Page 48 of The Last Lavender Sister

“I thought it was unfortunate that you walked away from doughnuts, given how amazing they were, but now that I see you’re spreading your gift to other areas of enjoyment, I’m all in favor.” She slid another bite into her mouth before Aster could say a word, which made her laugh.

“How was your trip?” Aster asked.

“Busy with this cake…” Brynn said, mimicking her inflection. She let Brynn enjoy in silence, watching as she used the side of her fork to scoop up any remaining sauce on the plate. “Do you sell this by the liter?” Brynn gestured to the last drop of sauce with her fork. “No? Big mistake. I should be your business manager. You’d be rich.”

Aster nodded. “You know finances?”

“I don’t. I just want a way to be closer to this sauce.” She set thefork on the plate and sat back. “Now it’s over, and I’m hovering near heaven.” She sipped from her rocks glass. Aster spotted the small smile behind the rim.

“I’m really happy to see you. Words don’t do the sentiment justice.”

“I hope I didn’t show up, crash the party, and you’re completely unavailable. But if you are, I get it. It will be enough just to get to taste one of your desserts.”

“How long are you in town?” Aster asked.

“Four days.”

She exhaled slowly because it was the best news. Four whole days. Fourlongdays. So much time. “I work tomorrow. Saturday. I’m off Sunday, but I can take Monday off if I can convince one of my two assistants to cover.”

“Please don’t go out of your way. I’m the one who just dropped in on you.” Brynn placed a hand over her heart. “I’ll take whatever time you can give me and explore Boston on my own when you’re busy.”

Aster glanced behind her, knowing that she was likely needed in the kitchen. Gabriella was great but only had two hands. She’d be hard-pressed doing double-duty. “We close at ten tonight, and if I hurry, I can be out of here by ten thirty. Thoughts?”

“Maybe we can meet for a drink in the lobby of my hotel. I’m at the Newbury.”

“I’ve met their head chef. I love that place.”

“Meet me at the bar.”

“You’re on,” Aster said. She stood, bumped into the chair, and made a gesture aimed at comedy, but surely missing the mark. “I better get back. Or whatever.”

“Just do so carefully. Precious cargo.”

She felt the blush hit on her walk back to the kitchen. This was shaping up to be quite the Friday night. She placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. “You have to slow down now,” she told her heart.

“You talking to yourself again, Chef?” Gabriella asked with a grin as she plated a key lime pie while wearing a Santa hat.

“The desserts like it,” she said and passed her an I-do-what-I-want look.

“Just be careful out there,” Gabriella said with a nod to Brynn’s table. Aster understood. Gabriella had recently come off a breakup withher girlfriend, Madison, and was still licking her wounds. It made sense that she’d look out for Aster.

“No worries. We’re just friends.”

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. “Really? Wow. Wouldn’t have called that.”

Aster shrugged and got back to work but found it hard to concentrate. Brynn Garrett had just busted in on her life, her everyday world, and made it all sparkle with magic dust. What was she supposed to do with that? And more importantly, what was Brynn doing here?

* * *

The hotel bar was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night. Brynn found a table off to the side with two blue velvet wing chairs facing each other. The walls of the bar were lined with tall library shelves and what had to be hundreds of books. She loved it here. The place wasn’t too busy, but she knew it would pick up soon.

She swirled her drink as she waited. The whiskey she hadn’t finished back at the restaurant was for courage, but the Brandy Alexander she cradled now was purely for pleasure. It felt like the kind of establishment for drinking a Brandy Alexander and declaring yourself. When Aster appeared ten minutes later, she felt downright sophisticated. Until she got a better look at Aster, and then she felt nothing but appreciation with a sidecar of lust.Look at this outfit. Jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged her…everything. The V-neck offered a glimpse of a line leading to cleavage. She had her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail with long wisps falling out in the front. Her eyes were as soulful as always. Her lashes went on for days. She saw glimpses of the younger version of Aster from several years prior, but the woman in front of her was different, steady, and in control, a change even from the last time they’d seen each other. Aster Lavender absorbed knowledge like a sponge and learned from every day she spent on the planet.

“Aster, hi. Sit down and talk to me.”

She did. “I was watching the clock like a kid in school.”

Brynn sipped her drink. “You’re so not a kid anymore. I can’t get over it.”

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