“Wish I could stay like this forever, Meadow. Thank you for letting me in.”
She nodded against him. “Thanks for making your stubbornness outlast mine.”
He smiled, and they separated slowly. Rather than feeling awkward over the extended-release hug, Meadow felt exhilarated, hopeful, and free.
She eased back into meal-prep mode. “Can you hand me the medium chafing dish?”
He blinked big at the conglomeration of pans and pitched a cute but panicked look.
“Square white serving thing with the underburner and lid.”
He brought it over and set it down with a grin. “It begins.”
“What?” She stirred masa batter for the chile rellenos dish.
“The crash course in Catering Dish Identification.”
Meadow felt a crash coming on but not with catering. It had to do with her growing dependency on Colin. That she’d begun to long for their talks. She’d shifted at some point from doing everything she could to avoid him to seeking opportunities and excuses to spend more time with him.
“What’s the rest of the week look like schedule-wise?”
She was tempted to say it looked perfect as long as he’d be in it, but tamped down the urge. She needed to get control of herself. Stay on guard. Just to be safe. “Just in case” was her go-to phrase, the way she lived life in relationship to others. Safe.
Safe meant putting distance emotionally. Walls.
Just in case he had romantic notions toward another after all.
Just in case his care and presence in her life were only meant to last a little while.
Colin wondered what thief-draped thought slithered in to steal her smile.
Lord, that hug was sublime. It was healing to her, I know it. Help her win the backlash battle of her mind trying to rip joy from her soul and steep her in doubt.
He had a fleeting thought of what to tell her. “Meadow, this’ll sound odd, but I feel like I’m supposed to encourage you to leave your walls down, just in case you’re wrong.”
She paled. Blinked wide. Then seemed to compose herself and stood on tiptoes to view her calendar. “Tex-Mex rehearsal dinner tonight, wedding tomorrow. Friday night Valentine wedding rehearsal dinner. Reception Saturday, Valentine’s Day. I have an engagement party to cater the Thursday evening after Valentine’s Day weekend, so that’s February nineteenth. Then Flora and Pete’s rehearsal and wedding reception the weekend after, Friday the twentieth and Saturday the twenty-first.”
Her hands trembled as her words tumbled out on top of each other. It seemed that what he’d said both rattled and revved her.
Interesting.
Not wanting to amplify her stress by delving into it, he craned his neck to study the calendar. “Flora’s wedding is the weekend after Mardi Gras?”
“Yes, that’s the theme actually. Pete is from New Orleans. Attended LSU, played pro basketball there. Injury took him out, but he said it was worth it since he met Flora.”
“Lemme guess, there’ll be lots of royal purple and gold at their gig?”
“Yep. Plus Bengal tiger stuff since they both love Mike, the LSU mascot.”
“Wait, Flora said you’re one of her bridesmaids. How’re you catering too?”
“My helpers will be there, plus Del’s doctor said she’ll be able to work by then.”
“Good.” He pointed at asterisks on days prior to Flora’s wedding. “What’s this?”
“I have to get siblings from the airport over those dates.”
“If I thought they’d get in my truck with me, I’d offer to help chauffeur.”
“Maybe you can help me out. I’ve mentioned you already. They know we’re no longer rivals.”
He grinned. “Say that again.”
“I’ve talked to—”
“No, the part about us not being rivals.”
She smirked. “You seem quite pleased with yourself over that.”
He was sure his smirk eclipsed hers. “Very.” He softened his smile. “You look exhausted.”
“I am. Everything is as ready as possible now, and I probably should catch a nap before putting this food in the SUV and heading over to the venue later.”
“I’ll let you rest.”
He decided to say one more thing before leaving. He had no idea how she’d had time that morning, but she’d begun to decorate for him.
“Thanks, Meadow,” he said as he gestured toward his office. “You didn’t have to do this yet.”
She smiled. “I wanted to.”
“Then I’m glad you did.”
She curtsied and blushed, nibbling her bottom lip as she did so. His gaze dropped there. Walk away. Don’t complicate this.
He opened the door and stepped onto the porch. “Text me when you wake up.”
“Okay,” she said dreamily. No missing the gentle nuances of yearning in her eyes and voice as she held his gaze through the narrowing crack before closing the door softly.