about the dinner,” he declared. “I get that, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
For a half second, she believed there was nothing to worry about. Truth was, there was always something to worry about. Starting with her clothes. She needed to change into something that wasn’t yoga pants before her sister arrived in what would undoubtedly be a perfect sundress.
“I’m only in town for a few days anyway,” he continued. “We’ll get through the part where Claire and Dean do the awkward you-two-should-get-to-know-each-other schtick. We’ll eat and then we’ll send them on their way. You don’t want to go to a club? That’s fine. I’ll stick around. What do you say, Velma?”
