“I should make popcorn. I’ll be right back.” She jumped up and left the two men alone while she zipped around her kitchen, finally remembered the popcorn, and then, with the bag in her hands, stared at the microwave as if she’d never seen numbers before.
She kept a secret stash of microwave popcorn bags. George didn’t even know about it. Sometimes, there was nothing like the salty, buttery taste of three-minute convenience in a bag.
When she returned to the den with the bowl of popcorn, both men visibly relaxed. She knew Elton was not George’s favorite person, though he’d never said anything specific in that regard.
“What did I miss?” she asked.
“One of the couples making out. We fast-forwarded it.”
“Which one?”
They both shrugged.
“Does it really matter?” Elton asked.
It totally mattered, but she’d go back and catch what she missed later. She didn’t want either guy’s summary of it anyway.
Elton reached for a few kernels of popcorn as Emma squeezed between them again.
“So, who else will be at this murder party?” Elton asked.
George snorted, though it was so quiet, Emma was sure Elton missed it.
“Well, for the dinner party, there’s you and George, me, Granddad, and his nurse, Harriet. You haven’t met yet, but she’s fabulous. Then there’s my sister and brother-in-law, my friends, Nicole, Cara, and Austin. Oh, and a friend of George’s named Betty.”
Elton counted on his fingers. “That makes eleven.”
“For now.” Emma glanced at George. “We might get one or two more. Shhh, shhh.” She fluttered her hand at Elton before he could ask any more questions. The judges were about to make the rounds and look at everyone’s dishes.
Emma willed her mind to focus on the show and not on the feel of George’s thigh against hers or his hand occasionally brushing against her leg. But her hormones had other plans. She could have sworn she blinked and the show’s closing music played.
Elton stood up and stretched. “George and I should get out of your hair. After all, a party planner needs her sleep.”
“True,” George responded, not leaving the sofa.
The two seemed to be having some kind of tense staring contest, but when they caught her watching, they knocked it off. Guys were strange.
She picked up a stray popcorn kernel and followed them out to the kitchen. George gave her a small side hug and left without a word. And what was there to say?I almost kissed you. Maybe we should talk about it.Nope. He’d have to bring it up first, and knowing George, he wouldn’t.
Elton cleared his throat, breaking her trance. She’d been staring at the door ever since George had walked out of it.
“You and George have known each other a long time.”
She nodded. “Yep. His brother married my sister.”
“Really?” Elton’s jaw dropped. “So, the two of you are like, in-laws.”
“Yes.”
“But, you’re not … together.”
“Oh, no.” Emma turned away so Elton couldn’t read her conflicted thoughts on that subject. She closed the microwave popcorn box and put it in her hiding place in the top of the pantry, moving things back in place so even Harriet wouldn’t find it. “Elton, I’m excited for you to meet my friends at this party. Cara and Nicole are hilarious, and Harriet is the smartest, sweetest person I know. Really down-to-earth and gorgeous.”
“I’d love to meet your friends.”
Emma turned and almost knocked into him at the entrance to the pantry. “Well, good. I think it will be lots of fun. Let me get you your costume guide before you go.” She moved around him and got it out of her party planning binder. “If you’ve already put something together for Mayor Graft, that’s okay. I just thought this could spark some ideas.”
Elton took the guide from her and tapped it against his hand. He seemed to want to say something more, but he turned and walked to the door. “Good night, Emma.”
