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I felt Eduardo’s look. “You and uh, Lucas then?”
“It’s casual.” I played it down while I stirred the simmering liquid. “We’re hanging out while he’s in town.”
“Yeah. He’s never been about the farm life.”
I needed to remember he didn’t live here. He was going back to Seattle, back to his real life, and I knew that. But he was here now.
The scent of melting chocolate and cinnamon filled my nose as I poured the rich sauce into a fondue server. Guests would scoop the chocolate ice cream at the buffet and add the rich sauce if they wanted. I loved Mexican chocolate. Silky and dark with cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper.
I added the tres leches cake slices to a tray, and the desserts were all out for serving. Dessert served was like a shift whistle for a kitchen. The timed chaos of an active kitchen was over, and for a moment, you could wipe your brow, catch your breath, chug some water, even grab a quick shot at the bar before the prep work for the next day.
“Jo. How ’bout that drink?” Lucas stood in the doorway. His jacket off, the muscles of his arms and chest highlighted by the soft-looking T-shirt. The lack of a collar set off the column of his neck, shaved clean, and probably smelling woodsy and warm.
I glanced at Eduardo. “Ten minutes? You got this?”
He nodded at me, then lifted his chin to Lucas.
“Just give me a sec.” I stepped out of the food prep area and unbuttoned my chef coat. I pulled a long tunic sweater over my T-shirt and removed the bandana to shake out my hair. I wouldn’t spark any style trends, but I didn’t look completely out-of-place away from the kitchen.
“What would you like?” Lucas asked as we walked to the little bar.
“Tequila shots?”
The lines around Lucas’s eyes showed with his smile as he held me close to his side. “Yes, Chef.”
“Tess, you look beautiful tonight,” I said. Lucas’s sister could be a model. Tall with long limbs, flawless skin, chestnut hair, and the patented Bakker blue eyes.
“Thanks, Jo. You too.”
“What’s up, short stuff? Everything okay?” Lucas asked.
A sunny smile spread across her face. “Of course.”
“Your last semester. Spring fever?”
“Yeah, I hope it’s my last semester. I have a lead on an events manager position at a winery starting this summer.”
“Why wouldn’t it be your last semester?” Lucas asked.
“A little struggle with one of my professors. She doesn’t like me and is making my life harder than she needs to. I’ll figure it out. I just want to graduate and get on with it. I am so over school.”
“Let me know if you need someone beaten up. I’ll put Finn on a plane immediately.”
Tess grinned and shook her head as our shots arrived. “So big of you, Luc. I’m grabbing a dessert. You guys want?”
“No, thanks,” I said.
“I’m pacing myself. I’ll get another in a bit,” Lucas said. Another? There was no telling how many desserts he’d had already.
I took my shot, and the warmth flowed through my limbs. I shook my head with a shiver and sucked on the lime slice. Lucas was watching and hadn’t taken his yet.
“You don’t do shots?”
He looked down like he was remembering it was in his hand. “No, yes.” He drank the shot and slammed the glass on the bar next to a lime wedge. He leaned closer, his voice low and raspy. “I was distracted watching you. Your throat moving as you swallowed. Your eyes closed when you sucked the lime. Made me picture that sweet mouth sucking something else.” Every time. Panties up in flames.
Emily and Finn joined us as I resisted the urge to rub myself against Lucas.
“Jo, the food was marvelous.” Emily leaned in with a hug.
