“Do you think you could make one before noon? That’s when Luke plans to take off,” Mimi said. “I hate to ask you on such short notice, but I just want this date to be perfect.”
There was absolutely no way Sarah could make a cake this morning, not while she was working, but she took pride in this basket. There was a cold roasted chicken, her signature mac and cheese, Asian pear and arugula salad, crusty French bread, and a raspberry cream tart that she happened to know for a fact Luke couldn’t get enough of (despite his healthy eating, he’d nearly devoured half of the one she’d made last week). But, hey, if Jenna wanted chocolate cake, then, by all means, Sarah would make sure she got her chocolate cake.
“No problem,” Sarah said, forcing a smile. “But it’ll take a while to get that together.”
“Oh! Yeah, sure.” Mimi glanced at her watch and frowned. “Darn it, I just remembered I have a big appointment and there’s no way I can come back to pick up the basket and drive to Destin in time for their date. I hate to ask, but would you mind dropping the basket off for me?” She pulled a piece of paper out of her tote. “Here’s the address.”
The whole thing was incredibly inconvenient, but Mimi had been so nice to her. “Um, sure. I get off at eleven so I can swing by the marina and drop the basket off then.”
“You’re the best!” Mimi said.
* * *
“Why didn’t you just tell her there was no way you could make a chocolate cake with this late notice?” Lucy asked.
“Because failure is not an option.” Sarah had called Heidi’s Bakery and gotten them to deliver a small chocolate cake for two. She arranged the cake box into the large thermal basket, careful to keep everything from shifting. She’d also added a small bottle of champagne and two plastic flutes. All that was missing was a couple of condoms.
She scrubbed that vision out of her brain.
Her reputation was at stake here. She’d make the best and most delicious romantic picnic basket in the history of picnic baskets. Even if it killed her.
It was a little past eleven and The Bistro was still busy. Sarah had been here since five and this was supposed to be her short day this week, but she still felt guilty for leaving Lucy and Allie with so many customers.
“Are you sure you’re okay if I leave?” she asked Lucy.
“You’ve already put in over sixty hours this week. Go! Deliver the basket and then take some time off for yourself. It’s gorgeous outside. I’d be in my bathing suit
right now if I didn’t have to be here.”
Lucy was right. Sarah needed time away from this place. She pulled off her apron, picked up the basket and her beach tote, and headed out the door.
The marina in nearby Destin wasn’t big, so she easily spotted Luke. He was standing in front of a large boat, the name Martha Sue clearly visible from the side. He wore board shorts and a white T-shirt with canvas sneakers and aviator sunglasses, which made him look incredibly hot. More so than normal, that is.
He took one look at her, shook his head, and began to laugh. “I have no idea why you’re laughing but I’m thrilled that I could make your day.” She thrust the picnic basket at him. “Mimi couldn’t make it so she asked me to bring you this.”
“Thanks. But don’t be mad. I had nothing to do with this.”
“Do with what?”
“We’ll both find out soon enough,” he said mysteriously. Was she missing something here? Luke glanced toward the parking lot and then back to the boat. “Looks like Jenna’s running late. Want to check out the boat while I put this basket in the cooler?”
She knew he’d spent the last week working hard to bring the boat up to snuff, plus, she was curious. She wasn’t really a boat person, but she loved the water, so why not? “Okay.”
He helped her climb aboard then gave her a swift tour. “This is a thirty-one-foot Bertram. A good model, but she’s an old boat. Almost forty years old to be exact. Still in great shape, though. I replaced the motor and had her all checked out.”
The pride in his voice made her smile. “Is this the first time you’re taking her out? I mean, you know, solo?”
He nodded. “Gramps and I used to take her deep-sea fishing. I have a lot of good memories on this boat.”
“I’m sure you’ll make lots of new memories now that you’ve got her all fixed up. When you make the time to come back here, that is.”
His eyes flashed with some unnamed emotion that made her wish she hadn’t added that last part. He probably couldn’t help that his work schedule kept him from coming home as often as he’d like. “Okay, thanks for the tour! Have a great time today.” She gingerly made her way off the boat and was about to walk back to her car when she heard a familiar voice shouting.
“Luke!” It was Mimi. She ran through the marina parking lot waving her arms wildly in the air. “Sarah! Thank God you’re still here. I’m so glad I caught you both. You’re not going to believe this. Poor Jenna has come down with the stomach flu.”
Luke hopped down from the boat and onto the dock. “I was wondering how you were going to play this. Not too shabby, sis.”
“Play what?” Sarah asked, confused. “Is Jenna going to be okay?”