Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(47)
The drive over lasted only the two-and-a-half hard rock songs Lo had chosen.
“Turn right here.” She glanced up from reading the map on my iPhone. “Whose house is this?”
“Hannah’s.” I found an empty spot along the curb and parked. “Well, now Hannah and Cade’s. Kiki said this was the house Hannah grew up in.”
A sign on the front door said OUT BACK with a long arrow underneath pointing left. We walked along the grassy side yard and through a wooden gate. We were about fifteen minutes late. Which apparently was right on time.
Down on the backyard lawn, Mase and Ben raced back and forth, playing keep-away with a barking and chasing German Shephard. Mase caught my gaze and tossed me a chin-up greeting. I replied with a slight nod as he lobbed the ball toward the far corner of the yard before the dog raced after it.
Beyond them was an aged wooden dock that led to a waterway. Houses stretched along the opposite bank. A few boats and kayaks glided over the water’s surface.
Someone nudged my hip. As I turned, Kristen pulled me into a hug. “Hey, Darren. Glad you could make it.” When she let go, she leaned in, lowering her voice. “Got any grilling skills? My husband thinks he’s King Barbeque. If you can humble him in any way, please do.”
I glanced at Jason who manned the massive grill. “Uh, I’ve flipped burgers. Burn hot dogs every time.”
“Great.” Defeat flattened her tone. “He’ll impart his searing wisdom to yet another victim.” She put her hands on my shoulders and gave a light push. “Go.”
I half-turned, hesitating as I glanced at my sister.
“You must be Logan. I’m Kristen, the oldest sister. I’m very happy to meet you.” She wrapped a gentle arm around Logan’s shoulder. “He’s got grill duty. What are you good at? Salad tossing? Table setting?”
When I didn’t move, Kristen shot me a glare. “Go.”
Logan arched her brows, amusement in her eyes.
I held my hands up in surrender. “Going.”
On my way to the grill, I scanned the backyard for Kiki. Not on the grass. Not on the patio.
When I turned toward the house, the back door swung open. Cade stepped out with a large yellow bowl balanced on each hand. Hannah followed, gripping a brightly striped platter loaded with rolls.
And right behind them, her short yellow-and-green skirt gently fluttering in the breeze? Kiki.
She glanced my way, then beamed me a huge smile.
I swore my heart tripped.
“Ready to sauce?” A mason jar appeared in front of my face, brush sticking out of it. Jason nodded toward six sizzling racks of baby back ribs, blond spikes of hair that poked through his backwards baseball cap bobbing.
“Sure.” I knew jack shit about saucing. “Light coat?”
“Yep. Got another jar if you need.” He pointed his barbeque tongs at a spare jar on the shelf to his right. “Give a good swipe down each rib.”
I obeyed, brushing on a thin coating.
While I smeared on sauce, I kept glancing toward the house, where Logan had disappeared with Kristen. Logan had been excited about coming, but I wanted to be sure she fit in okay—felt comfortable. Kendall came out the back door, two large pitchers in hand, one looked like iced tea, the other lemonade. Logan and Kristen immediately followed, each holding armfuls of large glasses stuffed with green napkins and silverware.
And Logan wore another one of those big smiles that I’d been missing the last couple years.
“Beer?” Jason popped open a small fridge down below.
“Yeah.” I coated the last rack, then grabbed the opened bottle he offered.
He took a long pull from his, then swallowed, staring at me the whole time. His eyes narrowed a fraction, then he nodded toward the picnic table. “So you and Kiki.”
That obvious?
I took a healthy few swallows, unwilling to admit anything. “We’re friends. Was cool she invited us.”
He flung a loose arm around my shoulders, gave the far one a gentle slap, then a squeeze. Those hair spikes bobbed repeatedly as he slowly spoke, “Awful lot of sparks flying for just ‘friends.’”
He’d noticed that from where he stood at the grill?
Or maybe their close family had talked about it.
Had Kiki?
He released his grip, then began loading the ribs onto two platters.
I shrugged, acting unconcerned. “Friends attracted to each other.” Truth. It had ventured far beyond that. But the simple explanation was enough to satisfy the hanging question without him digging further.
Over the next five minutes, everyone gravitated toward two picnic tables joined end on end. Platters lined the center, two with the baby back ribs, another loaded with burgers. Bowls held coleslaw and a regular garden salad. One plate held a couple dozen deviled eggs. Another had rolls piled high.
Kiki sat across from me, wearing a yellow top with thin shoulder straps, her dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her blue eyes sparkled in the bright midday light.
She stared at me for several beats, smile widening. Innocent. Happy.
In those heart-stopping seconds, deep emotion began to burn in my chest for the girl who had no idea how big of an impact she’d begun to have on me. And Logan.
Then my gaze swung toward Logan as she settled right beside her.
Kiki suddenly lifted her knife and clanked it on her glass of lemonade. “Introductions are in order. Some of you have already met her, but she’s my new friend and Darren’s sister.” She wrapped an arm around Logan whose cheeks began to flush with embarrassment. “Everyone, this is Logan Cole. Logan, this is Jason, Kristen’s husband. Cade, Hannah, and Kendall, who you met in the kitchen.” Kiki pointed her knife as she went down the line while each person nodded or waved. “Ben, Cade’s best friend since kindergarten. Mase, Cade’s roommate, well, former roommate. He still lives in Cade’s old house.”