She gave him a smile. “Be right back.”
As she was pouring him a glass, Willa came in, phone in hand. “Did you see he posted his new logo and linked to your website? Mom, that is so cool. Have you gotten any responses yet?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “To be honest, I haven’t looked at my phone. I spent most of the afternoon working onanother project. The illustrations for a children’s book. I had my notifications turned off so I wouldn’t be interrupted.”
“Well, you should turn them back on.”
“I will. But not now. I’m happy to focus on the evening.” And Lucas. She didn’t need or want to be distracted by anything else.
Once the steak was cooked, Lucas sliced it and laid it overtop the salad he’d made. With the yellow corn, red tomatoes, additional greens and veggies, it was beautiful. He brought out the ginger shrimp salad and the fruit salad as well, arranged them on the table, then took a few photos.
“All right,” he said, setting his phone down. “Let’s dig in. And, as always, be honest. If you don’t like something, tell me. Needs more salt, less acid, too much heat, anything. I want to hear it.”
But it only took a few tastes for the praise to begin. Frankie did a lot of nodding while she chewed. “Lucas, these are amazing. I wouldn’t change a thing. I hope you know I’d tell you if I thought otherwise.”
“Agreed,” Harper said. “I could eat salads like this every day. They’re great for hot weather. You’ve outdone yourself.”
He grinned. “Thank you. Willa?”
She looked up, mouth full. After she swallowed, she smiled. “I don’t think I’ve had a better salad. Ever. The ginger shrimp one is a little spicy, which I was not expecting, but I still like it. It’s not overpowering heat.”
“I am so glad to hear that. And the fruit salad will help with the spice. I’ve got a batch of the ginger shrimp ready to take on the boat tomorrow, along with more of the fruit salad. It was so nice of Mitch to call and invite me. I know Joyce is preparing chicken salad and a few other things, too.”
“Something baked and delicious, no doubt,” Willa said.
Lucas nodded. “I should hope so.”
They all laughed.
Harper swallowed a sip of wine. “Joyce was at the house yesterday morning and told us her sister’s coming to visit, and apparently her sister is an incredible baker.”
“Is she really?” Lucas asked.
Frankie nodded. “Joyce said her sister is a better baker than she is.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed in thought. “You know, I don’t do that much baking because it’s really not my thing. Baking is its own category, to be honest. It’s a science, really. But having a guest baker definitely appeals. I wonder how Joyce’s sister would feel about that?”
Willa, fork in hand, glanced at him. “Joyce might get jealous.”
Lucas nodded. “Good point. She might. I’ll run the idea by her and see what she thinks first. But truly, I’d be happy to have both of them on.”
Frankie smiled. Lucas was really something. How did he not have a girlfriend? He was the perfect catch. Maybe tomorrow, on the boat, she’d ask him about that.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Chapter Nine
Harper wasn’t sure how she’d gotten so full eating salad, but as the lights flickered on around Lucas’s backyard, she took a seat in the conversation area and sighed. She stretched her feet out on the ottoman, happy to recline on the big, comfortable couch.
The dogs, having worn themselves out, were sleeping on the couch inside, which Lucas had okayed. There was a colorful woven throw on the couch, and he said Scout hung out there all the time. Archie hadn’t seemed so sure, but after Harper had told him it was all right, he’d gotten up.
Willa was on her phone, no doubt checking out the responses to the post Lucas had made. Her shared version was getting a lot of likes and comments from friends, but his was getting more. No surprise there. She said she had eleven new followers already.
Lucas and Frankie were in the kitchen cleaning up. Harper had offered to help, but they’d both told her to go relax.
She glanced into the house, smiling. It was comforting to see her sister in the company of such a genuinely nice guy. Harper wasn’t sure there was anything more than a friendship happening, but that was just fine. Lucas treated Frankie with agreat deal of respect, something that had been seriously lacking in her marriage.
Harper was happy for her sister.
