Andie watched as the two weaved their way to a corner of the porch. Annette looked a lot like her mom, she realized, as the woman lifted a chubby-cheeked baby to the pair. It was impossible not to be hypnotized by the scene. Even from a distance she could hear coos of adoration.
“Cute little family,” Trenton said under his breath.
Andie glanced over, not realizing she’d get lured into a different sort of spell. There was something in the depths of his eyes as he held her gaze. Something that acknowledged the possibilities between them.
It felt like there was a rabbit thumping in her chest, it was beating so hard. “Yes,” she managed. “They’re very cute.”
Trenton slid his hand along her lower back as he broke from her gaze at last, turning his sights on the buffet. “You’re not too bad yourself,” he said.
An involuntary thrill zipped through her at the compliment. Neither was he. “Now, to see if we can dodge Dirk and Lee for the night,” he said, nodding to the food.
The buffet line had cleared, and most of the guests were filtering to the tables now. Andie took the plate Trenton handed her and eyed the selection.
“We’ve got beef brisket, smoked pork, and BBQ chicken. Then we’ve got sides offering every comfort food you can imagine. My favorite’s the mac and cheese. Oh, and the cornbread,” he added. “Just don’t scrimp out on the honey butter.”
Andie hadn’t realized how hungry she was before then. But as she took in the array of meats, sides, and desserts too, she didn’t know where to begin. “It all looks so good,” she said. “How am I supposed to decide?”
“You could always try a little of everything and see what you like,” Trenton suggested. “That’s what’s so nice about buffets. You don’thaveto choose.”
Andie couldn’t help but chuckle. It was such a contrast to the elite dinner parties she’d been to. Large plates with tiny delicacies.
She reached for the beef brisket first, then moved on to the sweet pork. “I have a confession to make,” she said, leaning closer to Trenton.
“You think Lee is cute,” Trenton mumbled under his breath. “Everyone does.”
Andie shook her head as she came to the BBQ chicken. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Ah.” Trenton tipped his head back. “You thinkI’mcute.”
Andie grinned as her face went hot. “Maybe I do,” she admitted. “But the confession is this. The last dinner party I went to, I was so hungry after that I had the driver pull through the only fast food place open so I could eat on the way home.” They’d moved onto the sides where Andie scooped small samples of nearly every option onto her plate.
“You were afraid to eat in front of everyone or what?” Trenton asked.
“That’s not it. The portions weretiny.”
“Was it one of those events where you pay per plate?” he asked. “Like a charity type of thing?”
“Yep. Twelve hundred dollars a plate, to be exact.”
Trenton sucked air in through his teeth. “Ouch.”
She didn’t add the fact that she’d purchased a piece of art that night for over a million bucks. A gift for Emmitt since he loved art and guitars and the painting incorporated both. Of course, he’d had to leave that behind.
“Looks like your brother is waving us over,” Trenton said, breaking into her musings.
Andie glanced back to see Emmitt seated beside Betty and a small family of guests. The sight made her realize something—she and Trenton wouldn’t have the quiet time she’d hoped they might. It was a party, after all.
“Yes, let’s sit there,” she said, feeling a little deflated as she weaved through the tables toward the group.
Trenton was quick to introduce himself and Andie to the family seated among the group, asking where they were from and how they were enjoying their stay. His interest didn’t come across as some stuffy hotel owner making sure his guests were well cared for. He had a genuine quality about him. As if he’d inquire whether he owned the place or not.
It wasn’t long before all seated at the table were engaged in conversations ranging from the best way to barbecue to the wiles of teenage boys. The latter was more of an inquiry from the mother sitting beside her own teenager.
“Well, I never did have kids of my own,” Betty started, the comment surprising Andie. She’d assumed that Betty was a parent after that wholetwo-chances-at-the-parent-child-relationshiptalk.
Betty pointed at Trenton across the table as she continued. “But I sort of played mother to this restless cowboy, right here. And boy, was that a job in itself. I caught him smoking on the back porch with some friends once,” she said.
Trenton nodded. “Yep. She smacked me square on the back of the head too. Said if she ever caught me doing that again she’d tell my granddad.”
