Page 42 of A Sudden Romance

He hadn’t overcooked the spaghetti, so it shouldn’t be soggy or cold by the time the party started. With Alfredo and marinara sauces and the salads he slid into the fridge and garlic bread warming in the oven, they’d have plenty of food to feed more than the fifteen people who’d be squeezing into the tiny house.

That evening for dinner at The Peak, he made a simple meal. Grilled salmon with lemon-herb butter sauce and asparagus. He hadn’t meant to cook something Iris liked, but she seemed to inspire his menu in one way or another.

When he served her and her parents, his gaze wandered to her. She was looking at him, and the fire in her eyes held a flare he’d only seen when she was angry with her siblings. Never directed at him.

What had he done? She was the one who went on a date, shattering his heart.

He looked away, flicking his gaze to Regina, who eyed him as if waiting for him to sit.

“I’m afraid I won’t be joining you for dinner. I’ve been gone all day—”

“You don’t have to explain yourself.” Kyle spread a napkin on his lap. “As long as you eat something at some point.”

“The chocolate mousse is in the fridge whenever you’re ready for dessert.” It was a simple dessert, so if they didn’t want it... “I also left some chocolates on the counter in case you don’t like the mousse.” Besides the stack of gummy bears he’d stocked for Iris, which he hadn’t retrieved for her, he usually had chocolate truffles around for emergencies when he didn’t make dessert. Not that they ate dessert every day, and Regina confirmed what he already knew.

“Your mousse sounds wonderful, dear.”

“At our age, it’s good to slow down on sweets.” Kyle, having reached for his water glass, lifted it as if in toast to Sabastian’s efforts. He was lean and consistent with his daily workouts in the gyms on the main level toward the guesthouse. He could get away with eating sweets daily. Regina also worked out with her husband in the mornings sometimes.

Sabastian gave a curt nod, wished them good night, then turned to leave, all the while sensing the heat of Iris’s stare on his back. Or at least in his mind, he could see how angry she was.

He didn’t care how or what she thought of him. He tried to repeat those words as he got into the truck and drove to his house. Kyle and Regina had bought him the truck on his thirtieth birthday. It came in handy when he carried his skis or extra snow gear or if someone from church needed transporting furniture home from the store or help moving.

Dread filled him as he drove into the two-car garage and parked next to his SUV. He was back to being alone, the way he felt whenever he returned to his house. He’d shower and maybe cleanse Iris Stone out of his head.

She’d better not be angry with him because if she was... His heart stuttered at the possibility of an argument. Man, would he ever love to give her a piece of his mind. How dare she mess with his heart? One moment, she acted as if she wanted him to kiss her; the next, she went on a date, of all things!

He usually kept his temper in check. Iris Stone, however, was tempting him to burst out all the pent-up emotion long coiled in his heart. A fire ignited within, ready to unleash should she put on a scowl for him tomorrow. He had so much to say to her, words stifled for a decade begging for release. After years of her never noticing or caring about his feelings, now she dared be mad at him! Him who’d never done anything but love her! Oh yes, Iris Stone, if you want to fight, as long as there’s no audience, I’m ready for you.

CHAPTER 11

Iris twisted the small hoop earring on her left ear. With her other hand, she nudged the lemon slices across her plate using her fork. Lemon, of all things! How dare he after the way he’d treated her today? With her chest about to burst, she felt like hurling a fist at Sabastian’s head and yet falling into his arms at the same time.

Forks and spoons clanked against porcelain as Mom and Dad cut through their salmon.

“On my way home from work, I was thinking about your work, Iris.” Mom pointed her empty fork at her. “They’ve broken ground on that new seniors’ complex just south of town. It’s amazing how fast they’re progressing on it, but I couldn’t help wishing you’d put in a bid to do the designing. Their plans don’t look very artistic.”

---