Clover by Braxton Cole Page B

barbecue.” Jake looked at the tanks and couldn’t tell which line fed which grill. “Does it matter which one?”
    “Nope. Just pick one.”
    A backyard barbecue shouldn’t have caused Jake to hesitate, but it did. He’d spent enough time with Clover and R.J. growing up that he’d become almost immune to the signs of Mr. Watson’s wealth. Still, that they had an entire outdoor kitchen on their back deck rather than a simple barbecue like most people struck a hard chord with him. It was a stark reminder of the differences between his life and theirs.
    Was he fooling himself into believing that he could ever have more with Clover? He seemed to be behind her in every possible way.
    “Did you get it?” Clover looked at him with that curious adoration that he’d come to love. That look told him yes. Yes, he could have more. All he had to do was quiet his fears and trust in the way he and Clover felt about each other.
    “Yep. Is it working?”
    “Let’s see.”
    Jake heard an electronic click followed by the rush of propane flames in the barbecue. “Awesome.”
    He left the shrubbery and joined Clover on the back deck again. With one arm strung around her waist, he dropped the lid on the barbecue to keep the heat inside. “What else do I need to do?”
    Clover turned in his arms until they stood face to face with her hands resting against his chest. She seemed to like that position and he really liked that she liked it. She smiled and rose up on her toes. “Kiss me.”
    They were still kissing when he heard Brandon say, “You guys have to stop that. Randy is right behind me.”
    Clover ended the kiss with a laugh and she turned to take a plate of steaks from Brandon. “Thanks for the warning.”
    Brandon pulled the plate out of her reach. “Oh no, you don’t. I got this. You go entertain your boyfriend. Just don’t let your dad see you entertaining him with quite so much tongue.”
    Jake was still wiping away the evidence of Clover’s last kiss with the back of his hand when Brandon mentioned her tongue. All hope he had of being discreet went to hell as he choked and had a coughing fit at the same time. Brandon chuckled as he pounded Jake on the back a couple of times. Jake wasn’t entirely sure how Brandon fit into their family dynamic, but he knew enough to recognize that he’d been caught fooling around by someone he’d rather not be caught by.
    As soon as he could speak again, Jake said, “I’m sorry, sir.”
    Brandon shoved Jake’s shoulder lightly and said, “Get him out of here before he chokes to death.” He was speaking to Clover, not Jake.
    She kissed Brandon on the cheek, then led Jake down the back steps. Their hands fit together in such a way that made him never want to hold hands with anyone else, ever again. They walked through the yard and hit a small trail that led out into the field behind the house.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed.” Jake was still trying to get his breathing to settle down.
    “Really? Why? Brandon’s a sweetie.” Clover swung their joined hands gently between them.
    “But what if it’d been your dad?” He needed Clover’s dad to like him. His aunt had warned him too many times for him to screw that up.
    She sobered a bit, but didn’t stop smiling. “My dad knows I’m not a little girl anymore.”
    “That doesn’t mean he’s ready to see you being all grown up on his back deck.”
    “Mmm.”
    They walked far enough that Jake could no longer see the house and he debated heading back. There was a pile of steak waiting for them and he wanted to claim at least one of them. But the sun was getting lower in the sky and Clover’s hand felt good in his. He wanted to make this moment last more than he wanted steak.
    “My dad asked me about you earlier.”
    Her words made his heart beat a little faster than usual. “What about me?”
    Clover slowed gradually to a stop, then turned to face him. She looped her arms around his neck and