Page 70 of Forever to Fall
CeCe shot Beckett an approving look before striding to the sink and washing her hands. “Watch and learn, buddy,” she teased.
Having never seen CeCe in her element, Beckett pointed to a stool in the corner of the cramped space. “You mind if I set up shop and watch the master?” Evan had talked his ear off about CeCe’s culinary prowess, and he wanted a free show.
“The more the merrier,” the other chef deadpanned. Turning to CeCe he said, “I’m Shane, by the way.”
“Shane, hand me that chef’s knife and a cutting board.”
Twenty minutes later, the most gorgeous plate of fries was presented to Shane and Beckett. “Watch out, they’re going to be scalding.” CeCe quickly added a pinch of parsley with a flourish before handing each man a fork. Beckett took his life into his own hands and stabbed a fry, shoving it into his mouth before he could think better of it.
The fry was hot, but perfectly seasoned with a fluffy interior and crunchy exterior. It was, quite simply, the best potato he’d eaten in his entire life. “Holy crap,” he said, covering his mouth while he chewed. “CeCe, if Evan wasn’t marrying you, I would.”
Shane nodded his agreement, snagging a handful before anyone could stop him. “You might have convinced me.”
CeCe looked smug, and rightfully so. “Thank you, gentlemen.” Facing Shane she added, “Do you mind getting these out to my friends? I’ll clean up my mess.”
The other chef shot her a thumbs-up before loading plates with food and going out to the dining room. Beckett rolled up his shirt sleeves. “Let me help with that.”
For a few minutes, they worked in silence, the clattering of dishes drowning out the canned popped music coming from the overhead speakers. CeCe handed Beckett a spatula and pointed to a drawer to his left. “I’m guessing this goes in there.”
The sparkle of her engagement ring caught his attention, and for a moment, all he could think about was Mallory. The ring was still stunning, catching the dim light and shooting red and white flares against the wall. Yet it didn’t feel right, seeing it on someone else’s hand—even though he knew the owner and her betrothed would truly live happily ever after.
How can I mourn an object, Beckett? How can I be this sad over something that was never really mine?
Mallory’s words echoed through his head, rattling around until all Beckett heard was the clattering of the dishwasher lid closing. He hated seeing her so upset, and he wished he had a solution.
“Damnit,” CeCe muttered behind him.
Fearing she was hurt, Beckett spun around to investigate. CeCe clutched her left hand to her chest and grimaced. “Crap, are you okay?” He scanned her for injuries, but she seemed fine.
CeCe blew a lock of hair off her forehead and leaned against the counter. “Nothing, I’m fine.”
Beckett handed her a towel, hoping it would help whatever hurt. CeCe took the towel and twisted it in her hands. She frowned down at her left hand, the ring twinkling in response. “You don’t look fine. Is there anything I can do?”
CeCe sighed, tossing the towel onto the counter. “I keep catching my hand when I’m working. It’s this darned thing.” She held up her hand and groaned. “I guess I could take the ring off to cook, but I hate not wearing it.”
Beckett felt bile tickle the back of his throat. He needed to play this cool. “You, erm, don’t like the ring?”
A faint smile tugged at her lips and CeCe gave a tiny bob of her head. “It’s a stunning Lawson family heirloom. What’s not to love?”
Anyone with eyes could read between the lines on that statement. Not for the first time, he wondered how much thought Evan really put into the ring selection. He loved Evan like a brother, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a man about things. He could see his buddy going with the family heirloom for tradition’s sake, but also out of ease. It was a hell of a lot easier to have a ring on hand than to find the perfect one—the one meant for his woman.
“Sometimes,” Beckett started on a sigh, “it’s hard to find the perfect engagement ring. It’s okay if the first one isn’t a success.”
CeCe flexed her hand in front of her, studying the ring like it held the answers to the universe. “Evan loves this ring.”
He stepped closer, keeping his tone light. “Evan lovesyou. I’m sure if you told him how you felt about the ring, he’d make it right.”
And I’d make it right by putting it on Mallory’s finger.
“I don’t know, Beckett. I think that—” but she never got a chance to finish her thoughts, as the man himself strode into the kitchen.
“I should have known you’d be here,” Evan said. His blond hair was matted to his temples, sweat dotting his upper lip. “Sophie, Em, and I are all danced out. When I went in search of my girl, I was told you were schooling the chef on how to fry potatoes.”
CeCe flashed a look at Beckett before closing the distance to Evan. That look spoke volumes, and Beckett was not about to break that trust. “You know me.” She laughed as she pecked her fiancé on the cheek. “Beckett was helping me clean up.”
“And now Beckett needs to ask a favor,” he said, chuckling at Evan’s expression. “Your attempts at matchmaking failed, man. I’d like someone to get Julia home.”
CeCe gave Beckett another look he couldn’t decipher before offering a solution. “Why don’t you head out and bring poor Mallory her shoes?”
