Wanting to and doing it were two different things. But they did need to get something in the works for Miss Mabel. The last thing she wanted was the old bat gunning for her. “Fine. What time should I be there?”
“Around six.”
“What can I bring?” Somehow, he’d tricked her into agreeing.
“Just your lovely self.”
“I’ll bring a bottle of wine.”
“Perfect.” He eyed the pastry. “Aren’t you going to eat that?”
“Oh, I’m not really hungry.”
His eyes were alight with amusement as he picked up the pastry. “Guess I’ll have to eat it.” He stood and took a big bite. “These things are so good.” He finished it off, then picked up the coffee she hadn’t touched. “Guess I’ll have to drink this, too. Sweet Tooth sure does make the best coffee.” The blasted man chuckled as he walked out with her coffee and her pastry in his stomach. Hers growled.
She scowled at his back as he left. The sneaky devil had just played another joke on her.
Chapter Eleven
“I need help, Katie,” Tristan said, striding up to the diner’s counter, a man on a mission.
“What can I do for you, Chief?”
“Teach me how to make lasagna.” What had he been thinking, telling Skye he made a mean lasagna? His mouth had gotten ahead of his brain, but he’d seen her refusal to come to dinner forming. Remembering she’d said lasagna was her favorite food, he’d thrown that out there. Now he had three hours to pull this off before Skye would be sitting at his table, expecting what he’d promised.
“Okay. When do you want to learn?”
“Now.”
“Now, as in this minute?”
“Yes.” Fortunately, it was the middle of the afternoon, so she wasn’t busy. “Garlic bread, too.” He didn’t blame her for looking at him like he’d lost his marbles. “I’ll owe you big.”
“Why don’t I make it for you, and you can pick it up in an hour or so.”
“That won’t work. I have to make it myself.”
“I have a feeling there’s a good story here. Care to share?”
“Just promised someone I’d make them lasagna for dinner. No biggie.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “I see. Got a hot date, do you?”
Crap. Did that heat spreading across his cheeks mean he was blushing? Apparently so, because she laughed.
“I’ll make you a deal. You tell me with who, and I’ll teach you how to make the best damn lasagna you’ve ever had.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Katie. You can’t tell anyone, okay? And you especially can’t ever hint to her that you know.”
“Promise.” She made an X over her chest.
“The sheriff.”
She banged her fist on the counter. “I knew it.”
Huh? “Knew what?”
“That you have the hots for Skylar. I see the way you look at her whenever she’s near you.”