Page 50 of A Sudden Romance

And his knowing smile held a hint of masculine pride. He unwrapped the bandage packaging, then snagged her finger and took his time adjusting the Band-Aid and letting his fingers caress hers before surrendering her hand and moving to his stove as if nothing had happened.

She braced both hands on her knees, taking in slow, silent breaths to steady her erratic heartbeats, then gasped. Was he whistling? Of all the... When had shy Sabastian gotten cocky on her?

Spurred on, she hopped off the counter and resumed cutting strawberries before he could stop her.

He arranged the strawberries with artistic flourish along the fruit platter, set a pitcher of fresh-squeezed purply juice in its center, then plated his omelets and filled them with artichoke hearts, black olives, feta cheese, roasted peppers, spinach, and halved cherry tomatoes. With those balanced on another tray, he headed to the dining room, so she grabbed the basket of fresh-baked raspberry-lemon scones and the lemon smoothie he’d made her. Mom and Dad joined them as Sabastian returned with the sausage and the fruit platter.

“Ah.” Dad clapped Sabastian on the back in passing to his place at the table. “Nothing beats your Greek omelets. Everyone, sit down quickly so they don’t get cold.”

After saying grace, Dad smoothed his napkin in his lap, seeming focused on the meal. “The spices in this are amazing. You should make it on your cooking show.”

“By the way, the family room is off-limits.” Mom lifted a sausage, wagging it between Iris and Sabastian. “Dad and I will be wrapping presents.”

Iris sipped lemon smoothie through the glass straw, the honey, ginger, and turmeric softening the lemon tang while peaches added sweetness. Sabastian’s thoughtfulness in making it cheered her. She lifted the glass in a salute to him. “Sabastian and I will be busy making candy.”

“Not with that injured finger.” Seated next to her, he gently kicked her shin.

“What happened to your finger?” With a scoop of omelet halfway to his mouth, Dad frowned.

“Spend hours in the kitchen, you’re most likely to have an accident.” She waved her hand, displaying her expertly bandaged appendage, then leaned around him to speak to Mom. “You two better not wear yourself out wrapping presents. I hear you have plans for a date night.”

“Your mother wants to go to an improv comedy.” Dad reached for the purple juice Sabastian blended from a variety of vegetables and fruit, including beets, ginger, and oranges and more she couldn’t remember.

“Iris is helping me pick out an ugly sweater tonight.” Sabastian squared his shoulders, more confident than she’d expected. “We also have to get eggnog ingredients.”

Mom smiled warmly as she looked between them. “Looks like you two are in for a fun afternoon, then.”

Dad didn’t say anything as he focused on his eggs. How would her parents suspect anything when Sabastian was so calm? He didn’t give the vibe of being interested in their daughter. But then, he’d managed to keep his feelings for her in check all those years, so why would he change today?

She plucked a lemon-raspberry scone from the basket, breathing in its familiar tartness. How many times had she taken his consideration for granted? Just how long had he been hiding his feelings anyway? She’d have to find out when they went on their date later.

***

SOFT GUITAR TONES UNDERPLAYED a soloist’s lyrics in Portuguese. Sitting across from Sabastian in the cozy restaurant, Iris held a hand on her stomach, unable to contain her laughter as he told her all the ways he’d reacted in her presence.

“I can’t believe you shoved those beautiful tulips under the seat.”

He shook his head. He looked so handsome, and that tan sweater with a quarter zip brought out the glint in his brown eyes. “Twice in the past, I sliced my finger in the kitchen. I forgot I was chopping vegetables when I heard your voice in the main room and my eyes sought you out.”

Iris’s chest expanded as he shared one blunder after another over the years he’d admired and loved her in silence. She sank back against the padded chair, the soft drum light basking her in a peaceful glow while vivid modern art lit up the walls. “I’m sorry it took me a long time to see you as a man I could be interested in, not just part of the family.”

“I’m not focusing on the past while I’m with you now.”

They’d spent the early part of the day making Peppermint bark while Mom and Dad hid in the family room wrapping presents. When they got into town three hours ago, they strolled along the quaint main street shops. Pleasant View felt so enchanting, aglow with twinkling strings of lights and offset by towering snow capped mountains.

Sabastian bought his sweater at one of the shops near the market before stopping at the spice store to pick up nutmeg for the eggnog.

Although her parents didn’t suspect anything was going on between them, they’d find out—especially when her siblings arrived. Two of her brothers and one sister would be arriving tomorrow. She’d be on best behavior around him so she didn’t give anything away yet. Not until things got serious.

“What are you thinking about?” His tan skin glowed a radiant brown, and his eyes glistened as they searched hers. He hadn’t stopped grinning since she’d shown up to make breakfast.

She rested her hands on the table to ask him something she’d wanted to ask since he admitted his feelings for her. “When did you first fall in love with me? Or have a crush on me?”

He edged the LED candle centerpiece aside, then grasped her hands. The way he stared at her as if she was the most important person in his life stole her breath.

“You were coming from touring Harvard with your parents.” It felt like years ago when she’d graduated and gone for shadowing in Massachusetts. A lot had happened since then. “Eric introduced you guys.”

His smile soft, he turned his gaze to the half-full restaurant, then to the framed photo of symmetric spoons on the wall. Seeming lost in a sweet memory, he let out a low breath. “You were wearing a yellow dress with tulip print. When you smiled, everything in me lit up like the sun was rising after a lifetime of nights. It was the most radiant smile I’d ever seen. I reached to shake your hand the way I had with your parents, but you pulled me into a hug.” He then chuckled, and his deep laugh reverberated through her, somehow touching chords that responded inside her. “I think I smelled like roses for days after that hug.”

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