Page 57 of A Table for Two
“Yes, we used it.” And she would never forget the erotic encounter. They’d used every inch of that Jacuzzi, and just the thought of all the ways Gabriel had cherished her body sent heat spiraling through her.
Dana chuckled. “By the look on your face, I’d say you more than used it. I’m jealous.”
Serenity laughed and toyed with her glass. “Yeah, you could say that.” She took a sip of her wine.
“Seems like you two are getting serious.”
Serenity’s smile faded. “We’re not serious, Natasha.” Sure, she liked him—alot—but they’d set the guidelines of the relationship, and rules were rules. “And he’ll still be leaving.”
“Which will be when?” Natasha asked.
She shrugged. “He said end of the summer, so probably another month or so.”
“In that case, I say you enjoy every sensual moment until he leaves.” Dana toasted Serenity with her glass.
“Amen!” Terri and Natasha chorused.
“I don’t know about y’all,” Serenity said, trying to hide her smile. “But I think once is more than enough.”
Dana scooted her chair away from Serenity. “In case lightning strikes from that lie you just told.” Laughter broke out around the table. “With a man like that, every night wouldn’t be enough.”
Still chuckling, Serenity said, “Okay, you have a point, but sleeping with him again is probably not a good idea.”
Terri stood, stacked their empty plates. and took them to the sink. “I don’t know, Serenity. I’ve seen the way Gabriel looks at you. The man is totally into you, and I don’t see anything wrong with the two of you exploring a long-distance relationship.”
She whipped her head around. “Oh,nooo. Girl, if I couldn’t make a relationship work when I saw my ex practically every day, there’s no way I can do it with someone who I’d see every now and again.” She wouldn’t put herself through waiting around not knowing when she’d see Gabriel or for the day he decided to take his affections elsewhere.
“Gabriel isn’t your ex,” Natasha said. “And honestly, I don’t see him doing any of those things. Who knows, he might even decide to stay.”
Serenity couldn’t dispute the fact that Gabriel was nothing like Lloyd, but she still didn’t plan to get her hopes up. “I doubt he’ll stay. Remember, Andrea said he’s a city boy through and through.” She rose from the table and joined Terri, who was rinsing out the plates at the sink. She placed the plates into the dishwasher. “Anyway, that’s enough of that conversation. Tasha, how did the strawberries go over with your clients?” she asked, changing the subject.
“They were fabulous. I got calls telling me how much they enjoyed them. Next time I think I want to create a little gift basket to go along with it.”
Dana divided a glance between Serenity and Natasha. “Strawberries? What strawberries?”
“I made Tasha a few of the boozy berries to give to her clients that closed on a property,” Serenity answered.
“Are you talking about those chocolate-dipped ones infused with the whiskey and champagne?” When Natasha nodded, Dana said, “That’s a nice touch. I bet old pinch-faced Kathleen was trying to figure out how to one-up you after hearing about it.”
Serenity set out all the fixings for strawberry shortcake. “Remind me, who’s Kathleen again?”
Natasha came over to the bar and picked up a plate. “She’s one of the Realtors in the office—late forties or early fifties—and thinks because she’s been there the longest out of the four of us, we should defer to her. She can’t stand that I’m younger and lately more people have asked for me to handle selling or buying their properties.”
“All the more reason for you to think about striking out on your own,” Dana said, adding toppings to her shortcake. “Serenity, is this homemade whipped cream?”
“It is, indeed.”
She tasted it and groaned. “This is divine. You’re going to have me placing special orders for everything you cook if you keep this up.”
Serenity gave Dana a quick hug. “Aw, that’s so sweet, but it’s easy and you can make it yourself.”
Dana slanted her a sidelong glance. “Bite your tongue. I work on cars and play piano. The kitchen is not my domain. I’ve got the basics down and that’s it.”
Serenity laughed. “If you can fix a car, you can make whipped cream.”
Terri came back to the table. “I meant to ask you about your yard, Serenity. It looks good. Did everything get straightened out with the mowing company?”
How did this conversation end up back on Gabriel?She was trying to keep him off her mind. “No. Gabriel did it earlier today.” She kept her eyes focused on her plate because she knew they’d see it as one more thing added to the list of why Gabriel would be a great catch. Finally, she glanced up and found them all smiling at her. “Don’t say one word.”
