You got that right.Leo nods my way with a wink.
Annoyingly, every now and again, I seem to forget that Leo is telesensual, too.
“So,” Emmie says, turning to face us while Leo keeps his arms around her. “First dish. Mini lobster rolls with truffle aioli and fresh tarragon on a buttery brioche.”
She picks up the first silver dome with enough drama to let me know she’s been watching too much Food Network,and the smell that hits us is enough to make everyone in the room groan with envy.
“Geez, Em,” I say, leaning about as far forward as I can without dunking my face in the platter. “Those look amazing.”
“Hopefully they taste even better,” she says, quickly passing them around.
And, indeed they do.
The lobster rolls taste perfect—golden brioche buns barely containing chunks of fresh lobster that glisten with butter and herbs, a delicate drizzle of truffle aioli, and a sprinkle of tarragon that look almost too pretty to eat.
I saidalmost.
Jasper takes one, bites into it, and closes his eyes in appreciation. “This is incredible.”
“Really?” Emmie is watching him like he’s about to deliver a verdict on her entire existence.
“Really,” he’s quick to assure her. “These are restaurant quality. Better than restaurant quality.”
Can I have one?Sherlock asks, his entire body vibrating with hope.Just one? I’ll be good forever.
Emmie laughs and tosses a small piece of lobster toward him. You don’t have to be a mind reader to know what he was asking for.
He catches it mid-air and his eyes roll back in ecstasy.
Forever lasted approximately four seconds,Fish notes.You have no self-control.
Emmie tosses one to Biscuit Gravy, and even gives Fish a nibble of lobster. Emmie is an angel like that.
“The truffle might be too fancy for Mackenzie’s crowd,” Leo says, reaching for another lobster roll.
“Nothing is too fancy forMackenzie’s crowd,” I say. “They gold-plate their water bottles and vacation in places I can’t pronounce. Heck, I’m not even sure if those places are located on this planet.”
Jasper’s hand finds mine under the table. “Speaking of Mackenzie’s crowd. You spent the afternoon on a yacht. With a potential murderer.”
“Technically with several potential murderers,” I tease without meaning to.
His grip tightens. “Bizzy.”
“I had backup.” I gesture at the furry among us.
We’re very intimidating,Biscuit Gravy says.I bared my teeth twice. It was fierce.
“A cat, a mutt, and a Jack Russell are not adequate backup,” Jasper says, and he’s using that tone that means he’s trying not to sound worried but absolutely is.
Leo laughs, reaching for a second lobster roll. “She also had Georgie. That’s either the best backup or the worst backup possible.”
“Worst,” Jasper and I say in unison.
“And it might be a liability,” he adds. “But I’ve seen two of the three pets in action. They might be the best bodyguards I could find,” Jasper concedes and Fish stops glaring at him because of it.
Emmie unveils the second dish—Caprese skewers with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and blueberries, all drizzled with balsamic reduction and topped with fresh basil. They’re arranged on a white platter in perfect rows, red and white and blue, and they look like they escaped from someone’s Summer Entertaining Goals Pinterest board.
“These are beautiful,” I say, reaching for one.
