Page 30 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

She stopped mashing and spooned the container of potatoes into a bright blue bowl. “Your dad’s in the backyard manning the smoker. Eli and Melody and what’s his name are helping your dad.”

“His name is Pete.”

Mom wasn’t happy she’d spent months planning Melody’s perfect wedding only to have Melody run off to the justice of the peace and leave for the honeymoon two days early.

My mom would kill me if she found out I was the one who encouraged my sister to skip the country. Not directly, but our conversation did include the words, “It’s your wedding, do what you want.”

Mom paused over the bowl. “Where’s Gertrude?”

“She’s running late. Brodie FaceTimed from Australia. She’ll be here before we eat linner.” I gathered bright blue placemats and cloth napkins. Mom never used paper.

“Add two extra plates. Darryl’s coming with Ragina. Or should we add three?” Mom looked at me over a steamy pot of boiled eggs, eyebrows raised in question. Her face looked hopeful. The steam gave her perfectly applied makeup a dewy glow.

“Caiyan’s working.”

“Huh, he texted me he might be here.” She tapped an egg on the side of the bowl and began peeling off the shell.

Jeez. I headed toward the dining room. My mom knew more about Caiyan’s whereabouts than I did. This texting between my boyfriend and my mom creeped me out. “I’ll set a place,jestin case.” I laughed at how I mocked Caiyan’s accent. Like he’d show at family linner.

Ragina arrived a few minutes before Darryl. After greeting my mom, they went out back to visit with my siblings and Uncle J. My cousins always called my dad Uncle J even though he was their first cousin.

Go figure.

As I put the last of the silverware on the table, the warm scent of piney woods combined with hints of leather and cinnamon wafted around me. My hold on the dinner knife tightened.

“Ye dinnae need to grip the knife quite so firmly, Sunshine. I’m naugh going to harm ye.”

I turned, and he wrapped me in his arms, taking my mouth with his for a long, missed kiss. All while removing the knife I gripped in my hand.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ye told me ye needed to talk, and I was invited.”

“Speaking of that, this texting thing you’ve got going on with my mom? It’s a bit weird for me.”

“Do ye want me to stop?” He looked down at me with those green eyes that made me forget what I asked. “Would be a shame. She’s got some tasty recipes.”

“Since when do you cook?”

“They’re naugh for me. Nials hired a new cook. ’Tis his niece. She’s a sweet lass, but naugh so good in the kitchen. She’s obsessed with America, so I’m trying to help with some of yer mom’s suggestions for American dishes.”

Nials ran Caiyan’s family estate in Scotland. A pleasant older man with white hair and silent footsteps, he held a position I equated with Alfred from Batman.

“Fine. Can you at least let me know when you’ll show up at my family linner?” I added another place setting to the table.

“I texted ye.”

“You did?” I looked down at my dress. No pockets. I remembered my cell at home on the charging station next to my bed. “I forgot my phone.”

He kissed me again, and I forgot everything but the way his lips felt on mine, the way his arms held me warm and safe.

So much for moxie. We could talk later.

* * *

We gatheredaround the dinner table. My perfect older sister Melody, her husband Pete, Darryl, Eli, my mom, Ragina, me, and Caiyan all waited for Dad to bring in the smoked beast. Gertie still hadn’t shown up, and her place next to Caiyan sat empty.

The iced-to-perfection chocolate cake sat on the sideboard. My mouth watered looking at it. Eli spotted me eyeing the cake and winked at me as if to say,Your boyfriend’s here. If Darryl proposes, you’ve moved into the kill zone.

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