Mind Games

“It does, a lot.”

“I’ve got that with Mac. With Blaze and Scott, too, but especially Mac.”

“You’ve written some great songs together.”

“We have, and will. I ran the new ones by him before my manager. And I’ve got to get back to it. I guess you do, too.”

“I should.”

“Appreciate the post-hike fuel. Listen, I’ll have some clear time Wednesday. I’m going to make another attempt doing chicken on the grill. The last failed, but I think I know where I went wrong. Willing to risk it?”

“I am.” She laid a hand over his. “Marinade, one hour, liquid margarita mix with a glug of soy sauce.”

“That doesn’t sound like it could possibly be right.”

She gave his hand a friendly pat. “You’ll thank me.”

“Maybe, but if not, it’ll be your fault. We’ve got to go, Bray.”

“Bunk can come. Please!”

“I’ll whistle for him in an hour.”

Ty nodded. “Yeah, he’ll walk us home. I’m going to kiss Thea goodbye.”

“Okay!”

He cupped her face with the kiss again, the way he had in his kitchen. The way that made her muscles go weak.

“I’d take you out, like an actual date, but—”

“You’re not ready to find and trust someone to stay with Bray. I like home. And, you might as well hear it. It’s sexy.”

“Home’s sexy?”

“Well, it can be. I meant the devoted father. That’s sexy.”

“Good to know, as I’ve got that one down.”

Bray climbed onto the bench, hugged Thea, kissed her, so easy, so spontaneous that her heart spilled over.

“Cookie?”

She bagged half a dozen, then as Ty often watched her, watched them walk, hands linked, down the lane with the dog beside them.

“Time to suck it up, Thea. You’re in love with both of them.”

When they moved out of sight, she went inside. She’d been taught, and she strongly believed, giving or receiving love was a gift.

She’d accept the gift of giving love.

Chapter Twenty-two

She baked a pie. To Thea’s way of thinking, if Ty failed with the chicken, she might find a way to save it. If not, they’d still have cherry pie.

Halfway down the lane, Bunk spotted Bray running through a wave of bubbles belching out of the mouth of a big plastic frog. One joyful bark and Bunk raced the rest of the way.

She saw smoke rising from the fancy grill, and the man with tongs in one hand, a beer in the other who looked her way and smiled.