Page 70 of Save the Last Dance
By ten o’clockthat night, there was no part of the fairgrounds kitchen that Nina hadn’t put to work. The counters were crammed with halved, hollowed-out pumpkins that would hold bowls full of ice for a table display in the dining area. Applesauce and caramel dips simmered on the stove simmered, while separate electric kettles held corn chowder and vats of chili in a range of spiciness. Cupcakes of every kind and in various stages of decoration filled cooling racks, countertops and refrigerators. The convection ovens were filled with loaves of bread from fresh milled grains provided by local farmers.
A low, appreciative whistle sounded from the doorway.
“This place smells incredible.” Mack stood at the edge of the room, looking incredibly delicious for a man who must have been working all day. His white tee was crisp and clean, his hair damp at the edges around his face, as if he’d just washed up.
Nina’s blood warmed pleasantly, simmering right along with all the other things heating up in the kitchen. She thought about that late-night phone call and remembered how easy it would be to let herself be fooled into thinking they had a shot at a future together. And how easily she could be devastated by the fallout.
“Thank you. I’m taking full credit.” She felt pleasantly exhausted after a full day’s work. Her life was changing gears in a way she hadn’t expected but, surprisingly enough, was enjoying. “Although I suppose the farmers who grew the food deserve kudos, too.”
Tossing a cleaning rag into a bin, she washed her hands, more than ready to call it a night. At least as far as work was concerned.
“I have the feeling you’re selling a lot more than funnel cakes and corn dogs this year.” He walked closer, checkingout the gourd display that would decorate one of the dining room tables tomorrow. “These are great.”
He pointed to a pair of “totem poles” that she was particularly proud of, with one colorful gourd stacked on another, all in an homage to fall. She’d painted faces on a few of them to add to the effect.
“Thanks.” Drying her hands, she hung the towel to dry on one of the stove handles. “I’ve had an incredibly productive day.”
“Productive enough you can call it quits for the night?” His eyes lingered on the pots on the stove then slid toward her.
Her pulse quickened.
“Yes. Thankfully, I have reinforcements to take over.” She just wished she’d had a chance to comb her hair. Her hand went to the messy knot at the top of her head. No doubt she looked…like she’d worked all day. “Let me just tell the girls I’m leaving.”
Some volunteers from the planning committee had promised to shut down the kitchen for the night. Actually, they had connections to the fairgrounds’ maintenance staff, so they probably knew more about securing the building for the night than she did. She’d already given detailed instructions about storing the sauces and the breads.
Stepping into the back room, she let her replacement know she was leaving and took a quick peek in the break room mirror. She tugged the clip out of her hair and ran her fingers through it. When that didn’t help, she burrowed in her purse for a hairbrush and took a few swipes. Popped a mint.
It wasn’t much in the way of damage control, but it helped her feel calmer, ironic since her life had been full tilt since Mack had strutted back into her life—and her heart. She grabbed her jean jacket from a hook on the wall and slid it on.
“Ready,” she called out.
She had no idea what Mack had in mind, but her heart beat faster as she walked toward him. Something had shifted between them the day before.
They’d slept together and it had been incredible, the years giving depth to their connection. Then they’d argued and it had hurt more than she ever could have predicted, but at least they’d cleared up the last bit of leftover baggage from their past. Or so she hoped. And somehow, they’d bonded all over again during the phone call in the middle of the night.
It was going to be so damn hard when he left town after the festival, but she didn’t have a clue how to put up any kind of defensive walls against him. Instead she just kept handing him a little more of her heart every time they were together, knowing damn well it was going to hurt twice as much when he broke it.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.” Mack held an arm out for her as if they were going on a real date, the same way he’d escorted her to their first Harvest Festival Dance so long ago.
“I love surprises.” Her heart fluttered just as it had when she’d been a teenager.
“Lucky me, I knew that about you.” He laid a hand at the small of her back as they walked out of the kitchen and through the dining area where the lights were dim. Most everyone else had gone home for the night.
“I’m dying to see it.” Her skin tingled where he touched her and spread from that spot to the rest of her.
“Not much farther.” He held the door open for her, clearing her path out onto the central fairway.
Most of the lights were off, but the main gravel path was still illuminated by street lamps on a low setting that emitted a pink glow. Up ahead, she glimpsed the second pavilion constructed for the festival. It featured a covered area for performers, but didn’t have the seating of the big grandstand.
“It seems one of your acts is testing out the new space.” She could see a movement on the stage. Hear guitars tuning up and masculine laughter.
“Seems so,” he agreed as they passed the stations for ring toss, balloon darts and Frisbee tic-tac-toe, all dark and vacant.
“Which doesn’t surprise you even though it’s past ten,” she observed, growing suspicious. Especially since a small dance floor was lit by tiki torches, which surely would never be allowed during fair hours. “Is this part of your surprise?”
His step slowed as they closed in on the dance floor in front of the pavilion. The musicians—five of them—quieted their instruments at Mack’s arrival.
“I want this to be a special weekend for you, Nina.” He turned to face her, taking her hand. “So I thought I’d make sure I got the first dance.”
