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The late afternoon sun through the upper windows lit the bustle and activity in the large room. The food was being prepped in the kitchen off to the side, and the rest of us were setting up the rented chairs and tables with linens. String lights of Edison bulbs were hung below the exposed wooden rafters to add ambiance to the polished concrete floors and plain walls. What looked like a barn on the outside cleaned up nicely for events like this.
“Hey Emily, where do you want these tulips?” I asked.
“One arrangement on each table, please, and I think Luis made a few more than me, so there should be extras. Just set them around the space.”
“Uh … okay?”
“Use your best judgment,” she said, not looking up from her task. She and my little sister, Tess, were arranging rented dishes on one of the tables.
“My judgment isn’t always the best, Em.” An attempted business deal with a criminal was top of mind due to Detective Rivers’ recent call.
“I believe in you, Luc,” she said.
As we worked, the smells coming from the kitchen grew stronger. The mouth-watering aromas of carne asada and carnitas, spices, roasted corn, and pickled onions filled the sizeable space. I found myself pulled in that direction for a couple of reasons.
Jo stood at the stove. Her hair swept back in the pink bandana. Mom and Eduardo worked at the side counters piled with colorful vegetables. All had their backs to each other and talked over their shoulders.
“How can I help?” I asked.
“Oh, Lucas, good. Chop those onions and peppers,” Jo said.
Mom shot me a glance.
“Can I help by taste testing?” I asked.
Jo gave me the chef’s face that saidShut up and work, noob.
“Yes, Chef,” I said. “Where are the knives?”
Mom pointed to a drawer.
“No, Jo’s knives. If I’m chopping onions, I’m using one of hers.” Mom raised her eyebrows at me. “A dull knife can be more dangerous than a sharp one.”
Jo glanced at me. This time, a little smile curved her luscious lips. I wanted to bite that little curve and a lot more. “My knife pouch is over by Eduardo,” she said, turning back to her task.
I washed my hands, selected the gold standard, a chef’s knife, and set to work on the onions.
Eduardo and Jo worked well together, moving efficiently around each other. I didn’t like it. I wanted the easiness of that dance to only be with me. Jo was special, and I wanted to be special to her.
“You’re good at that,” Mom said, bringing me back to my task. The onion fumes hit my eyes.
“I have an excellent teacher.” I looked up with a wink and a nod in Jo’s direction.
The time passed quickly. Dad went back to the house to rest before tonight’s party. Tess and Mom went to check on details for the public opening tomorrow while Finn and Emily went for a coffee run at Shakey Grounds Café.
Tess was home from grad school to help with the party. She was finishing her MBA at Washington State, ready to take the next step. College and grad school hadn’t been easy. Tess was pretty, and guys could be serious assholes about it. Finn and I both had made a few threats over the years to dickheads mouthing off at The Boathouse. Tess was an awesome little sister, and I wanted to see her grab her dreams by the balls and go for it.
I finished washing the prep dishes and cleaning the counters. Jo and Eduardo stood at the stove. Food was cooked or cooking, and cold items were chilling until time to serve.
Jo wiped her hands on a towel as she stepped closer and bumped her hip against mine, well, my thigh. “Thanks for your help. You’re getting good in the kitchen.”
I inhaled her sweet scent. “I’m good in other rooms too.”
Eduardo cleared his throat, and Jo stepped back. I didn’t mean to embarrass her, but I didn’t care about Eduardo at that moment. I wanted to beat my chest and claim her, like some sort of caveman.
“I’m glad I could help,” I leaned in. “Do you have time for a break? A walk in the fields, get some air?”
“That sounds like an excellent idea.” Mom breezed back into the kitchen with a wink. “I’ll help Eduardo finish in here. Go on, take a break, Jo.”
