nodded a greeting. Laughter mixed with the sound of music coming from the built-in speakers on the open back patio. Jared grimaced. Country, of course.
“What?” Jenny said, noticing his expression.
“Nothing,” he said, trying his damnedest to keep his gaze off her cleavage. The minute he saw her walking out of the house in a pair of Daisy Duke shorts and a bikini top, he knew he was doomed before the party had even started.
“Here,” she pointed. “Let’s put the chairs by this table.” Behind a large barbeque, Jenny’s dad was busy flipping burgers and rotating hot dogs. There were also clams steaming next to the barbeque. “Hey, Daddy,” Jenny called out. “That sure smells good.”
“Jelly Belly,” her dad said, engulfing her in a bear hug. He wore an apron that said World’s Greatest Cook.
Jenny pointed to her dad’s apron. “He taught me everything I know.”
Jared laughed as he shook her dad’s hand.
“How about a beer?” he said, opening the cooler next to him.
“Thanks.” Jared took the cold beer.
Her dad grabbed a couple of red plastic plates. “Now let me dish you up some food. How about a hamburger or hot dog? Or some clams?”
“I’m not hungry,” said Jenny. She turned to Jared. “Do you want anything?”
You. “No, thanks. Not yet.”
“If you see your mother, tell her I need more melted butter for the clams.”
“Aunt Jenny! Jared!” Cody ran up to them, a hot dog in his hand.
“Hey, sport,” Jared said.
Jenny hugged her nephew and rubbed the top of his head. “Hi to you, too. Your mom here?”
“She’s coming later. After work. Are those fireworks?” he asked, eyeing the big bag Jared held.
“Yep.”
“Cool.”
“How about showing me where to put these until we need them tonight and then helping me grab a cooler and the other bag of fireworks out of the Suburban?”
Cody’s eyes widened. “Another bag. Sweet.”
They left Jenny trying to find her mom and walked back to the car. Cody chattered nonstop about his upcoming playoff game and working on his curve ball. “You gonna play in the game later today?”
“What game?”
Cody rolled his eyes like Jared should know. “The baseball game we have every year.”
“Here?”
“No duh.”
Jared grinned at the smart-aleck answer. “I didn’t bring a glove.”
“I have my dad’s you can use. Remember?”
Jared knew he should say no. The more time he spent with Cody, the harder it was becoming for Jared to stay detached. But instead of doing the smart thing, he said, “Guess I’m all set.”
After they brought the cooler and fireworks to the backyard, Cody spied a group of kids his age and took off, calling over his shoulder, “Don’t forget about the game later.”
Jared stood at the edge of the lawn and took a drink of his beer. He watched Jenny dart in and out of the house and around the yard, doing dozens of tasks. Setting out food, greeting newcomers, making sure they had something to eat and drink. When a little girl smacked her foot with a croquet mallet, Jenny was there to soothe away her tears. Not once did he see her take a break.
When Jenny’s mom called to her husband that she needed him in the house, Jared walked over to the grill. “Need me to take over?” he said to John.
“That would be great, thanks.” Jenny’s dad handed him the spatula and motioned to the tongs hanging off the side of the grill. “How about the apron?”
Jared laughed. “You better keep it.” It wasn’t long before Jenny joined him. As he cooked, she handed out red plastic plates loaded with thick hamburgers, plump hot dogs, steamed clams and corn on the cob.
“Hey, you’re starting to cook like me,” Jenny said, pointing to a charred hot dog.
He looked down, surprised he hadn’t burned everything. She was the only thing he could concentrate on. “It’s for you. I know how you like them.”
She punched his arm. “Don’t be a butt.”
He wasn’t being a butt; he was watching one. Hers to be precise. Instead of keeping his eye on the grill, he’d been keeping his eyes on Jenny’s tight ass. He should have kept the apron to hide his reaction. Her mom called, and she was off again, running. While he was helping at the barbeque, Jared found himself visiting with people as they came to dish up. Surprisingly, even surrounded by so many people, he started to relax.
As the shadows began to lengthen across the lawn, the badminton net came down and the wire croquet hoops were pulled. Tables were pushed back