“I really wanted this rest, J. Coop. What’s the sense of working so hard, building something to success, if you don’t take the time to enjoy it?”
This was the first time Phillip had ever said anything like that to him, and the fact it was, really was telling. Jason didn’t doubt for one moment the bond between them. It was real and two sided. What he did doubt, and for the first time, was that he had been as good a friend to Phillip as Phillip had been to him.
You understood he badly wanted to stay here in Lusty instead of heading off somewhere else for your vacation. Jason didn’t know why his inner voice was trying to cut him some slack. In his own mind, he sure as hell didn’t deserve any.
Jason had some serious thinking to do. It was time he did just that. He looked at Phillip and nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’m sorry I’ve been such a…such a pain.”
“You have never been a pain, my friend. Rigid and driven? Yes. But I honestly believe that we wouldn’t have the success we’ve achieved if you hadn’t been.”
“Thank you for that. And maybe you’re right. But my mistake was carrying it all too far—and letting that attitude intrude where it really didn’t belong.”
Jason guessed, by the fact that Phillip didn’t contradict him, he’d said it exactly right. He thought about all his family relationships and knew he needed to re-evaluate the way he’d been over the last several years. One thing he already knew about Lusty was that, here, family came first. How fitting would it be, then, if he put his focus on those relationships and have a real good look at his life from that perspective?
To his way of thinking, that was a damn good place to start.
Chapter Twelve
Leesa enjoyed cooking for Jason and Phillip and never minded doing so, even after a long shift at Lusty Appetites. But this—sitting and relaxing in their kitchen with a glass of wine as the two men worked together to get supper ready for her—this was nice, too.
Jason had announced, upon her arrival, that he’d purchased fresh steak earlier that day. She watched as he prepared it for grilling, and while his actions were competent, she thought his mind wasn’t completely on the task at hand. He seemed to be a bit preoccupied, but she couldn’t tell by his expression if that preoccupation involved pleasant thoughts, or not.
Leesa supposed that if she was a woman who was a bit less self-assured, she’d be worried that whatever bothered him had something to do with her.
But she wasn’t that woman, and so, while she kept an eye on him, and his mood, she was more than willing to let him have the emotional and mental space he seemed to need right then.
Leesa often used the mundane, like cooking, to let whatever troubled her roll around in the back of her mind. Then, when it had rolled sufficiently, she likened leaving it alone to putting a pot of bean soup on the back burner. Bean soup, at a low heat, could continue to become soup over hours using the slightest of simmers and practically no attention at all.
Much like the mysterious way the human subconscious works on problems.
“You had a busy day today,” Jason said. “Aunt Bernice told me that a tour bus out of Dallas stopped in just past the usual lunch rush.”
Leesa nodded. “Apparently the driver had made a wrong turn a few years back and happened upon Lusty, and the restaurant, by accident. I’ve been told that, since then, he swings through a couple of times a year. He called in and gave us a half-hour’s heads-up.” Leesa grinned. “It sure was busy, but I don’t mind busy.”
As they’d indulged in conversation, her inner sense kicked her. It was all well and good to have a policy of giving someone space. No one wanted to be around a person who was clingy and intrusive all the time. But there was an ache in her chest, and she knew she wasn’t going to leave it alone. This wasn’t just anyone, this was Jason, and she had the sense he was hurting.
“How was your day, Jason? You seem a little…pensive.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Phillip look up. His slight grin and the wink he sent her settled on her like a soothing balm. He’s glad I’m asking.
Jason looked up from seasoning the steaks and met her gaze. “My day? It was eye opening. And I admit to being pensive. I’ll tell you all about it as we eat.”
They’d wrapped potatoes in foil and placed them on the grill, closing the lid, about forty minutes before Jason set the meat on the fire. In almost no time at all, Leesa was sitting with those two grill-cooked dishes and a good portion of the green salad Phillip had put together.
“You’ve a good hand with the grill.” Leesa’s steak had been cooked to perfection.
“Thanks. I’ve always enjoyed cooking in general, but I especially like grilling.”
“I like cooking, too,” Phillip said. “Mom insisted that we all learn. She thought we should be able to do for ourselves when we left home for college so we didn’t have to rely on restaurants. No offense, sweetheart.”
Phillip’s Cheshire-cat grin made her chuckle. “Of course not.” She almost said that if she had a son, she’d insist on the same thing, that he be able to cook. And any daughter of hers would damn sure know how to check her car’s oil and change the tires. Let’s pull those thoughts back right now and tuck them away. This wasn’t the moment for that.
“So, my day.”
Jason looked so sad just then
