Page 19 of 40 and (No Longer) Fighting It
“Hmm.”
She eyed Scarlett’s thoughtful expression. “What?”
“Summer flings have a way of not turning out the way people think they will. Look atGrease.”
Claire snickered. “This definitely isn’tGrease.” She was no Sandra Dee.
Scarlett grinned. “I’m just sayin’…”
They shared a moment of amusement before Scarlett grew serious again. “So, assuming he’s offering sex…” Scarlett arched a brow. “Do you want to pass up the opportunity for hot sex? Because it will be hot—all you have to do is look at him to know that. The opportunity for sex in general is rare around here. Hot sex? That’s pretty rare anywhere.”
Claire blushed. She knew from experience that Lincoln made her hot with just a look, much less a touch. Full-body contact? She couldn’t imagine surviving it unscathed.
“Uh-huh.” Scarlett pointed at Claire. “I see that blush.”
She put her cool palms against her burning cheeks. “I’m not blushing.”
Scarlett’s silent look had Claire’s blush getting hotter.
“Okay, okay.” She dropped her hands and the pretense. “You’re right. I would be crazy to pass up a chance at hot sex with someone I’m actually attracted to. I just don’t know if—”
Scarlett’s expression turned sympathetic. “I get it. If it was just sex, it would be an easy decision. But only you can decide the rest. Can you let go of the past? Can you trust him now?”
And that’s where she was hung up. Because she just didn’t know. But she also had a feeling time was limited to figure it out. Lincoln was a lot of things, but patient wasn’t one of them.
Nine
Lincoln’s plan was to give Claire a couple of days to think about the situation. The time ate at him, but one thing he did know about Claire was that she wasn’t impulsive. The attraction had simmered between them for months in New York before she’d given in to temptation. He didn’t have months here, but he could give her a couple of days.
Plus, he needed a strategy. And who better to give him insight into his prey than her best friend?
JD had called to say he and Lily would be out Tuesday night. Linc made a call of his own and met his friend Jamie at his restaurant, The Carousel. He hadn’t seen the man in a couple of years, since Jamie had moved from New York to Tennessee, but his friend had done well for himself. The restaurant had an excellent reputation, and Linc enjoyed the atmosphere, making a mental note to bring Claire—once he convinced her to go out with him.
Wednesday was spent with Erin, researching and ordering equipment for the restaurant kitchen, revising the layout to be certain it all fit and the flow was satisfactory. They still needed to do the same for the bakery. Claire wouldn’t have a full kitchen at the resort, but she would have a modest one adequate for the needs of the smaller store. The bigger orders, for breakfast pastries, specialty desserts, etcetera would come from Gimme Sugar’s kitchen. He needed to discuss staffing with Claire, although she was so careful about her business that he had no doubt she was already considering additional staff. He left it up to Erin to make the appointment with Claire to settle details on what he was currently calling Gimme Sugar II, simply telling the general contractor he would make himself available whenever the two women were ready.
Now to focus on Lily.
JD had conference calls with his New York office and clients all afternoon. Linc spent some time on the phone with his assistant, catching up on odds and ends that couldn’t wait, then hopped in his rental to do some shopping before he commandeered the kitchen to prepare dinner. Half that time was spent grumbling about the ancient stove and inadequate design, the lack of proper cookware and equipment aside from what little JD had bought since he’d moved here. Linc could contact his supplier in New York and have a shipment sent by the weekend; that might keep him from pulling his hair out trying to work with the space he had available. And that got him to thinking, coming up with an absolutely diabolical plan that he was certain Claire would not like at all but would guarantee him face time with her whether she wanted it or not.
Of course, if she rejected him, he might be setting himself up for a whole lot of awkward days in his future, but whatever. He hadn’t gotten to where he was today by not taking the risk.
Determined to put his plan in motion, he made a call to Erin as he continued dinner preparations. Lily entered the gates a little after six that evening, and he was minutes shy of being ready to plate.
As JD was welcoming Lily inside with a kiss, Linc walked into the foyer with two glasses of chilled wine. “Long day?”
Lily broke away from her fiancé. “Two men to greet and pamper me after a hard day’s work? I could get used to this.”
JD growled. “No, you won’t.”
Linc chuckled. “Here, I brought some pampering for you too,” he told JD, handing over the wineglasses. “Better?”
JD sipped the wine. “Maybe.” He squeezed Lily against his side. “Just don’t go offering anything besides food.”
Lily swatted his chest. “Behave.”
Linc caught the smile JD hid behind his glass.
“How about dinner?” he asked. “You two come on into the kitchen. It’s almost ready.”
