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She looked over at her brother. “Clean this up,” she ordered. It served him right. This had happened on his watch, after he’d promised to stick around for the few days she was gone.
Apparently, she had a tasting to go to. She stalked into the house and headed for her closet. She definitely wasn’t going to show up in jeans and a T-shirt.
…
“Finn.” Sterling moaned while she savored the chocolate mousse he had set out for the afternoon’s tasting. “This is absolute perfection.”
It was the third chocolate dessert she had sampled—the first course Finn had prepared for her and Jack to taste in order to choose their wedding menu. For some reason, she had insisted on tasting the desserts before the rest of the courses.
He stood at the opening of one of the booths at the back of his restaurant, his hands clasped in front of his body, watching them scrutinize his masterpieces. For the very first time ever, he was nervous about his food. His stomach churned with a feeling he’d never felt before.
Maybe he was missing Veronica. She should be here. He wanted her here. Not just because she was the wedding planner. Because he missed her. Not her determination to seduce him, or her perfectly pliable body—although her sexual obedience was icing on the cake. He missed her. And their quick trip to Niagara had just reinforced how much he enjoyed spending time with her, how perfectly they got along, in and out of the bedroom, and how deep his feelings for her had grown.
A noise in the kitchen jerked him out of his thoughts. Saved by the bang. Sterling had called that morning, just after Veronica dropped him off, and asked if she and Jack could swing by for a tasting. He’d immediately gotten on the phone with his staff and had them hustling all morning, ensuring the food options were prepared to absolute perfection. The guys deserved to make some noise after working so hard.
In the middle of the table a long platter rested with four desserts, all chocolate. A flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis, fresh raspberries, and a sprig of mint. A three-chocolate mousse in a miniature martini glass with a biscotti wafer. A chocolate cheesecake. And a
selection of chocolate truffles—champagne, hazelnut, and dark chocolate.
Sterling continued to moan her approval.
He laughed. “Jack, I think you’ve been replaced.”
“Complimented, dude. But never replaced.” He winked at his fiancée.
“Definitely the flourless cake.” Sterling pointed at the small piece that remained on her fork. “Yes. I pick this.”
“Are you sure you don’t want the mousse, babe?” Jack leaned in closer across the table. The sleeves of his shirt pulled away, revealing his tattoos—a full sleeve on one forearm and a panther on the other. “I know how much you love mousse.”
Sterling turned bright red and hid her face. Too much information. Finn did not need to know what Jack and Sterling did with mousse other than eat it.
His brother grinned and leaned back, resting his palms on the leather bench seat just as Chris wheeled a trolley to the table with the main course options.
Finn reached out to clear the platter of dessert, but Sterling grabbed his hand. “You can leave that here.” She smiled and pushed the platter toward the opposite end of the table.
“As you wish.”
“Brother, you’ve outdone yourself.” Jack’s eyes lit up at the selection of food brought to the table, and he rubbed his palms together in excitement.
Finn regularly cooked for hundreds of customers every week, but when the people he loved most enjoyed his food, it was always the most flattering.
“I created a few different things. If you want to have a pasta course, I’ve made up a fettuccini Alfredo in its own bowl of Parmesan cheese, and a potato gnocchi with classic tomato sauce. For the main course, option one is Black Angus tenderloin with potato au gratin. Option two is pan-seared sea bass with basil pesto grits. Option three is grilled lamb with rosemary stuffing. And of course, a chicken supreme stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella and cheese risotto. All will be served with seasonal vegetables.”
Sterling moved quickly on the steak, slicing off a small piece.
“Will someone please tell me what is going on here?”
Veronica stormed over to their table, her wet hair whipping around her face. Her lips were tight with tension. She was dressed in her usual professional attire—a black skirt and jacket. Despite her hair, she appeared fairly put-together. But really angry.
“We’re having a tasting,” he responded.
“I know you’re having a tasting. My bride informed me about it an hour and a half ago.” When Veronica finally reached the table, he recognized the look. It was the same one she had gotten when he, her brother, and Cole used to leave her out of their fun and adventures.
She straightened and smoothed down the front of her blazer. “Hi, Sterling. Jack.”
They both nodded but continued to eat.
She glared at Finn. “I’d like to know why the wedding planner wasn’t invited to the tasting.”
