“Ginger beer?” I could her thoughts swirling, the fear that instantly darkened her eyes.
“It’s fermented, but nonalcoholic. I wouldn’t do that.”
Augusta blinked rapidly and shook her head. “I know that. It’s just, habit, I guess.” She shrugged off the moment of worry that seemed to take her back to her childhood and tried for a smile that did nothing to mask that moment of terror. “So, what else?”
“Fresh ground lamb for burgers along with a cherry mint relish and tzatziki sauce. Homemade hotdogs with a new ketchup I’m working on. Veggie kabobs. Tons of stuff for a barbecue and more than enough for all of us.”
She eyed the food set out on the counter and nodded. “You’re the chef, so I’ll be out of your way in a sec.”
“Come on, Rosie. Let’s go get the grill started,” Oliver took her hand. “I’ll even let you toss the match in.”
“All right!” She put her hand in his and they exited through the kitchen into the backyard.
It was just me and Augusta. “I don’t want to interrupt time with your dad, Augusta. We can go.”
“No need. He invited you over and I just showed up.” She turned to the fridge and took her time putting the food away. “I can handle this if you can,” she said when she turned back to me, her tone defiant, a challenge.
“I can more than handle it, because I want to see you and talk to you. I want to be around you.”
“Antonio,” she sighed.
I didn’t want to get into another argument, so I unpacked the food and changed the subject. “The mac & cheese episode goes live today. Want to watch it together?”
A cascade of red curls swung around her face and shoulders when she shook her head. “Absolutely not. If I decide to watch it, I’ll do it by myself.”
My lips curled into a grin at her words. “Why do it by yourself when you can do it with company?” I wiggled my eyebrows and she stared at me for a long moment before a laugh exploded out of her.
Was there anything more lovely, sexier, than a woman who laughed with wild abandon? Her shoulders shook, her tits jiggled and her skin flushed beautifully as she laughed. I didn’t even care that it was at my expense.
“What?”
“You’re gorgeous,” I answered simply because it was the truth. The sun that filtered into the kitchen through the blinds lit locks of her hair like fire.
“I’m not,” she insisted just as I knew she would.
“You have a problem, Augusta, you know that?”
She folded her arms and her auburn brows crinkled in confusion. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“You’re blind, or rather you don’t’ see what I see when I look at you.” Maybe living in LA had left me jaded, but it seemed impossible that a woman as beautiful and smart and appealing as her, couldn’t see it. “That’s okay, I’m perfectly happy to show you what I see.”
The back door smacked open and Rosie rushed inside, interrupting the moment. “Daddy, can I split a strawberry soda with Grandpa Ollie?”
Augusta froze at Rosie’s words and I wondered what that was about. “Rosie, you know he’s not really your grandpa, right?” Big, worried green eyes looked to me for help, but my daughter had it under control.
“I know, but my grandpas don’t live here, and Grandpa Ollie said he could be my grandpa and do grandpa things with me, like take me out for ice cream, give me strawberry soda and dollars. Lots and lots of dollars.” Her matter-of-fact tone, as if it was just a foregone conclusion, was damned adorable.
Augusta thought over Rosie’s words, smiled and shrugged. “Cool. The logic is sound and it never hurts to have more people love you. What a lucky girl you are.” I watched the openness, the honesty on her face, left me transfixed.
She was that way with everyone but me.
Rosie smiled before she launched herself in Augusta’s arms. “Love you too, Nurse Gus.” She squirmed away, the call of strawberry soda too strong, and darted towards the door and turned to me. “Can I Daddy?”
I nodded. “That means you can’t have one with lunch.”
“Okay.” She smiled again and ran to the backyard.
“She is a little whirlwind.”
I laughed. “An accurate description, though I would have said tornado, some days a gale force wind.” Her wistful smile tugged me closer, a magnetic pull I couldn’t resist. “You sure you’re okay with her calling Ollie, Grandpa?”
She frowned up at me. “Of course. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t think so because of us. That could be confusing. Or hurtful.”
“Thank you, for thinking of her heart.”
She shrugged off my words, but the move wasn’t dismissive. “She’s an amazing little girl.”
“You’re good with kids.”
Augusta let out a small laugh and shook her head. “I’ve worked with children for years, I should hope so.” Her words were slightly dismissive but it was more than that and I smiled. “What?”