He captures my mouth with his, kissing me into a wave of desire.When we finally separate, I open my eyes to see that he’s become deadly serious.
‘You’re a lip-licking delicacy,” he whispers.I feel him grow hard against my belly.This man is insatiable.That’s nice of him.
“I can cancel tonight, Emma.Just give me the word and this all stops, and you and I…” He smiles and kisses me lightly.“Can explore other menu options.”
“Fine.Lock the front door.It’ll have to be quick.”
His face lights up.“I’ll be back in one second.”
It’s one second too many, because Summer bursts through the door and runs into the kitchen.“Yikes!”she yells.“No bodily fluids in the burgers, please!”
Finn and I separate.
“This isn’t what you think, Summer,” he says.
She waves him off.“I already know, so save it.”
“I’m going to kill Declan.”Finn storms off.
I look at Summer, shaking my head.“You’re a troublemaker.I’m the one who told you, not Declan.”
“He can take care of himself.”She grins.
“Finn was trained in knife fighting,” I warn her.
She shrugs.“Yeah, well, Declan was trained in a whole lot more than knives.Has Finn ever told you about the Somalia thing?”
“What’s a Somalia thing?”
“You should ask Evander.He tells it the best.”Summer claps her hands together.“I came to help.You want me to make hamburger patties?”
“No.”No burgers, no spaghetti.This crowd won’t know what hit them.
I love to spend time with Summer, but she’s no sous chef, that’s for sure.I need to get rid of her, too.
“You know what I just realized, Summer?”
“What?”
“I need you to pick up ice.”
CHAPTER 60
Emma
The dinner party is a spectacular success, everything from the signature cocktail and canapes to the apple tart a la mode.Finn’s family stays late, all of us gathered under the pergola lit up with fairy lights, eating, laughing, and enjoying one another’s company.
Everyone raves about the food.Phyllis prefers words like “professional” and “chef.”Each bite makes Jamie close his eyes and hum.
Declan, Summer, and Jasmine end up in the pool.Phyllis has one too many signature cocktails.And through it all, Finn’s face is a thing to behold.
He’s so proud of me.Of his home.The food, the ambience, my ability to keep seventeen balls in the air and not drop one.It’s a shock to me too.For the first time in my life, I can see that something good’s come out of all those years of waitressing.Learning how to juggle several things at once is a skill I can use for pretty much anything in life.
And it doesn’t hurt that I love what I’m doing.That I love this family.
Several times during the party, I feel Finn’s eyes on me.I look over to see him staring at me with, I hardly dare to think it, but I see love there.
I think he loves me, too.
