We had most things done and ready, and maybe one third of everything was waiting for us to finish them right before I’d carry them to the indoor arena’s old office space.
That’s where we’d decided to set up the serving tables. It was a bit cramped, but it was also next to the best location for the picnic tables the guys had set up.
We’d made over a thousand profiteroles, then divided them into three and Rey was now filling the savory ones with shrimp or veggie cream cheese filling before he’d dip the vanilla curd filled ones in chocolate.
Since we hadn’t wanted to go through the fuss of tempering the chocolate, we’d decide to do that today, because the chocolate would still look good until they got eaten. If we’d done it yesterday and put them in the fridge, they’d look gray today and that wasn’t flattering.
Meanwhile, I was making sure our spicy meatballs came out of the ovens perfectly. I’d sent a thought to Ruth when I realized how right she’d been to insist we needed two ovens. We would’ve been screwed if she hadn’t done that.
The last dish was already done and completely ready. We’d made cinnamon bun pinwheels, too, because who didn’t love cinnamon buns.
“Okay, I’ll start carrying the stuff from the outside fridge, but I’ll check in when I’m done.”
“Okay!” Rey was concentrating hard, his forehead scrunched and tongue sticking out from the corner of his mouth.
“Remember to drink something every now and then!” I called over my shoulder as I went out.
* * * *
We opened the gate for the guests at noon and closed it six hours later. By the time the last people left, everyone was tired but happy.
Rey and I had used everything we had prepared and still ran out of profiteroles and pinwheels. That couldn’t be helped, but Rey felt down about it.
“Hey, this happens so often that it’s not a big deal,” I reassured him as we cleaned up the kitchen.
He’d been cleaning after himself as much as he could, and we’d even made backup mini cucumber sandwiches around four thirty when we’d realized we’d run out of stuff.
He frowned. “I know. Still makes me feel like I failed somehow.”
Without thinking about it, I went to him and wrapped my arms around him. “That’s the job, Rey. I think Lake said someone counted that there were more visitors than we expected, so that’s partially at fault here, too.”
“Oh.” Rey relaxed and squeezed me harder.
I refused to think about the way he fit against me perfectly.
“Okay. Let’s finish up with this stuff. You get the first shower,” I promised.
“Yay,” Rey deadpanned, then smiled slightly. “Thanks.”
* * * *
I stayed downstairs and made sure the giant plate of sandwiches I’d made earlier while fixing the cucumber ones was mid-center in the fridge. Then I trudged up the stairs and let the exhaustion take me a little.
The shower was still on, so I took off my chef’s jacket and jeans, then stood by the window, looking at the caterers cleaning up with the guys. At least they had that service and Rey and I only had to clean the kitchen.
I zoned out and leaned against the wall next to the window.
“Hey, the bathroom is free.”
Rey stood in the doorway of the bathroom. I hadn’t even heard him open it or registered the shower turning off.
“Thanks,” I croaked. I swayed on my feet. “Whoa.” I frowned. “I’ve had much longer days on yachts and never felt this tired.”
Rey grinned. “We literally worked for four days while you also did your normal cooking on most of those days. Then you walked back and forth a lot today, and I assume you also talked to a lot of people while you were outside?”
“Huh.” He wasn’t wrong.
It took me a few more seconds to realize Rey was wearing only underwear, and his hair was still wet. He looked like a doe eyed elven creature, and I tore my gaze off his chest.
