Page 86 of Stirring Up Love
“That is the worst bow I’ve ever seen.” Chantal’s voice broke his concentration, and he looked up to find her taking a box of macarons from Alisha. “You’re relieved of duty, bachelorette. Go take thy lack of crafting skills elsewhere. You’re a disgrace to bakers everywhere.”
“Excuse me, Chantal, but have you seen my bonbons?”
Chantal laughed. “Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”
“What my sister means to say is her sugar work is top notch.” Simone eyed the bow critically. Probably because she was the only sober one. “Unfortunately, looks like that skill doesn’t transfer to nonedible items.”
“Hey now.” Finn picked up the box of macarons and brought it close to his face. A little blurry, but the knot looked great to him. “I think this is excellent. You can’t let them roast you, Alisha. You’re the queen tonight.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll take that.” Alisha giggled and poked her sister. “Hear that, Sim? Finnegan Begin Again thinks I’m a queen.”
Finn sneaked a look at Simone, who snorted with a half shrug. “Cheesy nicknames are a family trait, I guess.”
He picked up his own spool and measured out a length of velvet ribbon, but as soon as he cut it, Simone took away his scissors. Party pooper.
Tying a knot to create a long loop, he beckoned to Alisha. She elbowed herself up off the couch, and he slipped the ribbon over her head like a sash. “We’re supposed to honor the bachelorette. Bow downto her, in fact.” He stepped back and bowed at the waist, stumbling. Okay, so maybe that last shot of whiskey had been a mistake.
But Alisha laughed and smoothed the ribbon. “I accept your tribute, my liege.”
“Oh my gosh, y’all. The cheesiness. I can’t.” Simone buried her face in her hands. So cute when she was mortified.
Finn collapsed on the rug next to her and put his head on her shoulder to steady himself. Whoops. He straightened up, but not fast enough, because Chantal narrowed her eyes.
“So you and Simi, this a thing now?” She bent her head and bit off a stray thread, light-brown eyes trained on his. “Or is it a case of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?”
The spiked cider and tequila mingled in his stomach, turning sour. Simone’s shoulders went stiff under her formfitting turtleneck.
“Ooh, guys, guys!” Alisha broke in, drumming her palms on the table, eyes bright. “Forget the favor boxes. You know what we should do next? Home movies.”
“No, Ali. This isn’t Christmas vacation,” Simone said.
“Um, yeah, it kinda is.” She pointed to the snow swirling outside. “And it’s my bachelorette party. What I say goes.”
“Your sister’s right,” Chantal said. “She’s the boss. And also, I’m intrigued. Home movies?”
Simone groaned. “We had a tradition of watching home videos every Christmas break, which Alisha started because she’s a big ham ball.” Warmth infused her tone and belied her objections.
Alisha’s chin hit her collarbones in a nod. “Guilty. I’m a big ball of cheesiness. And there’s no point in debating it because I already called for a ride.”
“Who? Laney’s got a toddler, and—”
The door burst open in a flurry of snow to reveal a man in a tan work coat and beat-up baseball cap, his arm covering his eyes. “Everybody decent?”
Finn huffed out a laugh. “What does he think goes on at these?”
The man dropped his arm, and his blue eyes shot straight to Finn. “What’s a dude doing here?”
“Finn’s our stripper!” Chantal declared.
The guy squinted at him, not in an aggressive male-dominance display, but more like,This puny fella?And really? Ouch. Also, who was this guy? He still hadn’t explained his presence, but everyone else seemed fine with the intrusion.
“Wait a sec.” The man’s stare turned into a glare, beefy arms pulling across his chest. “You’re the guy fromThe Executives. The one stirring up trouble all summer at the market.”
Great, he had a reputation. Finn narrowed his own eyes. “And you are?”
Simone stepped between them before the newcomer could reply. “Finn, meet Shawn. He’s an old friend of ours. Graduated in my class. And our ride, I’m assuming?” The guy nodded, and she grabbed her coat off the hall tree. “Can’t believe Ali roped you into this.”
“It’s her big day this weekend.” Shawn’s face relaxed into an indulgent grin. “And this gives me a chance to test out the new snow tires.”
