Page 46 of Off-Limits Love
Something smelled delicious, and his stomach growled the moment it hit his senses.
After the riders had packed up and left, he’d gone about the daily chores required. There was always something that had to be done. The animals needed to be fed, groomed and tended to so they stayed people-friendly and photogenic for paying guests. There were stalls to be mucked out and reservations confirmed.
Since he couldn’t talk to people on the phone, he used an automated service that allowed people to book available dates, and then he double checked the schedule, weather etc., and sent confirmations or had one of his employees do it over the phone if a client called with questions.
The screen door gently banged shut behind him and he followed Emi and Sam through the house to the kitchen. The table had only been set for three.
“Gonna need another plate,” Sam said loudly. “I invited Finn for dinner.”
Mak startled and turned, yanking earbuds from her ears.
“Oh, hi. I thought it was a package delivery. I mean, of course you’re welcome to join us. There’s plenty.”
Mak wore her awkwardness, like the blush suddenly appearing in her cheeks, drawing Sam’s raised eyebrows and searching look split between the two of them.
The man grunted softly, a smile quirking his lips up as he ushered Emi out of the kitchen toward the nearby table and away from them.
Finn dipped his head in greeting and took an appreciative look because he couldn’t help himself. Mak wore leggings and a long T-shirt knotted at one hip that draped over her cute behind. She looked pretty. Then again, she always did.
He liked that she wasn’t one of those women with thick makeup and flashy clothes. Her simple style worked for her, and she was even more beautiful because of it.
Mak avoided his gaze and moved toward a cabinet, stretching up to retrieve another plate. The cabinets were normal height, but her compact body couldn’t quite reach.
He crossed the distance in two steps and snagged a plate, the move putting him in close range as she spun to face him, looking a bit wide-eyed and flushed. Like she hadn’t been able to get their kisses out of her head, either.
Sam and Emi were settling in at the table, talking about her day of fun and ignoring them for the most part, so he didn’t step away.
“I’ll get utensils.”
She slid sideways along the countertop away from him and opened a drawer while he closed the cabinet. She handed him the flatware right as a timer went off on the stove.
“Have a seat. I’ve got this.”
Mak gave him a quick glance before she silenced the timer and grabbed mitts.
“Mak makes really good lasagna. You’re in for a treat,” Sam said from the table. “Come sit down.”
“Sit by me,” Emi said as she flashed him an impish grin.
Finn moved to the table, loving the fact they actually sat down in the evening and ate together as a family.
His family had done that growing up even after their parents had passed, until work and school schedules were too chaotic and misaligned for dinners together to happen.
Finn sat down beside Emi and winked at the sweetheart, though he still hated that Sam hadn’t informed Mak that he’d invited a guest.
Mak served the lasagna and salad, and Emi kept up a steady stream of chatter about how fun it had been to go play at Bea’s house. Apparently another playdate was set up for the near future.
Mak stayed quiet, interacting when asked a direct question but not offering anything otherwise. Sam and Emi were the talkers, and between the two of them, things were rarely quiet.
By dinner’s end, Sam had them all chuckling due to his grumpy complaints about traffic on the island when they’d gone to pick up Emi from Brooks’s house, and Emi was looking sleepy over where she now sat coloring in front of the television.
Mak excused herself and her daughter to give Emi a bath before bed, and Finn and Sam moved out onto the porch after clearing the table.
“Mak’s awfully tongue-tied tonight.” Sam shot him a look from the rocking chair closest to the door.
“You didn’t tell her I was coming,” Finn said softly as he took the second rocker and settled in.
“Slipped my mind is all,” Sam said. “She always makes plenty anyway. She’s a better baker than cook, but her lasagna is a favorite.”
