“Speaking of Kitchi Falls, let’s see the tattoo.” Beck was out of his seat and walking around the table toward me. I shifted so he could lift my shirt, pretending it was no big deal. This was Beck. He’d seen me plenty of times in a bathing suit.
“It’s probably easier to lift it up.”
He squatted down behind me, smelling distinctly… Beck.
As he lifted up my t-shirt, I wondered if he would touch it. Imagined him tracing the ink with his fingers.
“Oh, wow, Mae, that looks incredible. Hasn’t started to peel yet. Nice lines.”
“You like it?”
“Love it.”
“You can pull my bra strap down to see it better.” What the hell was I thinking?
Beck did exactly that. Deep breaths.
“He did a really nice job. I may have to pay this guy a visit.”
Letting my bra strap go, Beck released my shirt too. Finally, I could breathe again as he stood up and made his way back around the table.
We needed some sanity here. Normalness. “Okay, so I’ve been doing a bit of research, and we’ll need a temporary food permit from Lakeshore Haven’s health department—already emailed the form. We’ll need to finalize a menu by tomorrow to get the ingredient orders in, and figure out what we can prep ahead versus what needs to be cooked fresh. Also, we’ll need signage, a printed menu, and something that makes the booth stand out. Oh—and do we even have a tent?”
“Whoa, didn’t even finish my breakfast.”
I gave him a “be serious” look.
“We do have a tent. Remember your dad sprung for that custom pop-up one for the Cedar Falls Brew Bash? The one with the logo and those ridiculous side panels that zip shut like we’re running a secret speakeasy?”
“Oh, yeah, you sent me a picture. I was—” Nope, not going to get nostalgic. Mathieu wasn’t worth pulling on even one heartstring for. “In France.”
“Right. It’s in the storage room behind the walk-in. I saw it last week when I was digging for the holiday lights.”
“Holiday lights? In May?”
Beck popped a second cinnamon bun in his mouth. “Mmm, these are good.” He licked icing from his bottom lip. I bet he was really good with that tongue.
Yeah, Mae, because of all his experience. You’d do well to remember that.
“Had the idea of a Christmas in July and wanted to take stock.”
He pulled the box toward him. “Only one left.” Because of his regular workouts with the guys, Beck had no worries about his physique. “Want it?”
I shook my head.
That smile of his was dangerous. Always had been.
I cleared my throat.
“I sent Pia a text, asking who she uses for their signage. I’m hoping to just get it to someone without having to design ourselves. Will probably have to pay a rush fee.”
“That’s not a problem,” he said, washing a third bun down with coffee. “Thanks for taking care of that. I can check with Pia later too. Either way, we’ll need the menu sooner rather than later.”
“I have some thoughts on that too.” I opened my laptop. “Take a look?”
Beck grabbed the back of his chair and slid in half beside me and half behind me.
“Did you change colognes?”
