Page 96 of Stirring Up Love
He’d avoided touching her with everyone around, but with just them at the front door, he reached for her hand, heart squeezing when she threaded her fingers through his. “Thank you.”
She tipped her head sideways. “For what?”
“For letting me help. This is your home. Your place. And I don’t take that lightly.”
A small smile lit up her face. “What did I tell you about thank-yous?”
Glancing over his shoulder, then peering over hers—there always seemed to be someone watching here—he stepped closer. Wound his hands around her waist and bent his lips to hers, murmuring, “Thatyou prefer them like this.” He kissed her, quick, light. But she swept her hands up to his shoulders and pulled him deeper.
Yes, this.
This is what he’d been missing ever since they’d arrived in town. Working with Simone was nice. But being with her? His true desire. His world. His home.
She pulled away, her hands still twined around his neck. “Let me introduce you to everyone real quick. I’ve only got a few minutes before I gotta head to hair and makeup.”
“But it’s, like, five hours until the wedding.”
She patted his cheek. “You sweet, innocent man. How little you know of the realm of women.” Chuckling, she pulled him down the hall to the kitchen. Rowdy voices and laughter spilled out the door, and he slowed to a halt just short of entering. All of a sudden, this task felt overwhelming.
Looking back over her shoulder, Simone asked, “Getting cold feet?”
“Nah.” But he worried about what would happen after the party. Succeed or fail, he’d still want her. Would she feel the same?
CHAPTER 34
SIMONE
Simone dropped Finn’s hand and led him into the reception hall’s kitchen. In an alternate universe, she would’ve walked in hand in hand. Let everyone see just how much his presence meant to her. But she still didn’t know if she should take the deal, and even though he’d promised he’d want her without it, in her experience, there was what someone said, and what they did. And only one of those two could be trusted.
Monday was only two days away. Defining their relationship could wait. If Finn still cared about her after the dust settled, then maybe she could trust their connection.
For now, all that was left to do was make a round of introductions and go over their game plan one last time before she got sucked into bridal party preparations. All three cooks from Honey and Hickory were hard at work on prep, working for double pay. And all but one had been enthusiastic about the challenge.
“Hey, Rhonda, thanks again for deciding to come in.”
The reluctant cook looked up, her tidy dark-brown bun covered by a hairnet. “Always on shift Saturdays anyway. Figured my body wouldn’t know what to do with the extra rest.”
At a loss from the Eeyore-like response, Simone settled on a nod.
But Finn stepped closer. “What’re your plans for the basil? Is that going in the pasta salad, or is it a garnish?”
Simone glanced at him sharply. He already knew the answer. But he gave a tiny shake of his head before fixing all his attention on the taciturn cook. Chin in his hand, he nodded along as she spoke.
Turned out introductions weren’t necessary. She’d forgotten how great he was with people, the effortless way he made everyone feel important. Because to him, they were.
She went over and picked up their clipboard to do a final run-through, and Lyndsey stepped up to peer over her shoulder. “Would you look at that.”
“What?” She turned and found Lyndsey’s eyes not on the list, but on Finn and Rhonda.
“He’s teaching Rhonda to chiffonade basil.”
He was. Grinning at something she’d said, he rolled the basil leaves tightly, then chopped them with quick flicks of his wrist. Next to him, Rhonda mimicked his movements, and he slowed, the better for her to imitate.
“So?”
“So?” Lyndsey frowned at her. “Rhonda normally doesn’t even take all the peel off the potatoes before boiling them.”
“Because the mashed potatoes we serve are smashed.”
