Chapter 19 #2
She took one look at him, and I swear to god, her eyes did that cartoon heart shape thing. To be fair, there was a lot to be happy about, as Gage was one handsome man. Plus he was here helping me paint, so he’d just made a fabulous first impression.
“Hi, Gage. I’m Samantha Taylor.”
His smile was all charm. “Hi. I’d better not touch you, I’ve got paint all over my hands already.”
“That’s fine, that’s fine. I brought lunch, and now I’m glad I brought extra. Can you pause and eat?”
“Sure, I’m almost done with the first coat. Give me two minutes.”
He had worked his way around the room pretty quickly, but then again, it wasn’t a huge room.
“I’ll, uh, just wrap the brush so it doesn’t dry out while we’re eating. Grandma, let me carry the basket into the kitchen.”
The second I gained the kitchen, which was near the front of the house, she seized my elbow.
“Logan! How’d you catch such a handsome man?”
“I legit have no idea. I asked him out on the off chance he might say yes, and for some reason he agreed. He’s fabulous to date, though. I’m hoping we’ll develop a steady relationship.”
I swear to you, my grandmother reverted to a teenage girl in front of my eyes. “What’s he like?”
“Fun, but he’s a great listener, and we have quite a few common interests. And he kisses like a dream.”
She giggled, delighted at this information. “What does he do for work?”
“He’s an architect and structural engineer.”
Her jaw dropped. “Brains and beauty, woo!”
“For a fact. Actually, his company is renovating my bar.”
“Oh, is that how you met?”
“No, we initially met because his younger brother was smashed at my bar. Gage picked him up.”
“And here you said the bar was only good for hookups.”
“To be fair to me, I didn’t ask him out until after I’d met him again for work.”
Gage joined us in the kitchen at this point, looking at the spread of fried chicken, potato salad, biscuits, and corn on the cob—a typical spread for Grandma. She loved to cook but lived alone, so often she’d swing by and feed me. I wasn’t complaining one iota.
He did a double take. “Wow, this smells amazing. It looks great too.”
“Sit, Gage, sit,” Grandma encouraged. “Did you wash your hands?”
“I did.”
She sat next to him. Grandma now had a new toy. “Logan told me how you two met. And you’re an architect? With a company of your own?”
“Well, I’ve got three business partners, and together we own the company. Gay 4 Renovations, if you’ve heard of it.”
“I have, actually! A girlfriend of mine used your company to redo her back patio and stairs to incorporate a ramp for her husband.”
Gage narrowed his eyes, thinking. “The Walkers, by chance?”
“Your memory for people must be very good.”
“Well, that was one of the few times I’ve had to design something like that, and I had to research codes first to make sure it stayed in compliance. Plus they were both so sweet, always fetching us water or lemonade as we were building it. Sticks in the memory.”
“That does sound like her.” Grandma was pleased he remembered, I could tell.
Gage loaded up a plate, we all did, and his first bite of chicken made him groan.
“She’s a good cook,” I said, like he’d articulated an actual compliment. “It’s part of the reason why I’m always glad to see her.”
Gage looked at her and said earnestly, “If your grandson won’t have me, I’ll marry you, okay?”
She patted his arm, charmed already. “Done and done.”
“Hey, don’t count me out of the running yet,” I rebuked mildly, totally laughing on the inside. “I can cook too!”
Gage paused with a biscuit halfway to his mouth. “Cook like she does?”
“Well, yeah. She’s the one who taught me how to cook.”
Gage’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “In that case, I’ll seduce you later.”
Grandma giggled, happy we were comfortable enough to flirt in front of her, judging by her wicked smile. She’d always wanted this for me. I’d admit, a handsome man comfortable enough to openly be with me fulfilled the stuff of daydreams.
Just wait until I made him my chicken pot pie. He’d have me on my back before I could blink.
We teased each other all through lunch, then cleaned up and went back to painting.
Well, I went back to painting, as I still had to finish cutting in.
Doing all the trim work was always so much slower than rolling the walls.
Gage ended up sitting on the bed with Grandma beside him.
She really was taken with him, wasn’t she?
They chattered happily as I continued to paint, and I kept an eye on them, but Gage seemed to enjoy their conversation. I hoped and prayed we’d make it as a couple. Any man who could charm my grandmother and enjoy her company was a keeper for sure.
Only when I’d made it around the room and needed a break did I stop and sidetrack their conversation.
“Grandma, Gage has a cop friend he can ask a favor of. We were thinking maybe we should have the cop friend on standby when we move Erin out.”
Her face fell, and I felt bad dampening her good mood.
“That’s a smart move. I don’t understand my daughter, I really don’t. I didn’t raise her to be like this. I didn’t raise her to hate gay people either. I blame that no-good man she married.”
My mother was the type to be easily swayed, so it was possible. I couldn’t say either way. By time I was born, she was already this hateful person who was always disappointed with her sons.
“Gage, I hope you know all my grandsons are good men. Logan had a rough start, but he came through it, and if I believed in having favorites, he’d be mine.”
For that, I leaned in and kissed her forehead.
She smiled, but it was brief. “I don’t understand this idea of being disappointed in your children because they’re the wrong gender.
I don’t understand it at all. A true parent would want a healthy child, and that’s all.
Even if your child isn’t healthy, you should love them.
There’s nothing right about her attitude.
I haven’t spoken more than five words to my daughter in years because I’m just so disappointed in her.
I’m glad you’re taking in Erin, Logan. I know you’ll do right by her.
I want to give you a little money every month to support her. ”
My grandmother wasn’t swimming in money, so I lifted a hand, stopping this. “Grandma, I’ve more than got her expenses covered.”
Her expression turned mulish. “You hush and take the money.”
I knew better than to argue. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Erin will need gas money, and pocket money, and she can use it for small expenses if you don’t need it.”
Time to divert this argument. “She’s hoping you’ll take her shopping. She hates all of the clothes Mom’s forced her into.”
“Oh! I can do that, certainly. I’ll get on Pinterest,” Grandma declared. “Share the board with her so we can figure out her style.”
God help us all. My grandmother loved Pinterest. Lived on it, in fact. Well, it would be fun for her, and it might help Erin narrow down a style to buy. “Sure.”
“I’ll let you finish painting. I’ve got a hair appointment I don’t want to be late for. Gage, you come with Logan next Sunday for lunch, all right? He always has lunch with me on Sundays.”
“I’d love to.”
She hugged him, then me, and she was out the door again with her basket of dishes before I could even offer to carry it to the car for her. Sprightly little thing for an almost seventy-year-old woman.
Gage picked up the roller again, but he glanced in the direction of the front door. “Your grandmother is amazing.”
“She’s my favorite relative, bar none.”
“I can see why. It’s even more odd that your mother is the way she is.”
“My mother is the type to conform to anything her partner wants. She married a man who is very conservative and hateful about it.”
“Oh. Yeah, I can see how it happened, then.”
“Gage?”
“Yeah?”
“Understand Grandma wants you over for Sunday lunches. You’ve been adopted.”
“Honestly? Sounds awesome. I’ve never had a grandmother, and if I had to choose, I’d take yours in a heartbeat.”
Good, then he realized he truly was welcome among my family. Thank god my grandmother had just randomly stopped by. If it made Gage more secure about dating me, I’d take the win.
Gage looked about the room. “Let me finish up this second coat, then I’m messaging Zar.”
“Please and thank you.”
Dating a handsome, considerate man had so many benefits.