“Relax.” Rachel held up her hands. “You know how Jillian has decided to do evening classes on candle making?”
Jackie nodded. “She said it would be easier without customers coming and going.”
“She’s been leaving flyers all over town,” Cassie added. “Thought the crowds from the sidewalk sale would be good timing.”
“Makes sense.” Preston nodded.
“So what’s this all about?” Leave it to Kade to get right to the point.
“She’s only had two people sign up. A couple staying at the new B&B.”
“Hm.” Carson grunted softly. “Even for me, that math doesn’t add up.”
“Nope.” Rachel shook her head from left to right once. “If she wants this to catch on like that painting and wine event that folks are always doing, she’ll need more people and more making merry along with the candles.”
And the reason for the meeting became clear to Josh at about the same time it hit everyone else and several heads either nodded or turned side to side.
“I love my sister,” Carson spoke, “you know I do, but tonight is Mason’s last parent night at school.”
Jackie looked at Garret. Their eyes met. And Josh wondered how the heck did these people do that? He could see the entireconversation taking place without a word, then Jackie turned to Rachel. “We’re in.”
A smile took over Rachel’s face. “Who else?”
One by one hands went up. Before he knew it Cassie was nodding and Kade was elbowing him. “Come on, hot shot. Afraid a little candle making will tarnish your reputation with the ladies?”
Hot shot?That was a first. He’d let the ladies comment ride—for now. On the other hand… “No more afraid of word getting back to the men on base than you are.”
Kade winced and Josh understood his pain. If word spread that the two of them were spending a Saturday night making candles, they’d never hear the end of it for the next ten or twenty years.
“So,” Josh looked to Kade, “is there a dress code for this little party?”
And just like that, voices spoke over each other, laughter floated around and then, beaming like the Cheshire cat, Alice placed the handset to the landline back in place and spun about. “Aunts Liz and Vicki are going to come too. They were going to watch the competitions at the park, but agreed this is more important.” The woman slapped her hands together and rubbed. Still grinning madly, she actually squealed before spinning around. “This is going to be so much fun!”
He sure hoped Alice Sweet knew of what she spoke.
“Hey,” Cassie grabbed her husband’s hand, “don’t look so grim. This will be a great date night. Certainly better than sitting in a dark theater watching a dumb movie.”
Wise man that he was, Kade merely smiled at his wife and nodded.
Something deep inside Josh seemed to almost tug at him to turn and face Katie, surprised to find her hands cradling her glass, her gaze focusing on the liquid within. Not till he spottedthe hint of pink warming her cheeks, did he realize what had made her so quiet. The same words that had struck him—Date night.Great, so the woman was not only smart and perceptive, she was also cute as a button when she blushed. Maybe a date night wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
If there was one thing Katie had learned during her short visits at the Sweet ranch, it was when this family mobilized, it was like watching a well-oiled machine. Within half an hour, everyone was changed, freshened up, loaded with bottles of wine, and good humor. Shortly after leaving the ranch, the siblings, spouses and friends piled out of various vehicles in front of Jillian’s candle shop as if it were the hottest ticket in town.
Katie carried a massive bottle of red wine that Jackie had pressed into her hands with the fierce conviction of a woman about to commit mischief.
Heaven Scent had been transformed. The overhead lights had been dimmed in favor of string lights that gave the whole place a cozy, almost magical glow. Near the rear of the shop six workstations had been set up, each equipped with a hot plate, a double boiler setup, measuring cups, wooden stir sticks, and an array of small glass jars. And wine—lots of wine.
Katie took it all in, handing Jillian the bottle of wine that had been clutched to her chest. Not that from the look of the table set up for refreshments did it seem that Jillian needed more. “This is adorable.”
“Right?” Jillian beamed. “I was panicking when only two people signed up, but now—” she gestured to the growing crowd, “—now it’s a party.”
Josh followed behind her, moving a little slower but his broad smile had his eyes twinkling with amusement. Lookingaround a minute, he stepped around her and reached for two aprons from the counter, his other hand brushing along the small of her back. The unexpected contact had her sucking in a long breath. Turning, he offered her a colorful apron with the candle shop logo. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” she managed, slipping it over her head.
Behind them, two women who Katie remembered from the wedding as being Garret’s Aunts Liz and Vicki came through the front door, both smiling and giddy as schoolgirls going to their first dance. Within minutes, wine glasses in hand, they settled at a table, whispering and laughing and reminding Katie, in the words of Auntie Mame, that life was a banquet and most poor suckers were starving to death.
All the couples claimed a table leaving Josh and Katie at the same table. Her thoughts drifted back to Cassie’s comment about a fun date night and Katie felt heat flush again to her cheeks. Silly of her. Just because Cassie had said that about her and her husband didn’t mean that Josh thought she considered this a date. He probably hadn’t even noticed what Cassie had said.
