“How about a little background before I go out there into a sea of people I don’t know.”
“Joni is one of the first women we helped. Every year she hosts a barbecue. Most of the people attending are also A Friend Indeed women, but some are parents and friends of the clients.” She hooked her arm in the crook of his elbow and headed for the door again. “I’ll introduce you around, but then you’re on your own.”
It felt so good to have her at his side that it disappointed him that she wouldn’t stay with him, but he understood. If they had just met, they’d still be in a friend stage, not behaving like a couple. He had to accept that.
“I appreciate the introductions.”
She hesitated another few seconds at the door. “You might get a critique or two of the work you’ve done.”
“Hey, you helped!” He opened the sliding glass door. “If I’m going down in flames, you’re going with me.”
She laughed and the second they stepped onto the stone floor of the small patio, Liz said, “Hey, everybody, this is Cain. He’s the new board member who’s been fixing up houses.”
A general round of approval rippled through the crowd.
Liz leaned in and whispered, “Get ready. Any second now you’ll be surrounded.”
Her warning didn’t penetrate. He was too busy analyzing whether it was good or bad that she hadn’t introduced him as her ex-husband. On the one hand it did point to the fact that she saw their association as being a new one. On the other, she could be embarrassed about having been married to him. So it took him by surprise when a middle-aged man approached him and extended his hand for shaking.
“You did Amanda’s house?”
“That was mostly painting,” Cain said, snatching Liz’s hand, holding her in place when it appeared she would desert him. “And Liz and I were equal partners on that one.”
“Don’t be so modest,” Ayleen said, ambling up to them. “I hear the whole house is to die for.”
“It is.” Amanda walked over. She unexpectedly hugged Cain. “Thanks again.”
Embarrassment flooded him at her praise. What he’d done was so simple, so easy for him. Yet it had meant the world to Amanda. “I guess that means you like the house?”
“Like is too simple of a word,” she said with a laugh.
Liz shook her hand free of his, as if eager to get away. “How about if I get us a drink? What would you like?”
Not quite sure what to say, Cain raised his eyebrows in question. “What do they have?”
“What if I get us both a cola?”
“Sounds great.”
The second Liz left, he began fielding questions about the work he’d done on Amanda’s house and the four houses he still planned to repair.
Eventually he and the middle-aged man who introduced himself as Bob, Joni’s dad, wandered over to the grill.
“This is my grandson, Tony.” Bob introduced Cain to the man flipping burgers.
Cain caught a flash of yellow out of his peripheral vision before a tall blonde grabbed his forearm and yanked him away from the grill. “Sorry, guys. But he’s mine for a few minutes.” She smiled at him. “I’m Ellie. My friends call me Magic.”
“Magic? Like Magic Johnson, the basketball player?”
“No, magic as in my wishes generally come true and I can also pretty much figure out somebody’s deal in a short conversation.”
“You’re going to interrogate me, aren’t you?”
“I know who you are.”
“Who I am?”
“You’re Liz’s ex. She hasn’t said anything, but for her to be introducing you around, I’m guessing she likes you again.”
He paused. His heart skipped a beat. Her wariness around him took on new meaning. He’d been so careful to behave only as a friend that she might not understand his feelings for her now ran much deeper. She might think he didn’t like her “that” way anymore. But he did. And if she wanted more, so did he.
“Really?”
Ellie sighed. “Really. Come on. Let’s cut the bull. We both know you’re cute. We both know she loved you. Now you’re back and she’s falling for you. If she’s holding back, I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”
Cain couldn’t help it; he smiled.
Ellie shook her head with a sigh. “Don’t be smug. Or too sure of yourself. As her friend, I’m going to make it my business to be certain you don’t hurt her again.”
“You don’t have to make it your business. You have my word.”
She studied his face. “Odd as this is going to sound, I believe you.”
Liz walked over with two cans of cola. “Ellie! What are you doing?”
“Checking him out,” Ellie said without an ounce of shame in her voice. “I’m going to help Joni with the buns and salads.”
Liz faced him with a grimace. “Sorry about that.”
“Is she really magic?”
Liz laughed. “Did she tell you that?”
“Yes.”
“Then she likes you and that’s a big plus.”
Liz casually turned to walk away, but Cain caught her arm. “So these people are your friends?”
“Yes.”
He expected her to elaborate, but she didn’t. She eased her arm out of his grasp and walked away. Ten minutes ago, that would have upset him. Now, Ellie’s words repeated in his head. “If she’s holding back I’m guessing it’s only because she thinks you don’t want her.”
He glanced around and frowned. They were with her friends. He couldn’t make a move of any kind here. That much he was sure of. But soon, very soon, he was going to have to do something to test Ellie’s theory.
Cain went back to the group of men at the grill and in seconds he felt odd. Not exactly uncomfortable. Not exactly confused. But baffled, as if something important sat on the edge of his brain trying to surface but it couldn’t.
The conversation of the men around him turned to children, house payments and job difficulties. He couldn’t identify with anything they were discussing. He didn’t have kids or a mortgage or job difficulties. So, he didn’t say a word, simply listened, putting things in context by remembering the things he’d learned working with Billy and for Amanda, and then he suddenly understood why he felt so weird.
It wasn’t because Liz’s magical friend had basically told him that Liz cared for him. It was because Liz had left him alone with her friends. Alone. Not monitoring what he said. Not anxious or fearful that he’d inadvertently insult someone.
She trusted him.
She trusted him.
Just the thought humbled him. But also sort of proved out Ellie’s suspicion that Liz liked him again as more than a friend. A woman didn’t trust the people she loved to just anyone.
When the burgers were grilled to perfection, Cain scooped them up with a huge metal spatula and piled them on a plate held by Bob. When everything was on the table, he took a seat at the picnic table where Liz sat. He didn’t sit beside her. He didn’t want to scare her, but he did like being around her. And Ellie’s comment that Liz was falling for him again was beginning