Page 5 of Always, Plus One

“All of them,” she said, pulling away to put a hand on his cheek. “You look hot.”

“Thanks, you too.”

Ariel chuckled. “Well, I did mean that in the looks department, but also that you look like you are a little bit too sun exposed.”

“We were swamped this morning, and I was out on the docks all day. Not much to do this afternoon but check in the rental boats once it hits sunset, and the guys can do that. I wanted to be here with you when the restaurant opened.”

“I have a table reserved for you. Best in the house,” she replied. “Want some tea? Lemonade? Late lunch?” Ariel gestured to her plate, which she’d left sitting on the small table next to the rocking chair she’d settled into.

As if on cue, Miles’s stomach growled. “Whatever you have, I’m grateful.”

“Sit,” she said, pointing to a second rocker. “I’ll be right back.”

As Miles sat in the chair she’d indicated, Ariel breezed into the kitchen through the back door. She was pleased to see that Darcy was sitting at the kitchen island, a paperback book in one hand and a fork in the other. He needed to relax before the rush of tonight. A plate with what looked to be the remains of cake on it sat in front of him.

"Hey, Ariel," he said with a grin. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of making a few tweaks to the menu for tonight."

Ariel raised an eyebrow as she pulled out a large dinner plate, sat it on the kitchen island, and started pulling things from the fridge to fill it. "Tweaks?"

"Yeah, just a couple of things," Darcy said. "Most major was that I added another special appetizer—goat cheese and tri-colored beets, with basil and a balsamic reduction. We have atonof goat cheese for some reason.”

“Oh, yes.” Ariel looked down at the pile of items in front of her. The goat cheese—one of the things she’d taken out—was from a local farm. “The couple who makes this cheese owns Bleating Hearts Farms just down the highway. Their son is getting married, and they wanted to rent our beachfront for the wedding. I told them my price was a year of fresh cheese.”

“Did they deliver it all at once?” Darcy joked.

“I think they were just grateful,” Ariel said. She started laying out a quick, cold lunch that she hoped Miles would like. She arranged several slices of cured meats on the plate, including prosciutto, salami, and capocollo. Next, she added a few chunks of tangy goat cheese, drizzling them with a bit of honey for a touch of sweetness, and topping that with some dried cranberries. She sliced a crisp apple and placed it alongside the meat and cheese, admiring the contrasting colors and textures on the board.

To further balance out the saltiness of the meats, Ariel added a handful of plump red grapes, arranging them in a little pile on the plate. She then added a small mound of salted almonds, their satisfying crunch adding another layer of texture to the plate. Finally, she tucked into the last empty space a few slices of crusty baguette and a dollop of whole grain mustard, completing the charcuterie plate with a final touch of flavor. Ariel stood back, admiring her work with satisfaction.

“That looks fit for royalty,” Darcy said, pointing his fork at Ariel’s creation.

“A prince charming,” she said, pointing out toward the porch. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”

As she pushed out the back door with the plate in one hand and a big glass of iced tea in the other, Ariel’s ears were assaulted—a horrible, metallic screech sounded from somewhere nearby, so loud that it left her ears ringing. She looked to her left wildly, and Miles had risen from his seat and was striding toward her. Behind her, she heard Darcy exclaim.

“What was that?” she asked when the noise had diminished. She handed the plate and glass to Miles, and then reached up to rub at her right ear.

“I don’t know. But it was awful. I hope it isn’t anything terrib—my goodness, this looksfantastic.” He was staring at the plate.

Ariel rubbed at her other ear. “Yikes. You should sit. I’m going around to the front porch to see if I can determine what that was.”

Miles frowned lightly. “I’m coming with you.” He backpedaled slightly, managed to balance her plate and his on one arm, and pulled a move with their two glasses so that he held both in one hand.

“Lead the way, m’lady.”

Ariel started toward the side of the house to follow the wraparound porch to the front, hoping that the sound hadn’t been anything that would ruin tonight’s opening.

CHAPTER THREE

The sound came again just as they reached the front porch—and Ariel covered her ears, wincing, when she realized that poor Miles couldn’t do the same unless he dropped all of their food. As the sound faded out, she helped him set down the plates and glasses on one of the small tables nearby.

Miles rubbed his ears. “Well, ouch.”

Ariel grimaced and patted him on the shoulder. She squinted and looked across the cleared field that separated her from her closest neighbor on the right, Doris. While there had previously been a wooded area there, ever since Mayor Richard Stanton had bought it—just last month—changes had been coming rapidly. The woods had been leveled completely, and now she could see across to where a sprawling Victorian just like Leeside used to sit. That, too, was gone. Stanton had razed Doris’s old house to the ground.

Ariel’s stomach churned.

In the new clearing, Ariel could see a group of men with surveying equipment, and the source of the commotion—a huge crane moving logs, making a lot of noise, and causing the disturbance.

---