Worth the Risk(11)

“Oh, Stephen, could you get something down for me? I can’t reach the platters above the stove.”

Stephen paused, looked to Matt for help. He still had some words for the brother.

Matt only shrugged. “You heard the woman, she needs a platter.”

—

Hannah followed Abby into an enormous kitchen and paused at a large island. Topped with black- and gold-flecked granite and lined with six bar stools, it dominated the room. Kind of like Stephen.

He easily reached the platter above the refrigerator and set it on the island next to a deep sink. She’d been shocked at how badly she’d wanted to see him again. It’d been difficult to think of much else.

“Thank you,” Abby said. Striking and graceful, with dark hair pulled back in a casual ponytail and brilliant green eyes, the petite woman moved around the kitchen, doing a million things at once. She sure didn’t look like she needed her help.

Another woman popped into the kitchen dressed casually in a knee-length skirt and sandals. “Lizzy, this is Hannah. She came with Stephen. Hannah, Lizzy.”

A lightning-quick look flashed between Lizzy and Stephen, then it was gone. “Hi. I’m Stephen’s one and only sister.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hannah shook her hand, remembering Stephen’s stories of torment. She had the same soft brown eyes as her brothers and at first glance she didn’t look big enough to torment anyone. Though there was a sparkle of devilish fun when she smiled.

Abby pushed a tray filled with hamburger patties at Stephen. “Could you take these out to Matt? I’m sure he could use you at the grill and I could use Hannah’s help in here.”

“She means get out,” Lizzy added. “Matt might read your mind but you have to be more blunt with the rest of them.”

Stephen rolled his eyes at his sister then sent Hannah a questioning glance.

“I’m fine.” She didn’t get the chance to hang around with women, and her mind was still reeling with the whole Luke incident.

He hesitated another second, then must have decided it was okay to leave her. “I’ll be outside.”

She watched him go, thinking he didn’t look so large and in charge with his sister and sister-in-law.

Lizzy leaned her elbows on the island. “So how long have you known Stephen?” Lizzy asked.

“Not long.” A day. And now that she was here, it sounded crazy even to her. When Luke had asked her point-blank where she was going, she couldn’t lie and the conversation had gone downhill from there. No way was she going to a man’s house alone. They argued. He won. But arriving here at a strange house, seeing Stephen approaching like a man on a mission, she’d been a tiny bit glad Luke was there. She might have chickened out alone.

“I hope it’s okay that I came. Stephen said—”

“Are you kidding? Of course it is,” Abby said. “And trust me, Gracie never met a person, animal, or rock she didn’t like.”

“And Luke, too. He uh…kind of cornered me about where I was going tonight and insisted on driving me.”

“He’s protective. Don’t worry about it.” Abby angled her knife toward a large window facing the front yard. “Those men have more testosterone than they need. Your brother will fit right in.”

“Brother?” Lizzy raised an eyebrow. “That hot, broody man I just passed with Matt?”

Abby gave her sister-in-law a look.

“What? I’m married. Not blind.”

Still unsure, Hannah held up a bag. “This is for Gracie.”

“You didn’t have to do that. But thank you,” Abby added, with a warm smile that put her at ease.

Lizzy and Abby worked in tandem like they’d done it a million times. She’d never done that. Cooked with a woman. Gossiped and girl-talked.

“Okay. The dip is ready,” Abby said. “And Hannah, if you’ll grab the vegetable tray.”

She followed the women through the house onto a large deck. Late-afternoon sun cut a slash of sunlight across the outdoor living space complete with upholstered seating areas, balloons, and a crowd of people. The sound of squealing children hit her well before she saw them.

She added her tray to a table draped in pink, fitting it between a bowl of potato salad and a platter of paprika-sprinkled deviled eggs. When she turned, she almost ran into a small, middle-aged woman with graying hair and eyes the same brown as Stephen’s.

“Hi. I’m Marge, the birthday girl’s grandmother. So glad you could come.” She added that last bit with a squeeze and Hannah hugged her back.

A willowy brunette introduced herself as Beth, married to Stephen’s brother Tony, and offered her a drink. More introductions were made, each one of them warm and welcoming. Even if they did all seem more than a little surprised at her being Stephen’s date. Because he brought someone or her in particular?