Page 34 of A Sudden Romance

Tonight, he’d made Dad’s favorite dinner—steak and mashed potatoes with green beans.

She had a good reason not to enjoy dinner since her heart was in her throat. She lifted the meat to her mouth and chewed, nodding to emphasize her point about the scrumptious meal so she didn’t have to talk.

“I made some lemon squares for dessert,” Sabastian declared.

“Hmm.” She loved lemon squares, but she wasn’t capable of saying that much. She forked a couple of green beans before lifting them to her mouth.

Her mind floated back to how Joy told her to pay attention to see if Sabastian noticed little things. Did he know she liked lemon squares? Did he know she loved anything with lemon? Of course, he did.

All the lemon-infused meals he made for her. Lemon-garlic chicken, lemon-butter sauce with salmon, lemon desserts—you name it.

The vanilla steamer he’d brought her at the airport, the tulips. How did he know she liked tulips?

Oh my! The fuzzy elephant slippers he’d given her last year when he got her name for the Christmas gift exchange.

Her heart beat faster. Her gaze flitted to him as he lifted mashed potatoes to his mouth. At least he was relaxed and kept his feelings under control.

She tried not to drive herself crazy while they ate the lemon squares. She composed herself and managed to engage in conversation. Even Sabastian talked now and then when Dad or Mom asked him if he’d been snowboarding or skiing that week. They obviously knew his hobbies, things Iris hadn’t known about him.

Sabastian told Dad about the cooking show.

“Regina said it was okay if I cook a meal here for Mr. Miller and his taster. Would that be all right with you?”

“How many times have we told you you’re family?” Mom waved a hand, repeating what she’d told him when he asked on Wednesday after he’d spoken to Grey.

“As long as you have the security run a background—”

“Grey is Nate’s friend, Dad,” Iris inserted. “Remember? He took us all out to one of his restaurants in Daytona.”

“Grey’s the restaurant guy.” Mom smiled, her expression soft. “He’s been here before. He even came to one of the reunions. Didn’t he, sweetheart?”

Iris nodded and opened her mouth to answer, but Dad spoke.

“Is that the animated chef who owns the seafood restaurant?”

“Yes, dear. That’s the one.” Mom then leaned around Dad to peer at Sabastian. “What do you think about being on TV?”

Sabastian scratched the scruff on his jaw. “Iris put in a word for me, but...” He lifted his shoulders and spread his hands. “I doubt I’ll qualify for the event on January second.”

“It’ll be their loss.” Dad dabbed a napkin on his mouth to rid it of any lemon square crumbs. “The offer still stands for us to fund your restaurant.”

“I appreciate it. But I’ll hold off.”

Her parents must’ve offered to help before. So, if Sabastian wanted to spread his wings, he had their blessing.

She still wanted to create space between her and Sabastian, but it was becoming impossible when she’d promised to make breakfast for Dad before church tomorrow.

Still, come morning, her communication with Sabastian was more with heated gazes as she kept her words in the kitchen minimal. They exchanged “excuse mes” when she bumped into his chest while reaching for the wooden spoon and he turned the same instant. She’d stepped back with an oops, and he lifted his hands in apology to show he hadn’t intended to bump into her.

When they went to church, Mom and Dad sat next to each other, and Iris sat on Dad’s left with Sabastian to her left. She tried to focus during worship, keeping her gaze on the words displayed on the big screen up front. Still, his fresh soapy scent distracted her, and his rich, deep voice played a melody her heart couldn’t ignore.

He sure could sing. She couldn’t even remember where he sat whenever they came to church together during her visits at The Peak. Ugh, she was a terrible person if she’d been oblivious to him all those years.

She wanted to tip her head and look at him. But she’d already done that on the way to church. Mom and Dad had sat in the back while Iris sat in the front as Sabastian drove. He’d looked handsome with his blue shirt tucked into the navy-blue chinos.

Maybe she was imagining things, but she could feel his warm fingers brush against hers. Tingles shot through her arm, and she couldn’t control the shiver rolling down her spine.

As if he was a magnet, her fingers brushed against his. Softly and tenderly, he entwined their hands. His fingers were not soft, evidence of hard work, but they fit perfectly. She felt secure, and holding onto him felt so right.

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