Just One Look (Castleton Hearts)

“Do you want a beer?” I asked.

“Yes, please,” she said, and I went in and grabbed two.

When I got back outside, Theo used the bottle opener on her keys to pop the top, and I couldn’t explain why that was sexy, but it was. Everything Theo did was sexy, it seemed.

“I’m also surprised you aren’t wearing a snarky grilling apron,” I said, hoping for another laugh.

Theo held up one finger and then went back inside. I shared a look with Scout, who was sitting right by the grill, his tail thumping.

“What’s she doing?” I asked him. He just tried to lick my leg.

“Is this what you wanted?” Theo said, coming out with an apron that said “I like smokin’ hot grills” on it.

I couldn’t stop myself from bursting out laughing, holding onto the railing for support.

“Oh my god, that is ridiculous,” I said when I could breathe. I stood up and found Theo trying not to smile and failing. I wiped my eyes and laughed again.

“Who gave you that?” I asked.

“My uncle. He has one too,” she said.

When it came to Theo, there were so many unknowns. I knew she had an older brother, but other than that, I didn’t know much.

“He sounds like a character,” I said, hoping to draw her out. She opened the grill and checked the burgers, flipping them and then adding the veggies.

“He is,” she said.

“Are you close with your parents?” I asked, pressing. Getting details out of Theo was worse than pulling teeth. She sipped her beer and set it down again.

“Not really. They moved a little further north a few years ago,” she said. “I don’t really miss them. Ralph has been more of a parent to me than they were, so I’m glad I have him.”

“My parents are still back in Boston. They’re going to come up and visit as soon as I have a bed for them to sleep in.”

“You know, I can help you with that,” she said.

“Oh, can you?” I said, pretending not to know what she was talking about.

“I’m good with my hands,” she said, wiggling her fingers.

There she was, causing me to have all kinds of sinful thoughts again. Those fingers were just…

I fumbled with my beer bottle and almost dropped it before I got my grip on the bottle.

“Have you always wanted to make furniture?” I asked.

She shook her head and petted Scout’s head absentmindedly.

“No, I went to school for industrial and graphic design,” she said. That made sense, giving the art in her house, and her skill with wood.

“But my uncle always let me watch him work, and he taught me woodworking. It had always been more of a hobby for me. Then he said he wanted to retire and was giving me the business, if I wanted it. Things in my life were…the timing was good. I needed to start fresh. So, I moved here and fixed up the cabin and now Ralph can spend his days sitting on the porch and talking to anyone who walks by and making the occasional chair if he wants to. Worked out for everyone.”

That was the most words I’d ever heard her say at once. I didn’t want to breathe too loudly and break the spell.

“My brother already has a career as a mechanic, and Ralph doesn’t have any kids, so I’d always sort of wondered if I might be able to join him one day.”

She checked the burgers again and flipped the veggies.

“Two pieces of cheese or one?” she asked.

“More cheese is always the answer,” I said, and she slapped two pieces of cheese on my burger and put one on her own.

I helped by brushing butter on the buns and adding them to the grill as well.

“I should get a grill,” I said. “You’d have to teach me how to use it.”

“It takes practice. I can show you, if you want, but I’m no expert.”

I helped Theo carry everything inside and we set up at the dining table.

“Why don’t you have any of your furniture in here?” I asked.

“Because I’m surrounded by it all day and I don’t want to see it when I come home too,” she said.

“Makes sense,” I agreed, putting butter on my corn.

Scout whined and sat next to Theo, hoping she’d give him some scraps.

“Scout, go lay down,” Theo said, snapping her fingers and pointing at the plush dog bed in the corner.

He immediately went to the bed and lay down, letting out a deep doggie sigh.

“What a good boy,” I said. “You’ve trained him well.”

“Don’t let him fool you. He’ll start trying to sneak over in a few minutes,” she said, giving Scout a glare.

I picked up my burger and took a bite, trying not to moan at how good it was.

“Why is it that everything cooked on a grill tastes a million times better?” I asked after I’d wiped my mouth.