Page 93 of First Bride to Fall
“Life is all about compromise,” he said with a magnanimous gleam in his eyes.
Misty and Charlotte gazed at him adoringly, and Nell had to keep herself from rolling her eyes. “Yeah. Sure is.”
Misty surveyed the charred Brussels sprouts on the stove top. “Do you have something you can eat for dinner, Grant?”
“Oh yeah, tons. I laid in some groceries.”
“Boy, did he ever.” Nell winked at her sisters. “Including cleaning supplies.”
Grant’s neck reddened, and then his whole face went crimson, but Nell wasn’t going to mention his macho-man assignment of duties. Not just yet. She could let him think she was on the cusp of that, though. “Grant has the most interesting ideas about partnerships—and divisions of labor.”
He laughed uncomfortably and held up his hands. “No need to go boring your sisters.”
“We’re not bored,” Misty said, her gaze pinned on him.
He squirmed on his feet.
“Cleaning, hmm.” Charlotte took another appreciative glance around. “Well, things here look super clean to me.”
“Yeah,” Misty said. “All spic and span.” She studied Nell, like she suspected something was up.
“We should probably get going,” Charlotte said. “So you guys can get changed.” She addressed Nell. “How long do you expect you’ll stay?”
“Er…it’s hard to say.”
Grant arched his eyebrows at Nell. “Up to you.”
Good. Because she wasnotabout to walk out now. Not when she was this close to winning by having Grant dump her. She turned to her sisters. “Not sure. I’ll text you.”
There was no good way to ask about what they had—or hadn’t—revealed to Grant at Bearberry Brews in front of him, so Nell dropped it. She could always text them later, and at this point it hardly mattered.
She’d figured out Grant’s game, and she was gaming him back. Very successfully, in her estimation. He’d appeared really tempted by Charlotte’s chicken parmigiana. He’d practically drooled. Poor guy. She guessed he was famished, too. But he wasn’t getting one bite.
Oh well. He evidently had more trout, and he loved that. Nell smiled, happy to leave him to it. She knew what she was having tonight.
Thank you, Charlotte.
Grant walked Charlotte and Misty to the door. “Thanks for bringing Nell’s things by, and thanks for the dinner. I would definitely try some…” He glanced at Nell. “If I could.”
“You’re welcome,” Charlotte said.
Misty dangled a key chain in her hand. “We’re off to grab your car,” she told Nell.
“Thanks!”
Grant rubbed his upper arms. “It might be good to grab a shower,” he told Nell.
“Ooh, sounds romantic,” Misty teased. “We’ll hurry up and get out of your way.”
“Come on, Misty,” Charlotte said, dragging her along.
Grant gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Bye, guys.”
Nell blew them a kiss. “I appreciate you!”
“We love you, too,” Charlotte said. “Feel better.”
Misty waved. “Bye!”
