Ignite On Contact (Brotherhood by Fire #2) -Jaci Burton Page 0,8
you enjoy the casserole. See you later, okay?”
She gave him a quick wave over her shoulder as she disappeared into her house.
Rafe stood there for a minute or so, trying to digest their conversation and coming to no conclusion other than he was totally confused.
What the hell just happened?
CHAPTER 4
CARMEN TRIED TO BUSY HERSELF WITH CLEANING HER grandfather’s bathroom, but even the sweet lemony smell couldn’t scrub away the utter mortification from her earlier conversation with Rafe.
What. A. Moron. It was like she’d opened her mouth and idiocy had fallen out.
First she’d insulted him by acting as if going out with him would be the worst thing that could happen to her, and then she’d stumbled all over herself trying to correct that mistake by practically drooling all over him with compliments.
Ugh. He probably thought she was the dumbest woman he’d ever known.
“Nothing good ever comes from me interacting with a man,” she muttered.
Her grandfather walked slowly into the bedroom, then leaned on his cane. “Who are you talkin’ to?”
She lifted her head. “No one. Myself.”
“You losing your mind?”
“Maybe.” Probably. Definitely. She went back to cleaning the sink.
“Or maybe something’s on your mind and you need to talk it out.”
“Nothing’s on my mind, Grandpa.”
“Yes, it is. When you start scrubbing like you want to take the top surface off my bathroom counter, it means you’ve got a problem. Start talking.”
The very last thing she wanted to do was tell her grandpa about how she acted with Rafe. So she tossed the sponge into the cleaning bucket, straightened and smiled. “I was just working out some aggressions from my job on your counter, which is now shiny and clean. Are you ready for some lunch?”
“I guess.”
He gave her the side-eye, and she knew he didn’t believe her. But since he turned and left the room, that meant he wasn’t going to push the subject further—at least for now.
She made turkey sandwiches and salad, which would keep the house cool. They sat at the kitchen table and ate.
“You look stronger today,” she said. “I notice you’re using the cane and not the walker.”
“The cane makes me feel a little wobbly, but my physical therapist said not to rely so much on the walker, and to give the cane a try for a few hours a day.”
“Good.” He was so much stronger now than he’d been a month ago. The new therapy he’d been doing was working wonders for him.
“Did you take that food over to Rafe’s house?” he asked.
“I did.”
“How’s he feeling?”
“He seems to be doing fine.”
Her grandfather chewed thoughtfully for a few minutes, then took a swallow of milk and set his glass down. “You were gone awhile.”
“Oh, we went for a walk. Since Rafe is on activity restriction for the next few days, I thought it would be good for him to get out and do some minimal exercise.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Just returning the favor since he often helps out here.”
“True enough.”
More chewing, more staring off into space. Grandpa did that when something was on his mind, so she waited, figuring he’d get around to saying whatever it was he needed to say.
“That Rafe is a fine young man, Carmen.”
And there it was. “Yes, he is, Grandpa.”
“You know, you’ve been divorced for four years. I don’t recall you bringing anyone over for me to meet. Or, for that matter, dressing up and going out anywhere. With anyone.”
Now it was time for her to focus on her sandwich. She took a bite, waiting for the subject to drop. Instead, her grandpa stared at her. Waiting.
Damn.
“I’ve gone out. I’m just busy.” Which was partly true. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t dated at all in the past four years. She’d had dates. Not in the first year after her divorce. But after she’d gotten over the sting of ending her marriage, she’d ventured out here and there. Though nothing serious, and certainly no man had interested her enough to bring him home to meet her grandfather.
“Life didn’t end for you just because your marriage did. You should get out, have some fun. Date a nice boy. Like Rafe.”
Ouch. “I’m not going to get serious with anyone right now, Grandpa. I have my hands full with work and with—”
His brows shot up. “With me? I don’t need a damn babysitter, girl.”
“That’s not what I was about to say. I just . . . I’m not ready yet.”
He laid his hand over hers. “Not every man is going to be like Tod.”