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“You’re not alone, Cousin,” she said gently. “I’ve got this and I promise it will be wonderful. It’s just a meet and greet to let them try samples like you did today. I’ve narrowed down caterers that will work with using your stuff, and I have a list ready of who to invite. Keep it light and just like a housewarming party since you’re new to the area.”
“I don’t even have furniture.”
“It won’t be tomorrow. I’m talking in a month. You don’t want to wait for summer, but this gives you time to hire help and everything you’ve already planned. I just thought Thora told you I had this part.”
“I can’t ask you to do all of this, Meave.”
She laughed. “This seems like a lot toyoubut to me, it’s a cakewalk, I promise. If I had to jump in your shoes, I’d be flipping shits. You send me some cases of that mellow jam, and it will be more than worth it as my lover is freaking out over finals and college and everything I never went through.”
“Me neither,” I admitted. “I didn’t know he was so young.”
“Young is the way to go I’m finding,” she purred. “So eager and trainable. It’s honestly addictive. And it’s fun to spoil him since he never had a chance to get the douche ego.”
“Ahh, that might be the key,” I chuckled darkly, thinking back to what Finn had just said. “I’ve never had to furniture shop before. All I’ve gotten is a mattress. It’s all overwhelming even if I’m totally grateful.”
“Yeah, that is a lot,” she agreed. “If you want help I have a few friends—my photographer especially—that would love the chance to play. Send a few photos of the space and maybe a few ideas of your style from a Google search, and I promise they could get you a whole inventory of everything matching, coordinated, and not ridiculous in cost. At least it gives you a place to start.”
“That would be really helpful,” I sighed. “Thanks, Meave.”
“No problem, Cousin. You came to my aid when you didn’t know anything about me. We help when we can.”
We talked some more about party ideas and what she envisioned with a bit of tweaking with what I thought I could really pull off and not make a huge ass of myself. Right as we wrapped up the timer went off saying I’d run the full hour on the smoker as I was supposed to the first time. It also meant it was time to get dinner cooking.
“I said something and I don’t know what,” Finn muttered as he moved in my path. “I think I’m starting to get the ogre joke. I’m acting like a big, stupid, Shrek ogre, right?”
“No, you believe it like Shrek did, but most times he was the only one with any sense in his head,” I corrected.
“I do eat my foot a lot, so please tell me what I did so I can apologize.”
I sighed. “Look, I get I’m chunky but—”
“You arenotchunky,” he corrected adamantly. “You’re curvy and it’s sexy.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept on with my point. “But I work my ass off and maybe I’m not a gym bunny but—”
“There we go,” he sighed. “I didn’t mean it as an insult atall, Adrena. I thought you were thinking you had to fill the gym because the house has one, like you said it was all overwhelming. You didn’t sound like youwantedone and yeah, given how I saw you busting your ass this afternoon, I wouldn’t think you needed a gym workout.”
Well, that was much nicer than what I’d thought. I mentally winced as I had assumed that was what he’d meant. Damn.
I blew out a slow breath. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that was what you meant. I got shit on today too and some hits landed. Thanks for clarifying.” I nodded past him. “I’m going to get dinner started. Enjoy the pool.”
“Thanks.” He looked like he had more to say, but he stepped aside and let me cool my head.
I turned the heat down a bit on the smoker and then built the onion, pineapple, and pork kabobs. I almost dropped the platter when I stepped back outside.
My mouth actually fuckingwateredat the sight of him without a shirt on. He was completely ripped and filled in very nicely, his caramel skin looking even more vibrant with water dripping down his body.
I was going to smack Klara when I saw her next for bringing this temptation into my life. Okay, fine, I wouldn’t as she could squash me like a bug, but seriously?
Seriously?
I got dinner on the smoker and went back inside to make the salad. I had some brown rice already going in the rice cooker with a bit of garlic and butter, but I liked my rice fairly plain and a good addition to food instead of a whole side flare.
It was hard not to smile when I opened the fridge and it was all my food. Or from my place, but Thora’s magic had given it such a boost to all grow crazy.
And it was sort of funny that the people she hired to handle the place and upkeep had moved out before I got here. But I’d been delayed, so there was supposed to be more of a handoff. However, they’d booked something next, so it wasn’t like they could just delay.
Besides, if they did, that was when questions tended to be asked. Weird for a bit was blamed on the new location.
