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“I would love to,” she replied. “That honestly sounds amazing. Thanks for thinking of me.” She winked. “I can’t wait to try your baking.”
Joy stole over Megan’s expression, and Tione’s heart beat a little faster. His fingers curled into his palms, and his gut twisted with how much he wanted her. But he kept his hands to himself and studied the floor. He’d already given away too much in front of Faith.
“Hopefully they came out okay,” Megan said. “It’s my first time trying them, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while.” Her chin took on a stubborn set, and he suspected Charles Wentworth was to blame for why she hadn’t made them sooner. The guy had a lot to answer for.
“I’m sure they’ll be divine,” Faith said. “Say, you should come over and help me brainstorm new ice cream flavors some time. It’s so hard to find anyone who knows as much about what makes a winning combination as I do.”
“I’d be happy to help.” This time, she didn’t make any disclaimers about how soon she might be leaving, and something warmed inside him. Had she decided to stay? God, he hoped so.
“Brilliant.”
“So I’ll see you tonight? Around eight?”
“You’re on.” The customers approached the counter, and Faith smiled at them. “I’ll see you then, cutie pie.”
As they exited The Shack, Megan was vibrating with barely suppressed energy.
“Did you really think she’d say no?” he asked.
“Yes.” She shrugged. “No. I don’t know. It’s been so long since I hosted anything for my own friends, it feels strange. I got used to only hosting dinners for Charles’s colleagues, and they were fairly tense.”
He understood why, and if he was ever alone with that jackass, he was going to rip his kidneys out through his throat.
“Where to next?” he asked.
“Brooke’s place.” Their arms bumped against each other, and he wished she were wearing short sleeves so he could have felt her skin on his. The few hugs they’d shared weren’t enough. He longed for more contact.“Kat said she lives with her boyfriend, Jack. I don’t know where that is, but maybe you do?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “This is Haven Bay. Of course I know. Jack has a place at the west end of town.” He unlocked his car, and they hopped in. He circuited around the town center, in no mood to drive ten miles an hour while tourists wandered over the road willy-nilly. When he parked outside, Megan sat there for a moment studying the house.
“It’s nice,” she said.
“Probably nothing like you see in Auckland.”
She grinned. “Exactly.”
An old model of car was in the driveway and they passed it on their way to the porch. Megan strode to the door and knocked. When it opened, Brooke filled the doorway, balancing her laptop in the crook of her arm, her hair piled haphazardly atop her head.
“Hi, Hope—uh, I mean, Megan.” Her nose wrinkled. “Sorry.”
“No need to be,” Megan said. “It’s not your fault I gave the wrong name.”
Brooke nodded. “Well, it’s nice to meet you properly. Hey, Tee.”
He jerked his chin at her, the equivalent of a greeting.
Brooke glanced down at her computer, then asked, “Would you like to come in?”
“No, no, that’s all right,” Megan said. “I can see you’re busy. I just came by to ask if you’d like to come to a cupcakes and cocktails night at Sanctuary this evening. Perhaps around eight?”
Brooke laughed. “As if you even have to ask. If there are cupcakes, I’m there.”
Megan’s grin spread wider, threatening to re-open the split in her lip. She bounced on her toes, and he got the impression she barely restrained herself from squealing.
“That’s great! I’ve invited Faith as well, and I’ll stop by and see if Kat can come when we head back. Is it pathetic to say I’m really looking forward to it?”
“Not even a little.” Brooke laid her laptop down and hugged Megan. “You’ve got to be the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I can’t believe how totally cute you are.” She shot a look at Tione, as if daring him to contradict. “Isn’t she the cutest?”
“Without a doubt.”
