that.”
Haley spoke from her position at the stove where she’d been stirring a pot of something. She’d left them
to their arguing, obviously not willing to take part in their little testosterone performance.
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“Of course I can handle myself. I’m not an idiot, Rick.”
Rick moved beside her and turned her toward him. His voice was tender when he said, “I know that,
sis. Still, I can’t help but feel like shit for being out in California and leaving you to deal with Eric on your
own.”
She smiled at him. “I wanted to handle it on my own. If I’d wanted interference, I could have gone to
Mom and Dad.”
“That whole situation sucked. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She smacked his chest. “Could you please give me a little bit of credit? I do have some sense, you
know. I’m not dumb enough to get mixed up with two idiots. One was my limit. I learned my lesson,
believe me.” She sighed and looked at Jeremy this time when she said reproachfully, “And I do wish
people would stop trying to tell me I don’t know my own mind.”
Rick ruffled her hair as if she were a child. “You’ve always been too sassy for your own good.”
She laughed and pushed him away from her. “Go on your date, I’ve got your cell number if I need you.”
Jeremy was fascinated as he watched the byplay. He’d never had a sister, but he figured if he did, he’d
be just as protective of her as Rick was with Haley. His respect for the man grew.
Before Rick left, however, he grabbed an ice-pack out of the freezer, then glared at Jeremy and
stomped off to get dressed.
With her brother out of the room, Haley turned to Jeremy and invited him to stay for dinner. “It’s only
spaghetti with meat sauce and bread sticks, nothing fancy.”
He leaped at the offer. “I’m not a fancy man. Spaghetti sounds great.”
Apparently, she’d been in the middle of cooking dinner for herself, but there was still plenty for two. The
aromatic scents of breadsticks fresh from the oven and spicy meat sauce filled the air. Suddenly, he was
starving.
He helped her set the plates around the island, and soon they were situated on the stools. She was a
great cook. Just another mysterious Haley fact. He didn’t know much about her, but he was truly loving
the discovery.