over to the grill.
“This is my grandson, Tony.” Bob introduced Cain to the man flipping burgers.
Cain caught a flash of yellow out of his peripheral vision before a tall blonde grabbed his forearm and yanked him away from the grill. “Sorry, guys. But he’s mine for a few minutes.” She smiled at him. “I’m Ellie. My friends call me Magic.”
“Magic? Like Magic Johnson, the basketball player?”
“No, magic as in my wishes generally come true and I can also pretty much figure out somebody’s deal in a short conversation.”
“You’re going to interrogate me, aren’t you?”
“I know who you are.”
“Who I am?”
“You’re Liz’s ex. She hasn’t said anything, but for her to be introducing you around, I’m guessing she likes you again.”
He paused. His heart skipped a beat. Her wariness around him took on new meaning. He’d been so careful to behave only as a friend that she might not understand his feelings for her now ran much deeper. She might think he didn’t like her “that” way anymore. But he did. And if she wanted more, so did he.
“Really?”
Ellie sighed. “Really. Come on. Let’s cut the bull. We both know you’re cute. We both know she loved you. Now you’re back and she’s falling for you. If she’s holding back, I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”
Cain couldn’t help it; he smiled.
Ellie shook her head with a sigh. “Don’t be smug. Or too sure of yourself. As her friend, I’m going to make it my business to be certain you don’t hurt her again.”
“You don’t have to make it your business. You have my word.”
She studied his face. “Odd as this is going to sound, I believe you.”
Liz walked over with two cans of cola. “Ellie! What are you doing?”
“Checking him out,” Ellie said without an ounce of shame in her voice. “I’m going to help Joni with the buns and salads.”
Liz faced him with a grimace. “Sorry about that.”
“Is she really magic?”
Liz laughed. “Did she tell you that?”
“Yes.”
“Then she likes you and that’s a big plus.”
Liz casually turned to walk away, but Cain caught her arm. “So these people are your friends?”
“Yes.”
He expected her to elaborate, but she didn’t. She eased her arm out of his grasp and walked away. Ten minutes ago, that would have upset him. Now, Ellie’s words repeated in his head. “If she’s holding back I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”
He glanced around and frowned. They were with her friends. He couldn’t make a move of any kind here. That much he was sure of. But soon, very soon, he was going to have to do something to test Ellie’s theory.
Cain went back to the group of men at the grill and in seconds he felt odd. Not exactly uncomfortable. Not exactly confused. But baffled, as if something important sat on the edge of his brain trying to surface but it couldn’t.
The conversation of the men around him turned to children, house payments and job difficulties. He couldn’t identify with anything they were discussing. He didn’t have kids or a mortgage or job difficulties. So, he didn’t say a word, simply listened, putting things in context by remembering the things he’d learned working with Billy and for Amanda, and then he suddenly understood why he felt so weird.
It wasn’t because Liz’s magical friend had basically told him that Liz cared for him. It was because Liz had left him alone with her friends. Alone. Not monitoring what he said. Not anxious or fearful that he’d inadvertently insult someone.
She trusted him.
She trusted him.
Just the thought humbled him. But also sort of proved out Ellie’s suspicion that Liz liked him again as more than a friend. A woman didn’t trust the people she loved to just anyone.
When the burgers were grilled to perfection, Cain scooped them up with a huge metal spatula and piled them on a plate held by Bob. When everything was on the table, he took a seat at the picnic table where Liz sat. He didn’t sit beside her. He didn’t want to scare her, but he did like being around her. And Ellie’s comment that Liz was falling for him again was beginning to settle in, to give him confidence, to make him think that maybe it was time to let her know he was feeling the same way she was.
Not that it was time to get back together, but to start over.
The group at each table included adults of all ages and varieties and their children. They ate burgers, discussing football and fishing, and when everyone had eaten their fill, they played volleyball—in spite of Cain’s Italian loafers. When the sun set, the kids disappeared to tell ghost stories in the dark, humid night and the adults congregated around the tables again, talking about everything from raising kids to the economy.
All in all it was a very relaxing evening, but an informative one, as well. Liz fit with these people. Easily. Happily.
And he had, too.
It was time for him to get their relationship on track. And since they were doing things differently this time around, he wouldn’t slyly seduce her. He intended to actually tell her he wanted to be more than her friend, ask her if she agreed. To give her choices. To give her time.
Exactly the opposite of what he’d done when he met her six years ago.
The back door slid open. A little kid of about six yelled, “Hey! There’s a jacket in here that’s buzzing.”
Everybody laughed.
An older girl raced up behind the kid. “Somebody’s cell phone is vibrating. It’s in the pocket of a jacket hanging on the coat tree.”
Cain rose. He’d been so caught up in being with Liz that he’d forgotten his cell phone, hadn’t cared if he missed a call. “I think that’s mine.” He glanced at Joni with a smile. “It’s time for me to be going anyway. Thank you very much for inviting me.”
Joni rose. “Thank you for coming. It was nice to meet the guy who’s stirred up so much gossip!”
Not exactly sure how to take that, Cain faced Liz, who also rose. “She means about fixing the houses.” She slid her hand in the crook of his elbow. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
Liz waited as Cain said his good-nights. Together they walked into the house and to the foyer. He lifted his suit jacket from the coat tree and the phone buzzed again. He silenced it without even looking at caller ID.
She nearly shook
