Page 77 of From the Edge

The folks gathered widened a path as Hope approached, and when she got to the grill, she paused to get it started. Once that was done, Hope went for the smokers and pulled on the heatproof gloves.

She moved with the ease of practice, and Rowan felt bubbling happiness in her chest. When Hope eased the first slab of beef off the smoker, everyone gasped. She piled them on the pan and carried the meat into the house. Rowan changed things up and took the brisket apart in the kitchen. By the time she had done two, Hope was looking at the burgers and steaks. “Those going on?”

“Yup. Will you?”

“Of course.”

She grinned, brought the two huge pans back outside, and prepped the first grill with an oiled rag while she got the second to heat.

She hummed and started the burgers. Rowan smiled. “They are stuffed, so you are doing great.”

“Any skewers?”

“Oh, shoot, yes. Be right back.”

“Who’s breaking down the pork?”

“My fella. Renyet. Well, Ren.”

“Ah, the green guy.”

“Yes. Why did you hide?”

“I didn’t want to add to your burden. You were working through enough.” She was flicking burgers onto the grill efficiently.

“I could have helped.”

“No. You were stressed. I could see it in your skin. I gave back through the plants and trees. I tried to keep you calm, and I watched over you until you got the spells under control. It was all I could do, so I did it.” She grinned. “I also stole a bunch of the spare blankets from the empty rooms.”

Rowan blinked. “I had no idea.”

“I snuck in when the house let me in. It only let me in when you weren’t there. Glad you got a job.”

Rowan paused. “Did you sleep in the rooms?”

“The house locked me in a few times, but thanks to the soundproofing, you didn’t hear a thing.”

“So the house knew you were there.”

“Yup.”

Hope started flipping the burgers.

“You are good at that.”

“It was one of my first jobs.”

“Hope?”

“Yes, Rowan?”

“Will you move into the house with me?”

“I can’t pay you, so no. I have seen the rental contracts, and I can’t pay that.”

Rowan frowned. “You think I would charge you?”

“You should. Life isn’t free.”