“Oh, I’ve got my eyes wide open,” Harper said, grinning. “Don’t you worry.”
Frankie carried out a big bowl of salad. Lucas brought a bottle of vinaigrette he’d made, along with a bowl of rice he’d scooped out of the rice cooker. They put the food on the already set table, which was between the summer kitchen and the pool, under a portico with more lights hanging from it and two spinning fans that kept the air moving.
He went to the grill and started putting the chicken onto a big platter. In the middle went a pile of vegetables that had been roasting on a different part of the grill. When he brought it to the table, he pointed out the three different kinds of chicken. “I just need to grab the satay sauce and we can eat. Fill your plates and I’ll be right back.”
He returned with a pretty, handmade pottery bowl filled with the sauce, a spoon already in it. He took his seat, laughing as the dogs came racing past. “Those two look like they’ve known each other all their lives.”
“It’s nice,” Harper said. “Archie doesn’t get much play time like that, being an only dog.”
“Same with Scout,” Lucas said, helping himself to a piece of each kind of chicken. “I really should take her to the dog park here more often, but I get so busy. That’s no excuse, I know.”
“There’s a dog park?” Harper asked.
He nodded. “It’s on the other side of the parking lot where you park for pickleball.”
“There’s pickleball?” Frankie said. “This place really has it all. You know, I could take both dogs sometime. If you guys wanted.”
Harper glanced at her sister. “I thought you had work to do?”
Frankie spooned some of the satay sauce over her Indonesian chicken. “I can spare an hour.”
“What kind of work do you do?” Lucas asked.
“I’m an assistant principal, but I’m also an artist. I do some graphic design, but mostly I specialize in illustrations. Right now, I’m working on a children’s book.”
“Impressive,” Lucas said. “As it happens, I’ve been thinking about redesigning my logo. I’ve had a few samples done, but I’m not crazy about any of them. Maybe I’m just too picky. I’d love your input.”
Frankie smiled, even as her sister nudged her knee. “I’d be happy to tell you what I think.”
Was Lucas flirting with her? Or did he really just want free help? Probably just free help. But she wasn’t sure she cared. He was nice to look at and enjoyable to be around. Plus, he could cook.
She’d help him pick out trash bags if that’s what he wanted.
ChapterThirty-One
Harper unbuttoned the top of her jeans as they walked into the house. She felt like she was still going to be full two days from now. “I ate way too much. No real regrets, though. That mancancook.”
“You can say that again.” Frankie let out a happy sigh. “I mean, the chicken was so good. But then that pineapple cobbler he made was crazy. I didn’t even know pineapple cobbler was a thing.”
Harper took the leash off Archie before collapsing onto the couch with a grunt of satisfaction. He trotted over to his water bowl and drank noisily. “It should be a thing everywhere. Pineapple cobbler with toasted coconut ice cream is now officially on my death row menu.”
Frankie flopped down on the couch next to her. “Your death row menu?”
“You know, if I ever kill anyone and end up on death row, that’s going to be one of the things I request for my final meal.”
Frankie made a face at her even while smiling. “You’re a weirdo.”
“And you’re my sister, so what does that make you?”
Frankie snort-laughed. “Fair point.”
“Hey,” Harper said. “What time is it? One of my clients is on Jimmy Kimmel tonight.”
“That’s not until eleven thirty. It’s only quarter after ten. But there’s no way I can stay up that late. Not with all that food in me.”
“I’m feeling that way, too.” Harper knew Mimi would be expecting her to watch.
“Can’t you just watch it on streaming in the morning?”
