“Yes, night shift at the hotel,” Aunt May says. “She used to live at home, but since she got the managerial position there, she has her own lodgings at the hotel.”
I pour them each a glass of cabernet and wink at Aunt May. “Georgiana sensed that you’d be making pot roast and bought red.”
The scent of Aunt May’s delicious beef pot roast almost overwhelmed me as I walked into the house. After all these years, Aunt May still uses my mom’s recipe, the one handed down from mother to daughter for generations. It’s the taste of home and the soft brush of my mom’s hand over my back.
“Who knows how long you’re going to be around, Ray? I’ll spoil you while I can.”
Soon we’re settled around the table, too few of us for my liking. Ethan, Liam, Lucy, and Rachel should be here too. With my tiny house project taking off, I have the urge to celebrate coming this far, despite the long road ahead and Georgiana’s threat of leaving hanging over my head.
Georgiana seems to relax in the company and a smile plays on her lips as the jokes and teasing start, just like the old days. Occasionally she meets my gaze from across the table and now I’m staring at her outright. The wine has brought a rosy hue to her cheeks, and she throws her head back as she giggles at something Derek is saying. Both Hunter and Derek flirt with her in an outrageous manner, which only manages to rile me up and entertain Uncle Bill and Aunt May. Georgiana takes it in stride and plays along. The atmosphere around the table is light and easy, and when she looks at me again, she blinks and murmurs, “Thank you.”
This is the first time I’ve seen Georgiana relaxed and happy since we met. With her across from me, laughing like this, all I want is to lean over and kiss her, to carry on what I started this morning in the barn with my hands on her body.
What the hell?
Where did that even come from? What am I even thinking here? Kissing is one step up from crushing. And then it’s two steps away from falling in love.
But I’m no longer crushing. It’s worse.
Whatever hangs like a sword over her head, I’ll figure it out and make it go away.
If it’s a man…whoever it is who broke her heart, I want to make her forget.
Hunter and Derek can both back off. Hunter, with all his human resources insight, can watch from the sidelines—I couldn’t care less.
When it’s time for dessert, Hunter fetches his two batches of ice cream from the deep freeze. A yawning Hannah helps him serve us each a bowl with little toothpick flags in each scoop to mark the batches as blue or green.
“What are we tasting today?” Uncle Bill asks as he takes a bowl from Hannah.
“Nutty Crust,” Hunter says. “It’s our new summer flavor that we’re launching at the Ashleigh Lake Fair.” He hands Hannah the last bowl and gives us all a moment to take in the visual—you eat with your eyes first, after all. “The pecan cookie crust with the caramel drizzle is layered into the mix with a final top layer, so when you serve it, there are several layers in a scoop. The blue scoop has less crust than the green, so let me know what you think.” He licks the spoon and grins. “The tasting team at the office doesn’t want to overdo it crust-wise, but damn, it’s good.”
A collection of moans rises from the table as everybody digs in.
How the hell does Hunter keep in shape if he tastes this stuff all day long? Both options are delicious. “I’ll have to go with the extra layer of caramel and this crunchy stuff,” I say, scraping the bottom of my bowl already.
“Who made the crunchy part?” Georgiana asks.
“We have a baking division in the factory, but this cookie crunch is my sister Lucy’s recipe,” Derek says. “She’s in France, training as a pastry chef. Every now and again she sends us detailed instructions and recipes for things like this nutty crust.”
“We run with her instructions,” Hunter says. “I suppose I’ll have to pay her royalties if this one takes off.”
“It’s going to take off.” Uncle Bill holds out his bowl for seconds. “Can’t make up my mind yet.”
“What does Bob say?” Aunt May asks.
“Bob’s for extra crunch,” Hunter announces as if that’s it, it’s all decided.
We all know Bob might be homeless and living in fear of an alien invasion, but ever since Hunter started selling his ice cream that summer so long ago, Bob’s been on the tasting team and his vote counts double. So far, Bob’s taste buds have never disappointed in picking a winner.
“And what does Hannah say?” Hunter asks and we all look at Hannah where she’s been quiet after her earlier burst of energy.
“More?”
Everybody laughs, but Derek shakes his head. “It’s bedtime for you, little lady.”
We cast a unanimous vote in favor of extra crunch and then Aunt May stands, takes Georgiana’s hand, and leads her with a wink towards the porch. “I cook, but the boys get to clean up after dinner.”
17