Page 34 of The Seven Rings
“How is that a mandoline?” Sonya wondered.
“Can’t tell you, but it is.”
“You adjust the blade there,” Trey told her. “Then you just slide the potato down, and it slices them.”
Impressed, Sonya frowned at him. “How do you know this?”
“My mom has one. I’ve been drafted into slicing stuff now and then. You use this guard so your hand doesn’t hit the blade.”
“Okay, I’ll try playing the mandoline.”
“Water’s boiling,” Owen told Cleo.
“I see that.” She added the pasta, gave it a stir. “It’s time you kissed the cook.”
“Is it that time?”
He obliged her.
Chapter Five
After the meal, they had cappuccinos and gelato on the deck, and lingered until the setting sun turned the woods to fire.
As the garden and deck lights twinkled on, Trey stretched out his long legs.
“Nice night. Nice spot to spend some of it.”
“One of my favorites, but I still want that seating out front.”
“Working on it,” Owen muttered.
“You shouldn’t be so talented.” Cleo shook back her hair. “We’re due for some rain tomorrow, but Sunday looks to be perfect. Perfect for a sail, and I think it’s time we had one onThe Horizon.”
“We could do that.” He glanced over. “You’re bringing the cat, aren’t you?”
Since Pye currently curled on Owen’s lap, Cleo just lifted her eyebrows. “She’s proven seaworthy.”
“How about we take them all, an afternoon sail?” Trey suggested. “Then we drop them at my parents’, take you out to dinner.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Completely content, Sonya closed her eyes. “Really wonderful. Almost as good as this, right here and now.”
They lingered longer, with the stars bright diamonds overhead, with conversation quiet and lazy and the sea a rhythmic murmur to the east.
When they went upstairs, Sonya opened the balcony doors.
“It’s warm enough, isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
“I love the sound of it. I didn’t know how much I loved the sound of it until I heard it, night after night. Now I wonder how I could ever sleep without it.”
With the evening air streaming in, the stars sparkling, they looked out to sea.
Then she turned to him in the open doorway, slid her arms around him.
“It feels good. Cool air, warm body. I’m glad we have the weekend. I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s where I want to be.”
