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“Teamwork. That’s my five. You’re up, Nina.”
They shifted positions, with Morgan arranging the chops on a platter—Mama’s—and adding the fresh rosemary as garnish—as instructed.
“Sorry.” Luke came back in. “I got a phone call, had to take it.”
“No problem, we’re coming down to the wire.” Morgan looked over at him. “Everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, just a minor schedule change for tomorrow. Can I help here?”
“Why don’t you top off the wine, in case we need it.”
At the table, the cooking and serving done, Sam took the first bite. “Babe,” he said to Nina, then smiled at Morgan. “Other babe.”
Nina sampled a bite of chop. “Uh-oh. We’re good at this, Morg. Now what?”
“Home-cooked meal on the road. Ladies?” Luke lifted his wineglass. “To the chefs.”
“And to Mama. We did her proud, Morgan.”
Despite the long day, Morgan enjoyed every minute. An actual dinner party, in her home—a first that didn’t include takeout or delivery. Conversation, laughter, the occasional touch of Luke’s hand on hers.
She found it sweet the men insisted on handling the cleanup, and relaxed into the lingering after, over coffee and—bakery bought—red velvet cake.
“I hate to break this up. Tonight’s going to be a highlight of my trip. But the schedule change has me on-site at eight tomorrow.”
“Where are you heading?” Sam asked him.
“They’re taking me into Baltimore. House flipper bought a pair ofrow houses and wants to connect them into one, and wants it smart. It looks like I’ll need to stay over a couple days. Maybe three.”
He shrugged. “They squeezed it into my schedule the end of last week. A friend of one of the bosses.”
“Eight a.m. in Baltimore. That’s early to rise.”
He nodded at Nina. “Yeah, it sure is, and a nice challenge. Converting a couple of old row houses into a smart urban mini-mansion—while maintaining the history of the place.”
He glanced around. “I’d love to tackle this one for you. You’ve got good bones here, Morgan.”
“I think so. When that wall comes down, maybe I’ll add smart as well as space.”
“When you do, you call me. I’ll make sure I can work you in. That’s a promise. Thanks, Nina, and thank your mother.” He rose. “Everything was amazing. Really great meeting you, Sam. And I should be able to take a look at your system next week. There’s always a way to add some bells to the whistles.”
“That would be great.”
Morgan walked him to the door.
“I’ll stop into the bar when I get back. Couple of days. Okay if I text you now and again when I’m in my lonely Baltimore hotel room?”
“Sure.”
“Can I take you out to dinner when I get back? Maybe a step up from pizza?”
“That sounds nice.”
When he kissed her, just a little deeper than that first time, with his body pressed just a little closer, she thought it sounded very nice.
“Good luck in Baltimore.”
“When you’re good, you don’t need luck, but I’ll take it. Good night, and thanks, really thanks, for dinner.”
