Fringe Benefits by Sandy James Page B

travel cup. “Just sugar, right?”
    Nate took the cup and sipped the drink. “Perfect. Thanks, Dani.”
    She cast a glance back toward the stairs. “What’s up with your mother? She doesn’t seem to like me much.”
    “It’s not you. Not really. She’s just a little overprotective.”
    Although Dani didn’t look at all convinced, she nodded. Turning on her heel, she tried to take a step away.
    Snaking a hand around her upper arm, Nate stopped her. “So after we get everything set up, do you wanna… maybe go out for a bite to eat?”
    “With your family?”
    “I imagine they’ll want to get back on the road soon.”
    At least she thought it over before she shook her head. Then she softened the blow. “How about I fix us something here instead?”
    “Sounds like heaven.”

Chapter Nine
    Dani was slicing a zucchini when Nate came through the basement door.
His
door. It was sure going to take some time for her to get used to seeing him move so freely around her house.
    “Brought some music,” he said as he headed into the great room. “Is that okay?”
    “Sure. Is it on an MP3?” she asked.
    “Yep.”
    “Then use my sound system. It’s on the shelf just to the left of the TV.”
    “Saw it earlier.”
    All she could see was his back as he fiddled with her equipment. He’d dressed casually—a polo and khaki shorts.
    She’d chosen an outfit every bit as relaxed. This wasn’t a date, she had to remind herself. They were only sharing a meal, something they’d probably be doing from time to time. The tone needed to be companionable, not romantic.
    “This setup is amazing,” Nate said.
    “My dad got it for me.”
    The elaborate entertainment equipment had been a gift from her father, but as always there was guilt attached. When the house was finally finished, her parents had come all the way from California to see it and brought along the present of cutting-edge technology. Of course, Dad had to comment on how he’d originally planned on buying her everything she and the husband she really didn’t need would require when they started a family.
    Could’ve used this money for the perfect nursery, Dani-girl
, he’d said, as though buying something solely for her was a waste of his hard-earned cash. It wasn’t as though he didn’t have plenty to spare, so why the guilt trip?
    Accustomed to her father’s snark, Dani had reacted in her usual way. She’d let his criticism slide. He loved her. But being his only child put a lot of pressure on her to be what he wanted her to be.
    Her mother never pressured her to settle down and have babies, probably because she knew her daughter well enough to understand that Dani was exactly like her father and couldn’t be nagged or bullied into doing something she simply didn’t want to do.
    “This is an amazing sound system,” Nate said a moment before strains of “My Girl” filled the house.
    Quirking a brow, she asked, “Motown fan?”
    “Hell yeah.” He joined her at the island and planted his palms on the granite surface. “What can I do to help? Or are you a cook who prefers working solo?”
    “Feel free to jump right in. I’m going to sauté some vegetables to go with the chicken. I tossed that in the oven not too long ago.” She picked up her cutting board and slid the slices of zucchini into a bowl. “I think I’ll add some yellow squash if you like it.”
    “Yep,” he said with a charming grin. “Never met a vegetable I didn’t enjoy.” A thoughtful tilt of his head. “Unless jalapeños are vegetables. Can’t stand those.” He picked up the bottle of salad dressing. “Planning a salad? Can I help with that?”
    “Sure. Grab the romaine from the fridge. You can wash it and rip it up.”
    The man sure made himself at home quickly. Moving around her kitchen, he acted as though he’d always cooked there, not even tossing her awkward questions. He seemed to instinctively know where everything from the colander to the knives