Page 24 of Save the Dance

“Come by any morning while you’re here. We have the best blueberry waffles anywhere in the state,” Matt invited.

“We’d love to have you join us for breakfast,” Marybeth added.

“I’ll be sure to visit soon,” Tara replied. She’d already put the inn on her list of places to visit. The owners were so warm and friendly that she made the stop a high priority.

A little farther on, Ames, the owner of Chantilly Veils, suggested she should drop by for a fitting. “You have such gorgeous bone structure, you’ll look absolutely stunning in one of my creations,” he gushed.

Ames’ enthusiasm was contagious, and Tara soon found herself deep in conversation about Guipure versus Duchesse lace.

“Oh, honey. You simply must see a piece that arrived this week. It’s edged in such an exquisite lace. It’s simply to die for.”

They set a date for later in the week before Ames waved to another friend and moved on. When he was gone, Tara glanced at Jason. “Is he always that kind-hearted?”

“I’ve never been in for a fitting myself,” Jason said with warmth in his eyes, “but I’ve heard more than one bride praise him. Apparently, he has quite the knack for finding the perfect veil to match any dress.”

At the buffet line, Chef Janet Hubbard introduced herself. “I own Food Fit For A Queen. We provide catering services for weddings and special events throughout the area.”

“Janet trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris,” Jason pointed out. “We’re very fortunate she chose to make Heart’s Landing her home.”

“Impressive.” If it’s true. Having grown up in a family that boasted not one, but two chefs, Tara knew a thing or two about the prestigious school. Some cooks claimed to have trained there but hadn’t actually completed any of the programs. She lobbed a question guaranteed to separate a pretender from the real deal. “Which specialty did you choose, patisserie or cuisine?”

A knowing smile graced Janet’s lips. “Both. I received the Grand Diplome before studying under Chef Walburg at Mikeline’s.”

Tara whistled softly. The Parisian five-star restaurant was known for its new take on traditional dishes and impeccable service. Jason hadn’t been kidding when he said Heart’s Landing was lucky to have Janet. “What made you decide to open up a catering business? And why here?”

“I learned early on that I didn’t enjoy working the front of the house nearly as much as I wanted to be in the kitchen. Catering allows me to focus on what I love—the food—without having to worry about the decor and atmosphere. As for why I came here, that’s a story for another day.” She gestured toward the buffet line. “Everything we’re serving tonight is on our regular menu. I hope you enjoy it.”

“You saved some of those sausage balls for me, didn’t you?” Jason cast a worried glance down the long row of tables.

“You brought your appetite, did you?” The tall, angular woman who wore a snug white jacket chuckled. “There might be one or two left.” She turned to Tara. “Be sure to try the roast. The Dijon caper sauce is my own recipe. It’s quite popular. The horseradish is pretty good, too.”

Jason nudged Tara’s shoulder. “Janet’s being modest. It’s the best you’ll ever eat.”

The compliment was high praise coming from a man who’d probably wined and dined clients in some of Boston’s best restaurants. With a slight nod to the chef, Tara moved through the line. The waitstaff manning the chafing dishes and trays efficiently filled her plate with a variety of tasty-looking dishes. At the end of the row, she spooned generous helpings of both the chef’s special sauces onto the paper-thin slices of beef a burly fellow cut from a spit.

“Oh, my goodness,” she whispered moments later as she and Jason stood at a nearby tabletop. “You were right about the biscuits. They’re fantastic.” Cheesy goodness and sausage filled each round bite. Not to be outdone, the tender beef practically melted in her mouth. She contemplated a skewer of roasted vegetables. Carrots weren’t her favorite, but the shiny glaze on these tempted her to try a bite. She was glad when she did. Perfectly done to a nice crunch, the veggies burst with flavor. “I’d love to know what she put on these to make them taste this good.”

“It’s a balsamic demi-glace.” Jason popped a mushroom cap in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed. “It’s part of my job to know my way around Fit For A Queen’s menu. We use them for most of our catering needs.”

“You’re very good at what you do.” She nodded, taking another bite of carrot. After spending the day with Jason, his in-depth knowledge of the Cottage’s suppliers didn’t surprise her in the least. His attention to detail was impressive. Which, she had to admit, made it all the harder to keep the real purpose of her visit a secret.

Just then, the band struck up a spirited number that saved her from embarrassing herself any more than she already had. She tapped her foot to the lively beat as couples poured onto the dance floor.

“C’mon,” Jason said, pushing away his empty plate. “Let’s join them.”

“Why not?” Where was the harm? She could enjoy herself and still maintain her professional dignity. After all, she and some of her coworkers spent the occasional Friday night dancing at The Scribe. No one there gave that a second thought.

Arm-in-arm, they joined the others on the floor as the band kicked off the next number. Music had always soothed her and, for the first time since arriving in Heart’s Landing, she felt at ease. The first tune led to a second just as peppy. When that song ended and the band shifted to a waltz, it seemed the most normal thing in the world to step into Jason’s arms. Considering their height difference, she was surprised when her head fit perfectly onto the smooth plane beneath his collar bone. His movements were so fluid and graceful that she gave herself over to the music and the comfort of having his arms wrapped around her. Her feet moved in step with his as if they’d been dancing together for years instead of only a few minutes. Her eyes drifted shut.

A hush descended as they swayed together. Cocooned in Jason’s arms, she focused on the thud-thud of his heartbeat. Strong and steady, it was a sound she could go on hearing forever. The fresh, clean scent of laundry soap rose from his shirt. It mixed with his spicy cologne to form an intoxicating fragrance she thought she might always associate with him.

Plates rattled at the buffet line. Jason missed a step. Her eyes sprang open. Around them, the dance floor had cleared while the musicians took a break. Shocked that she’d momentarily lost track of where she was, of who she was, of what she’d come to Heart’s Landing to accomplish, she backed away from Jason.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her face heating. “We shouldn’t have… I shouldn’t have…” She gave up. “I need to go.”

Resisting the urge to run, she calmly, deliberately made her way out of the room. At the foot of the stairs, she stopped long enough to cast a quick glance over her shoulder. Jason had disappeared into the crowd. It was just as well. She had no idea what to say to him.

In the safety of her room a few minutes later, she leaned against the door.

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