Delectable Benefits

Eighteen

Nick found Anya looking outside the balcony down to the pool area where his family was preparing their graduation barbeque. He joined her and looked down and saw her grandfather looking watching what he would normally call family "circus".

"Hey," he said wanting to take her into his arms and kiss her senseless and shake some sense into her.

She looked up at him with a smile, "Hey, your brother is going to burn this entire place down," Anya said with a laugh as they watched Marcus try to get the propane going.

"Then I guess we should get the fire department ready." He remarked.

"No, it's not likely going to explode, but simply burn his brows from his face," she remarked with a laugh.

Nick laughed at the image of his brother without his brows. "I would definitely pay to see that. It will knock him off a few notches down the ego ladder." He handed her an envelope. "Your mother told me to give this to you."

"You met my mother?" she asked and took the envelope.

He nodded, "She also gave me all sorts of goodies to give you they are all in the fridge hidden in the vegetable compartment so Chadwick wouldn't dare."

"I can replicate them if you want some."

"On that I have no doubt. But my family wants to celebrate us so we were told not to do anything. Do you want to go to the pool?"

She nodded, "Perhaps later, I want to savor the moment."

He raised his brow, "What moment?"

"That I am a step closer to my dream and I am about to live it," she replied.

He laughed, he was just like that when he graduated. His goal was to surpass his mother's success. "I am sure you will be able to. With your determination, nothing is impossible to you."

They shared a companionable silence until Anya broke it. "Nick, I want to thank you for everything."

"Are you saying good bye?" he interrupted her. She bit her lower lip giving him her answer. "I know about the judge, Anya. I was there with you. Chadwick intended to make you his junior associate in the firm."

Her eyes widened, she would want that, to learn from one of the best in the country. "I understand you want to do things your way and you think you are a lesser person for me."

She looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "I will let you go, but give me a week. I will take you away and bring you to paradise." He whispered.

She looked into his eyes and saw his raw emotion. Then knew he loved her, her heart rebelled but her mind was already made up. She nodded, "Yes. I will give you a week."

Then he gave into his desire, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was sure he was going to kiss her soul, until they heard the heard the explosion coming from the far side of the pool area where the barbeque was.

"Marcus!" Everybody shouted.

Anya was looking at the letter her mother handed to Nick after they made charcoal barbeque pit since Marcus managed to destroy the large grill. Thankfully her grandfather also had the foresight and the knowledge that Ann's son had no idea what he was doing.

Once they had the grill going, Marcus was back on his post and was grilling hotdogs and what not. But this time, under the supervision of Anya's grandfather. He made sure that whatever piece of meat that was going to the grill was well marinated and Chadwick's job was to make sure the food was evenly cooked.