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“That’s understandable. I feel the same way. It’s risky, getting involved personally with people you work with.” Lunch forgotten, my hands rested in my lap. But as I sat there, looking into his eyes, they unfurled until my palms opened, resting on my thighs.
“Especially when one of them is technically your boss.” He brushed his index finger against my open palm.
A blaze of attraction sizzled between us. He leaned closer, until we were inches apart. He was going to kiss me. Oh my God. What was I supposed to do? I wanted him to kiss me. That was the honest truth. I’d not felt an attraction to a man like this since…well, never. Closer and closer until I could smell the mint on his breath.
The swish of the double doors jarred me. I turned to see Sammie striding into the kitchen. She abruptly stopped at the sight of us, backing away a few steps, a panicked looked on her face.
“Hey, Sammie,” I said too brightly as I jumped from my stool as if it were a heating iron on high. “How’s the decorating going? Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m all done. Do you want to come see?” Sammie’s cheeks flamed pink; she was obviously uncomfortable with what she might have witnessed.
Or had she?
Was it just me who felt the urge to kiss him? Maybe I’d made the whole thing up in my mind.
Whatever it was, I had to ignore it. There were dozens of reasons not to get involved with Caspian Moon. In fact, I’d write them all down when I got back to the motel and tape it to the mirror in my depressing bathroom.
7
CASPIAN
Despite my near-kiss with Elliot and wishing it had been a real one, the rest of the afternoon sped by as I prepared the wedding meal Atticus and Annie had requested. In addition to the homemade pasta and red sauce, which had simmered on the stove for hours, they’d asked for fresh trout served the way they did in Venice, Italy—baked whole in a salt bath and stuffed with herbs. It had taken me the better part of an hour to prepare a fish for each guest. I’d had to order a forty-pound bag of kosher salt, and the number of fish staring at me with one eye had been somewhat disconcerting. With the help of my sous-chef, we’d tucked each of the whole fish into a bed of sea salt and wrapped them in tinfoil.
Now, however, Elliot, Sammie, and my sous-chef Leo had everything under control. They encouraged me to leave it to them and go shower and dress for the wedding.
“You have to be ready for your duties,” Elliot said. “We can handle everything else.”
“Guys, I can’t thank you enough for all your help today,” I said as I untied my apron. The tables out in the dining room were pretty enough for a movie, with the peony-and-pink-rose arrangements and flameless votive candles. In addition, Sammiehad wrapped white tulle bows on the backs of all of the chairs, which gave the room a dreamy, romantic quality. “Annie’s going to be so pleased with everything you’ve done.”
Elliot and Sammie beamed at me. “We’re happy to help,” Elliot said.
“It’s not every day you get to help plan a reception,” Sammie said. “And don’t worry, between the two of us, we’ll take care of everything.”
Several of our additional waitstaff had come in to assist Sammie with serving the meal and washing dishes. Elliot had graciously offered to help plate and deliver to the tables. “Or whatever else you need,” she’d said.
Although it was hard, I convinced myself that leaving everything to them would be just fine. I must put all worries about the dinner aside. I had a very important task for this wedding—the officiant. As promised, I’d gotten a license from the internet and had practiced with Sammie and Thad as a pretend bride and groom. Regardless, I was a wreck.
I had been surprised Atticus convinced Mama to have the wedding at home instead of the church where we’d all been baptized and attended most Sundays. However, Mama had been so excited for their marriage, she hadn’t said anything about it. According to Atticus, anyway.
Annie’s family, including her grandparents had come in last night for the festivities and were staying with Mama and Pop. Thus, Annie had her father to walk her down the aisle. Such as it was. The aisle was supposed to be in the grassy area just off the patio, but with the helicopter sighting earlier, they’d decided to keep everything under the covered patio.
When I arrived, dressed in the suit I’d had to buy for the occasion, Finley greeted me with a distracted smile. She wore overalls, and her hair was askew. I’d never seen her so flustered or wearing anything but a tidy suit. As our hospitality directorshe’d offered to be in charge of getting the patio decorated. She did it for our guests often, so I assumed we were in good hands. I was not wrong.
“This looks amazing,” I said to her.
She’d arranged two rows of white chairs for the small number of guests, each decorated with white and pink tulle. Rose petals were scattered in the aisle between. Near the patio fireplace, an altar stood, decorated in tulle and ribbons, as well as peonies and roses.
Finley tugged on a blond braid and frowned. She had what looked like a stem caught in her hair. “Do you think there’s enough flowers?”
“What is it with women and flowers?”
She furrowed her brow. “They’re the most important part of a wedding. I mean, besides the bride and groom.”
“No, no, the most important thing’s the food,” I said, teasing.
“We can choose to disagree on that one,” Finley said with a good-natured smile. “Wait until you see Soren. He’s all dressed up. I barely recognized him.”
“Mama made him buy a suit. As she did me.”
