Page 99 of Awestruck at Dusk
“I like where your head’s at.”
He kissed my cheek and said, “Off you go. I’m going to trim my beard and get dressed. I’ll see you out there.”
I smiled at him with a nod and walked out of the guest room to help Lily. She had a ton of flowers spread on the dining room table. Zara was helping her sort them out. Outside, Tobias, Joel, Eric, and Sivert were placing the wooden maypole.
“Ready to help,” I told Lily, who was still in her sportswear. But not Zara. She wore her long brown waves down and a lovely pale blue lace dress that made her eyes pop and her tanned skin glow beautifully.
I had to look away.
What can I say? Zara’s gorgeous. And I couldn’t look at her without inevitably remembering what I heard on my birthday—imagining her hands all over William and his hands all over her, making her react and enjoy herself asIlistened.
Anyway … There was stuff to get done, and there was no turning back now.
We both helped Lily make a few short, simple flower arrangements to place as centerpieces on the long table that had already been set up in the garden by the furniture guys. There were two larger flower arrangements with various kinds of flowers placed on the terrace table that served as a bar from what I could tell.
Someone hurried down the stairs behind me, and I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was William. His stupid cologne gave him away as he left a scent trail of delicious ripe oranges, freshwater, and spicy amber as he aimed straight for the kitchen.
Well, shit.
I had already forgotten about that damn cologne. And I preferred to keep it that way.
William asked Zara for help, and she immediately dropped what she was doing and went to assist him. That’s when I dared look his way. He wore blush pink linen slacks with a light blue linen jacket over a white button-down shirt. Needless to say that he pulled that cotton-candy-colored outfit off wonderfully.
I looked away, even though I wanted to inspect that Midsummery ensemble of his.
“I think we’re done. These we’ll use for the flower crowns,” Lily said, setting some flowers aside. “Everything we need to make the flower crowns is inside this box. I’ll take a shower and get ready. See you in a bit.”
Lily left, and Nathan hadn’t come out yet.
William and Zara spoke in Swedish, which was extremely annoying. Especially since she kept laughing at whatever William said to her. She helped him plate the food from what I could see before I stormed out with the flowers and the box. I couldn’t hide my annoyance at seeing them interact, but I’m sure they didn’t notice since they were busy getting along so great.
I took a seat on one of the chairs at the long table in the garden and decided to distract myself by working on my flower crown. Eric, Sivert, and Tobias chatted beside the maypole drinking their beers. Luckily, Nathan arrived at that moment, but Zara was with him.
They both carried a plate of food in each hand and placed them around the table. Zara rushed back inside.
“That’s gonna look lovely on you,” Nathan said, looking at my flower crown. I was barely getting started on it.
“You look so handsome,” I told him. He wore khaki pants and a white button up shirt. He looked fresh and clean—elegant as always.
“Why, thank you.” He kissed my cheek, and Tobias shouted his name. “I’ll be right back, love. Are you okay here?”
“Oh, of course. I’m going to finish the flower crown. Go ahead.”
Zara walked back out, and William followed close behind her. They both carried two more plates of food each. Everything looked and smelled delicious as expected.
“Can I get you ladies something to drink?” William offered.
“Um … yes. Wine, please,” Zara replied, taking a seat in front of me. “If you’ve got any of that Nemorino’s wine that we had at Billie’s birthday, that would be lovely.”
“I’ve plenty,” William replied, somewhat annoyed. That wine did wonders for Zara on my birthday. And now Ihatedthat wine. It only made me vomit the last time I drank it. The wine’s formula needed to be re-evaluated for sure. “And for you?”
“No more Nemorino’s for me, thank you,” I said with a forced smile. “But I’ll take one of those aquavit spritzer thingies.”
“The one with the berries?” William asked. “Like last year?”
“Mhm,” I replied, looking at my hands working on my flower crown.
William left, and Zara got curious as she worked on her crown too. “So, how was Midsummer last year?”
