Page 20 of Searching for Love

ChapterSeven

Avery was getting very excited about having Lucas come over and make her dinner. Earlier that morning, she’d made sure that her parents’ place was spotless for the evening. Not that the home wasn’t always spotless, but she made sure to do some extra cleaning in the kitchen in preparation.

Lucas was going to stop by the grocery store one last time on his way up to the house, which gave her a little time to let Blossom out and play with her in the yard.

They were still outside enjoying the dying sunlight when Lucas drove up and parked beside her car.

Most people who saw her parents’ house for the first time had the same look on their faces. From the driveway, her childhood home was, well, charming.

Sure, it was a standard four-bedroom, three-bath, two-car garage home like many other homes scattered through the countryside surrounding Pride.

But from the front, the home looked massive with three balconies, a wraparound deck, and a huge garage that her father also used as a workshop.

“Hello, who is this?” Lucas bent down and gave Blossom his attention when the dog dropped her ball at his feet.

“My parents’ latest spoiled animal. Lucas, this is Blossom.”

The dog sat down on her butt and lifted a paw towards Lucas, who laughed as he shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Can we help you bring everything in?” she offered.

“Sure.” He turned back to his car and handed her a paper bag full of fresh vegetables. “I’ll get the rest,” he said as he grabbed the other two bags.

She led them into the house, making sure that Blossom followed before walking through to the kitchen in the back.

“You grew up here?” Lucas asked as they set the bags down on the countertop.

“I was born right over there.” She pointed to the fireplace. “One winter night when they were snowed in.”

“Seriously?” Lucas focused on the fireplace. “Not in a hospital? That must have freaked your parents out.”

“My dad is a fireman.” She chuckled. “But honestly, my mother did all the work.”

“That’s incredible. I’d love to hear the whole story,” he said as he started to remove each of the items from the bags.

She started telling him the story of her birth while helping him figure out where everything was in her parents’ kitchen. Then she sat back and watched him work.

He moved like so many other chefs she’d seen before. He was smooth, almost as if it were all a dance.

She liked to cook and knew the basics. There were at least a dozen decent meals she could get through without having to look at a recipe book and at least twice that number for baked goods. If she had to choose, she’d rather bake than cook. Still, Lucas made it look so easy.

“Wine?” he said, setting a glass in front of her while she told him about how her parents were thrilled to learn they were expecting Wyatt a few short months after her birth.

“Thanks,” she said and took a sip. Then she stilled and took another sip. “What is this?” She frowned down at the glass.

Lucas chuckled. “Wine.”

“No, it’s… spicy. I like it.” She took another sip.

“It has jalapeños in it.” He turned the label to her. “I plan to offer it in the restaurant. It’s from Regal Wineries. They’re a local winery, sort of. They are on the south side of Edgeview.” He went back to work.

She took another sip of the wine. It was sweet yet had a zippy aftertaste. She enjoyed it.

“It must have been nice growing up with a sibling close to your age. I can remember the day Sophia was born perfectly.” He smiled over his shoulder at her.

Gosh, he was dreamy when he smiled. She leaned her elbow on the countertop as she sipped her wine and just watched him for a few minutes while he talked about the day his younger sister was born.

She wondered if he even had to think as he chopped the vegetables. His hands moved so fluidly and quickly. She knew without a doubt she would have cut herself more than once at that speed.