Love, Diamonds, and Spades (Cactus Creek #2)(16)

A shame, really because as she was quickly discovering, a big hard man being a big ole teddy bear to a kid was one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen.

She watched in amusement as the two seemed to be starting in on some serious negotiations on the other side of the yard. Reese was clearly playing hardball, shaking his head while Rylan rolled his eyes. A minute later, the deal must have gone through because the two shook hands. Reese promptly crawled into the tent that was set up in the corner of the yard as Rylan headed back over to her.

“You didn’t have to bribe him to stay by himself.” Quinn looked over at the zipped tent, feeling bad for intruding on their fun night. “I can just catch up with you tomorrow.”

Rylan blinked, startled. “I didn’t. He’s finishing his homework in there. We were just playing a quick game of hide and sneak because he was getting frustrated with his math assignment. The running around helps clear his head.”

Oh. Jesus, he was so different from the men she’d dated in the past.

He pulled a chair up for her to sit on. “Can you stay and eat? Or do you need me to pack some food for you to go?”

Well, she did have the next three hours free—it was her one night to do errands. And the food did smell really good; she couldn’t remember the last time she ate camp fire food. “If you’re sure I wouldn’t be imposing. I feel bad I didn’t bring anything.”

“Don’t worry about it. I always make extra so I can pack a sack lunch the next day.”

“That means I’m eating your lunch for tomorrow.” She shook her head and stood back up. “I should go. I have leftovers to heat up at home.”

“Stay. Honest, I’d prefer it if you did.” He grinned, brows quirked. “Because that means you’ll owe me lunch one day in the future. I’ll keep you posted as to my selection of fine dining choices for when that day comes.”

The man was incorrigible.

“So is Cooper with your sister tonight?” he asked as she sat back down, a small smile lighting his face when she did.

She nodded. “Tonight’s my night to pick him up after dinner. Tomorrow, we switch.”

“You’re lucky. My neighbor doesn’t have any family in Arizona so it’s tough for her to balance everything.”

He handed her a fire-poking stick and a juice box. A juice box. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. And just like that, this not-a-date night was already better than every date she’d ever been on, combined.

They sat in silence poking at the fire and drinking their apple juice when he cocked a grinning brow up. “So you missed me, huh?”

Just when she thought he really did get that personality transplant she’d mentioned earlier.

“Not in the least.”

Golden eyes twinkling, his gaze tangled with hers. Then in a voice that wasn’t at all teasing, he said quietly, “I missed you too, sunshine.”

The sound of Reese hooting and hollering from the tent broke up the moment.

“I did it! I did it!” The tent unzipped and Reese came shooting out, and running toward Rylan, arms raised in triumph like Rocky. “I finished that last page! You were so right, I just needed to try it again.”

“I’m proud of you, little man. Okay, go turn off the light in the tent and be sure to bring your jacket with you. Dinner’s all ready.”

Grabbing a plate and tongs, Rylan loaded up three plates of food with veggie cabobs, ears of sweet corn, hot dogs, bratwursts, and buns. Quinn’s mouth watered the entire time. Over the food, of course.

Although she had to admit, there was something pretty appealing about a guy who grilled.

While they all waited for the hotdogs to cool down a bit, Rylan moved the rest of the food off the fire before handing Reese a ziploc bag of granulated sugar. “Okay, so now my end of the bargain. Try sprinkling some on the fire.” He demonstrated with a small pinches of sugar and Quinn watched as the fire sparkled and flashed in a cool light show of sorts. Reese hopped up and down excitedly. “Not too much though. And remember, don’t pass the line we drew in the dirt.”

Reese proceeded to dance around the fire—behind the line—and hoot and cheer every time he sprinkled more sugar flashes on the fire.

Quinn couldn’t help but watch Rylan grinning at Reese with that eye-crinkling smile of his that did crazy things to her insides.

“Aw.” Reese made a sad puppy dog look and showed them both the empty ziploc bag.

“We’ll do more another time, bud. Let’s get some food in you before your mom comes home. She’ll be here any minute.”

Reese hopped back over and took a big bite out of his ketchup and mustard slathered half of a hot dog. Rylan had the other half on his plate.

“He only eats half?” she asked in surprise. “Cooper can put away and entire hot dog, easily.”

“So can Reese. But I only give him half at a time. I hold the rest hostage so he eats his veggies.” He ruffled Reese’s hair affectionately.

Oh boy, her ovaries just swooned.

Rylan reached behind him for a long sleeve flannel shirt and handed it to her. “It’s cold,” he said simply.

Her instant melting over his brand of gruff sweetness was when she didn’t just know the truth, but accepted it as well. The same truth she’d been trying to deny on the car ride over here. The same one she’d been ignoring for the past few weeks.