Any second now the video would end, the lights would come back on and their employees would see her standing in Gavin’s arms as if she belonged there. Did she belong there? She sure hoped so. Did she care if people saw them? Not really. As the video came to an end and the audience burst into applause for Cameron and Lucy, Ella took a deep breath and tried to relax before the lights came back on.
Just as they did, Gavin’s arm dropped from around her, and he took a step back, making the decision for her. She appreciated his respect of her professional space, but part of her wanted him to make a big public declaration. She wanted there to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that they were together, that he was hers and she was his.
But were they ready for that after only a week together? Hell, she’d been ready for years now, but it was probably too soon for public declarations. They’d get there when the time was right, and the thought of that, of the whole town knowing she and Gavin were a couple, was just another thing to look forward to.
With the formal part of the program over, everyone lined up for the buffet dinner of barbecued ribs and chicken, potatoes, salad, coleslaw and corn bread. The menu was as much a part of the tradition as the meeting itself. When Ella first started working in the office, she’d suggested changing up the menu, an idea that had been greeted with shocked silence from her family members.
At dinner, Ella asked Gavin to join her at a table full of employees and their spouses. The family always spread out among the employees at these events, but tonight they wanted to take the pulse on the new line. The ladies at her table were all abuzz over the new products, a thought that made Ella chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” Gavin asked, leaning in close to her.
“They’re ‘abuzz’ over the product news my dad shared with them. I crack myself up.”
He smiled. “That’s funny. So when do we get to try out this new product line? Don’t you need focus groups? How do I volunteer?”
She drove her elbow gently into his ribs. “Knock it off. We’re in public.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
She gave him a meaningful look. “Yes, you are.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“Not now. Not here.”
“How much longer do we have to stay?”
“Until it’s over.”
Groaning, he took a drink from his beer bottle. “I’m never going to make it until then.”
After dinner, a DJ got everyone up and dancing. Ella stood off to the side with her sisters, Wade, Colton, Lucy and Cameron. “So what’s the buzz on the new product line?” Ella asked with a smile. It would be a while before that joke got old.
“Lots of questions, a few raised eyebrows, but otherwise no real outrage,” Hannah said.
“Same at my table,” Cameron said. “Mildred asked if she could test them out for us.”
That sent the rest of them into fits of laughter.
“I’ll never get that image out of my head,” Colton said.
Lucy ran a soothing hand over his back. “It’s okay, honey. She was probably just kidding.”
“God, I hope so.”
Hunter and Megan joined them. “What’s so funny?” Hunter asked.
“Mildred wants to try out the new product line,” Ella said.
Hunter’s face went totally blank.
“He’s in shock,” Megan said bluntly, setting off another wave of laughter as she fanned his face.
“We need to be more mature about this if we expect the others to buy in,” Wade said.
“Maturity is so totally overrated,” Charley said. “Take him, for example.” She nodded to their brother Max, who was sitting alone at a table, an untouched beer in front of him while he stared off into space.
“I was surprised to see him here tonight,” Hannah said. “I thought he was staying in Burlington until the baby arrives.”
“Chloe told him she’ll let him know when she’s in labor,” Colton said. “Otherwise, there’s no reason for him to be there.”
“Wow,” Hunter said. “What the hell?”