Page 53 of Keeping Mr. Sweet

EPILOGUE

ASH

“Is everything ready?” I ask Ru, stopping to sneak a blini with salmon piled on top from the tray he’s just finished preparing.

“Oy.” He makes as if to smack my hand, but his grin gives him away.

“I can’t get enough of this fish,” I say by way of apology before popping it into my mouth.

“I can tell.” He chuckles. “That’s the sixth one from this tray. If you keep going like this, I may as well hand you the whole platter and start a fresh one.”

“Maybe you should.” I glance back at the stairs. “So are we ready or not?”

“Everyone is waiting, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Thank God.” I smooth my hands down the front of the silver threaded black cocktail dress I bought just for tonight. “I’m nervous enough as it is.”

He unbuttons his chef coat as he gestures at one of the servers to come and collect the first platter. Holden’s only been with us since the end of spring. A few weeks at most. But my first official hire fits right in. He grins at me as he approaches. “You look fabulous.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“Come on, man.” Ru shakes his head. “Don’t talk to the boss’s girl like that. He’s likely to blow a gasket and we’ve only just got him back up to speed.”

“Never mind Ru. Sam’s not like that at all.” I elbow Ru in the ribs, and he cusses under his breath. “Besides, if you want to blame anyone it should be me.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t at fault, did I? It’s been four months and you still won’t let him in the kitchen full time.”

“That’s because we would have to fire Madeline.” I mock glare at him. “And I like her better than you.”

“Ouch.” He brushes pretend hurt from his shoulders. “But you’ve done a good thing convincing him to relax a bit more.”

“Who says I let him relax?” I wink at him.

“Get that platter into the function room now,” Ru growls at Holden, shaking his head at me. “Can’t have people waiting around hungry.”

“Ash, there you are.” Summer slips into the kitchen, side stepping one of the staff working the dining room and barely escaping colliding with another. “I forgot how hectic it gets back here. You guys make it seem all so effortless from the outside.”

“Did you—”

“Bring it?” She beams. “Yes, I did.”

“Thank God.” I exhale. When I first suggested this party to Sam, I told him that after the scare he gave us we all needed to celebrate his still being with us, but that was only part of why I organized tonight. Nerves swarm my stomach, or maybe that’s the salmon I probably shouldn’t be eating. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Sam asks, coming up behind me.

“Your balls, man,” Ru quips. It’s almost believable that our conversation was about that topic exactly.

“Wow.” Sam’s gaze drifts from my face to my dress to my legs and then back up again. “You look…”

“Beautiful,” Summer says.

“Stunning.” Ru makes a snide face that almost ruins his compliment.

“You’re not bad yourself.” I move closer so that I can straighten his tie and run my hands down the front of his shirt. Mostly I just want to touch him and feel the steadiness that he brings.

“Maybe we should go out to the dining room,” Summer whispers to Ru.

“Lead the way,” Ru says.

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