‘Have you heard from Nicola recently?’ he asked.
‘Yes, she’s doing great. The Truro shop has doubled its profits since she took over. I lost my focus on it after I came here.’
‘That wasn’t your fault.’
‘I’m not complaining, just being realistic. Anyway, her success is good for our bank account, too.’ She’d negotiated a franchise agreement with her former employee, giving her a continuing percentage of the revenue.
Griff checked the time. ‘We’ve got twenty minutes yet before we need to cut the cake. Plenty for what I’ve got in mind.’ Her eyes glittered. ‘I know I told you I wasn’t thinkin’ of that . . . although . . .’ He stroked his hands down to the jade silk belt cinching in her waist. For today’s party, she’d chosen a jade-and-white-striped fifties-style tea dress rather than wear her wedding dress again. But at Ruth Mae Grey’s insistence, Lyndsey modeled her wedding dress for the old lady to admire yesterday, so she could see her as ‘a proper bride.’
‘There’s no “although” about it.’ Her air quotes made him laugh. ‘Come on, then. Show me your secret before you burst.’ She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the front door. ‘I assume it’s at our house?’
‘Yeah, in my workshop.’
Their guests were out on Becca and Deke’s patio enjoying a selection of their original wedding reception foods mixed in with local Tennessee specialties. That’d led to a curious combination of Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, scones with jam and cream at one end of the buffet table, and then country ham biscuits, pimiento cheese sandwiches and Moon Pies (a chocolate marshmallow confection reminding Lyndsey of Wagon Wheels) at the other. Deke and Theo were also on grill duty and cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and British bangers they’d sourced at a local butcher.
‘Where d’you think you’re goin’, big bro?’ Jase caught them halfway across the hall. ‘You’ve been married for weeks now. Hasn’t the novelty worn off yet?’
‘Nope, I’m pretty damn sure it never will.’ Griff grinned. ‘Haven’t you got anythin’ better to do, like chase after your own lady?’
‘She’s taking care of Ruth Mae. Theirs is the most unlikely friendship I’ve ever come across, but it proves what an awesome woman Tiffany is.’
‘You goin’ to make an honest woman of her anytime soon?’ Griff teased. ‘Your job’s going well, isn’t it?’
‘It’s all good. They’re a great bunch of folk at the Sounds.’
As luck would have it, Nashville’s minor league baseball team had been searching for a new coach and youth coordinator, and Jase’s experience proved a perfect match. Griff’s only concern had been that the temptations of the city might undo the good work his brother had done turning his life around. He’d been relieved when Jase took up Buddy Earl’s offer of renting a small flat over the Adamsville Grocery. The commute didn’t seem to bother Jase, and judging by the number of mornings he’d spotted his brother’s car parked outside Tiffany’s house, the flat wasn’t getting a whole lot of use anyway.
‘And as for Tiffany . . .’ Jase’s face turned bright red. ‘Where were you off to anyway?’
‘My workshop,’ Griff said, ‘but if anyone asks, you haven’t seen us. I promise we won’t be long.’
‘Fine. I’ll use my charm and charisma to smooth over anyone’s ruffled feathers.’
‘Thanks, bro.’ Griff steered Lyndsey out before anyone else could delay them.
* * *
Even though it’d been touch-and-go a few times, she’d made it through their wedding in Cornwall and today’s party without crying, but now tears pricked at her eyes. Hopefully, her waterproof mascara would live up to its promise.
‘I’ve called itEssence of Love.’ Griff’s voice turned hoarse. ‘I made it when we were at odds, and I was afraid this might be all I’d ever have to remind me of you.’ He picked up her hand and touched it to the stunning mosaic on the workbench in front of them. ‘The vivid blues are the Caribbean Sea, the shards of emerald your eyes.’ He slid her fingers closer to the top. ‘Those heat-drenched yellows and oranges are the sun.’
‘It’s incredible.’ Lyndsey stroked along the border, formed by a variety of miniature tiles in complementary colors. ‘The detail is stunning. It’s definitely going in our bedroom.’ She slid him a teasing smile. ‘Unless you were planning to sell it and make a fortune?’
‘Never!’
They both laughed, before she suddenly slammed her mouth shut and looked embarrassed.
‘No secrets, remember?’ Griff teased. ‘Mine was acceptable, because it’s a gift. We’re allowed some leeway with those.’
‘Mine is sort of a gift, too.’
‘So, where’re you hiding it?’
Lyndsey took hold of his hand and pressed it against her stomach. ‘It seems us Carne girls don’t drag our feet when we find the right man.’ She watched Griff’s expression settle into a frown . . . before a smile skittered across his face.
‘Do you mean what I think you mean?’
‘Get ready for sleepless nights. No sex for months, because I’ll be too tired and fat. Do you want me to go on?’
