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Jack had eaten far more than he should have, but it was all so good, and it had been years since he’d enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Elizabeth had outdone herself, too, and she sat at the end of the table, sipping her wine, beaming with pleasure.
He could see why she and Paige were best friends. They complemented each other, brought out the best in each other. He didn’t have a best friend, but rather, many good friends, fellow scientists scattered across the globe, and he’d always thought he was fine with it, but seeing Paige and Elizabeth together made him wish he had that deep bond with someone else.
“Should we wait for pie?” Elizabeth asked the table.
There was a resounding yes, and Elizabeth smiled. “You’re all excused, then. Relax, visit, go watch the game; it’s on in the family room. I’m going to clear the table but no one is allowed to help.”
People pushed away from the table, with Michael and the twins heading to the family room to check on the football game. Jack saw Oliver wander that way, even though he knew Oliver wasn’t a big fan of American football. Oliver liked soccer, or European football, as well as rugby, which was Jack’s favorite sport, but he hadn’t played it since he’d left university.
Jack had heard Elizabeth’s instructions, but he wasn’t about to walk away from the table, not when it was covered in dirty dishes, and he began stacking plates and carrying crystal and china into the kitchen. Paige was already at the sink filling it with hot sudsy water.
Elizabeth appeared with crystal goblets and scolded them for not following directions. Paige grinned. “You’re not the boss of me,” she said with a wink.
“It’s my house,” Elizabeth grumbled.
“And you’ve just spent two days prepping and cooking. I’m not leaving you in here alone.”
“Why don’t you go sit with your guests and let Paige and me tackle dishes for a bit?” Jack suggested. “I’m sure Margot and your mom would enjoy having some time with you. Or, maybe you’d like to watch the game?”
“Ugh, no football for me,” Elizabeth said. “But I’ll go check on Mom and then I’ll be back and I will kick you out.”
Jack was comfortable in the kitchen and he quickly located storage containers and packed up food. Paige hand-washed the china and crystal while he dried. Next came the platters and silverware. By the time Elizabeth returned, they’d made a serious dent on the dishes.
Elizabeth paused, shocked, as she took in the almost-tidy kitchen. “Look at my kitchen fairies. This is incredible.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Jack said.
“Mine, too,” Elizabeth joked even as she took the damp dish towel from Jack and nudged Paige away from the sink. “Thank you, really, but now, do get out. Go enjoy yourselves a little.”
“We are,” Paige protested.
“Not buying it,” Elizabeth said, pushing them both to the door. “Scram. See you later.”
* * *
Paige led Jack through the house and out onto the deck overlooking the ocean. It had been foggy earlier, but the clouds had lifted slightly, giving them a glimpse of the dark blue ocean. Paige drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “You can smell the salt in the air today.”
“I like it,” he said, slipping an arm around her waist, his palm resting in the small of her back. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”
“What?” she asked, looking up into his face.
His head dipped, and his lips covered hers in a kiss. “This.”
“Oh, well.” She felt her cheeks warm. Her mouth felt extra sensitive. “Thank you.”
“You look beautiful.”
She didn’t know what to say. She reached up to lightly scrape her fingers across his beard. “I like your beard.”
“Not everyone does.”
“Well, I do. You look very sexy.”
“I always grow a beard when I go to Arusha.”
“Is there a cultural reason?”
“No. Just an excuse to stop shaving.”
She ran her fingers over his jaw. He was so very appealing. If they weren’t here, she’d kiss him properly. But they were here, and his son was here, and her daughter was here, and the last thing she wanted was drama. “Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked, voice husky.
“Immensely.”
She was conscious of the heat of his hand against her lower back, his touch firing nerve endings, making her wish his hand would just slide lower, cup her butt. Obviously not something he could, or would, do here, but still, she could fantasize. “Do you fit in wherever you go?”
“I try.”
She smiled, expression teasing. “You like people,” she said, quoting back words he’d told her early in the semester.
He recognized her words. “You listen.”
“I do, especially if it’s to you.”
“Elizabeth outdid herself,” he said, even as Elizabeth appeared on the deck with bottles of red and white wine.
Paige nodded, glad she’d put down her wineglass an hour ago, but Elizabeth was moving around the deck, topping off glasses, beginning with Ashley’s.
Ashley smiled prettily and thanked Elizabeth before turning her attention back to Oliver. They’d been talking for the past half hour in outdoor chairs in the corner; Ashley seemed to be doing most of the talking, her expression earnest. Paige wondered if Ashley was telling him about her acting ambitions, and how she’d left New York crushed, but then thought, No, Ashley wouldn’t reveal anything negative. She understood the importance of first impressions, and the value of networking.
“Do we need to rescue your son?” she asked, glancing at Jack.
“Why would we do that? I’m sure Oliver is very flattered by the attention.” Jack lifted her hair from her shoulder, allowing the strands to slide through his fingers. “Are you ready for our flight? Everything packed?”
“I’ll probably take everything out of the duffel bag and repack a half dozen more times before we leave. I’m a bit obsessive that way, but otherwise, yes, I’m ready. How about you?”
“I live with a bag always packed.” He wrapped the strand of gleaming hair around his finger. “Have you started your doxycycline?”
“First dose this morning.” She lifted her face to his. “I want to kiss you.”
“Why don’t you?”
