Page 50 of Baby, Be Mine

I laughed. “That’s the truth. Well, count me in for a burger.” I patted my stomach. “Even after that delicious carb bomb.”

“Will do.”

The kitchen staff started piling in and I left them to get ready for the dinner rush. I wished I’d known ahead of time about the outside grilling. I could have posted about it, but I’d learned Henry had his own timetable when it came to what he was cooking on any given night.

It worked for us for the most part.

I dug out my phone and dropped a post on the local Facebook page as well as on a few other social media apps.

Maybe the summery evening would bring people out.

I checked in with the staff in the dining room and gave them a head’s up about the grilling thing. They didn’t even flinch—they were well used to the whims of Henry Stone’s ideas.

He might have only been our chef for less than a year, but he was definitely making a name for himself—and in turn, The Mason Jar.

I helped them set up some extra seating on our patio and helped stock the outside bar. I took a break and wandered down the stairs with a bucket of cleanser to check on the picnic tables. Luckily, they weren’t in bad shape, and it only took a few minutes to scrub them down.

I wandered down to the rocky beach. The scrubby grass was filling out thanks to the rains we’d had. The ducks were bobbing on the lake, their heads dipping down into the sparkling water for some early dinner.

The days were getting longer and the lake was dotted with sailboats and pontoons. It was still a little cold for the speedboats and jet skis, but they’d be out soon enough. I made another mental note to look into the boat lunches idea I’d come up with.

Then again, I’d have to find someone who was responsible enough to take the boat out for deliveries. Stef might be up for it—he was one of my longest running waiters and I could tell he was getting restless.

Maybe he’d like to take that on.

I pulled out my phone to make a note—because God knew I wouldn’t remember it. My head was full of wedding details and now an impromptu engagement party that had me reaching for the Tums way more than I’d like to own up to.

My gaze tripped over to the new dock I’d installed for the MJ2. The old oak offered up some shade for people to enjoy when it was docked. Not every party wanted to worry about the motion of the lake.

But damn, my boat was a beauty. I just had to figure out the rest of the logistics of it.

“Mason!”

I turned, shielding my eyes against the glare off the water. Esther was waving me in from the patio.

My break was over.

I took the steps two at a time and a familiar dark-haired woman was standing on the patio with her hands on her hips. A tall man was standing beside her holding an empty baby carrier.

My gaze bounced around the patio and landed on her.

Wild golden hair tumbled down her shoulders with one lock flirting with her cheek. She wore another one of her long dresses, this time showing just how willowy she really was. Adriana was strapped to her in a soft cloth that wrapped around her from front to back in an intricate knot that kept the baby tucked away save for one tiny pink leg with a bright pink sock on.

Her little ankle twisting as she nestled against Emmaline Hauser.

Seeing her was like a punch.

Emma flipped her sunglasses up like a headband to push her hair back. The exhaustion was still evident on the edges, but it was surpassed with the glow that seemed to be a part of her.

Even through the Zoom interview, I’d seen it.

What drew me into asking for a second interview.

Not just because she was beautiful, there was no doubt there, but there was something about her. A sparkle just like the lake I’d been drawn to all those years ago.

Gillian appeared at her side, sliding past her to the patio. Thunder on her face as she looked from Emma to me.

I set down my bucket, blew out a breath, then crossed to the patio. This wasn’t going to be fun.

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