Page 71 of The List
Cassie lifts an eyebrow at her sister and crosses one sandal-clad ankle over the other, then leans against the deck railing. “Is that a real question? You know my idea of crafty is replacing an empty toilet paper roll, right?”
“I made them,” I volunteer, earning myself a dubious look from Brooks. “Well, I had them made just for Cassie. Each layer is a different type of soil from the Pacific Northwest. That blackish one is a Medford loam from southern Oregon, and the red one is a Jory soil from Douglas County, and the middle one is Walla Walla silt loam from?—”
“The fact that you can name even one type of soil is the reason you’re totally getting laid tonight,” Cassie interrupts, sliding an arm around my waist as she beams up at me.
“Please,” Missy scoffs. “The fact that he can dress himself would be all the reason you’d need.”
Cassie laughs. “Actually, I sort of prefer him undressed.”
“Bad idea,” Brooks says, grimacing at the grill. “For safety’s sake, no naked grilling.”
“Come on, party pooper.” Missy links her arm through his. “Let’s go find the dip.”
I don’t get a chance to ponder whether that’s a euphemism for something, because Cassie’s hand in the back pocket of my shorts is making me think seriously about tossing aside the barbecue tongs and letting the burgers burn while I ravage her against the side of the house.
It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Thanks for doing this,” she says as she squeezes my ass. “I wasn’t sure how the whole family thing was going to gel.”
“Seems to be gelling pretty well to me.”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
She looks around to take in the expansive lawn, the sparkling turquoise pool, the rows of pink and purple petunias planted several weeks ago when Missy and Lisa snuck in to give my yard “a homey touch.”
It is homey, though. It’s not the sort of home I even imagined for myself. It’s better.
I look down at Cassie and grin. “I think we’ve done pretty well here.”
She tucks a strand of hair behind one ear and smiles back at me. “Not too shabby at all. You’re pretty okay for a frivolous sex toy.”
“Same to you.” I grin and check the burgers one last time. “I love you, Cass. So damn much.”
For a guy who swore he’d never say that to anyone besides his sister, I’ve gotten pretty good at it lately. From the way Cassie beams at me, I can tell she agrees.
“I love you, too.” She stands on tiptoe to plant a kiss on my temple. “Now give me a burger.”
“I’ll give it to you, all right.” I scoop one off the grill and slide it onto the toasted bun she hands me. “I’ll give it to you any way you want it.”
Cassie laughs and kisses me again, this time on the lips. “Nothing like a man who’s generous with the meat.”
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