by Jody Holford
“Uh-oh, maybe someone shouldn’t be so cocky right out of the gate,” she said low so only he could hear.
He leaned in, an easy and sexy smile on his face. “It’s okay to be cocky when you can back it up.”
Food. He’s talking about food. Get your mind out of the gutter. She told herself the shiver that traveled her body was from a chill.
They chose their teams randomly. Sophia got Megan, Zach, and Charlie. Adam, Stella, and Taylor went with Declan.
“You guys are in so much trouble. Stella can barely make toast,” Zach said, winking at his fiancée.
“Hey,” Stella said, giving him a mock glare. “I can do other things well.” The hint of seduction in her voice did not go unnoticed.
“Yeah you can, baby.”
The others laughed. Except for Charlie, who looked around at them. “Like what? She’s good with horses.”
Zach ruffled Charlie’s hair much like Parker had. “She sure is, bud.”
They stood, in their teams, around the kitchen table. There were two plain white boxes with lift-off lids sitting there.
Parker stood across the table beside Garrett. “The challenge is a cold appetizer. You each have the same ingredients but will also have to incorporate a mystery ingredient. Sophia, because you got to pick teammates first, Declan gets first choice of mystery food.” He held up two more brown paper bags.
Declan grinned and walked around the table. He rubbed both of his hands together and took the bag in Garrett’s left hand. Peeking inside, his brows furrowed. “What are we supposed to do with this? What is it?” He pulled out a small, clear plastic bag and held it up.
Sophia grinned. “Well, rookie, that’s called star anise. It’s a spice.”
Garrett laughed and clapped Declan on the back. “Your girl is correct.”
Sophia’s heart clutched at the words your girl. Declan, however, didn’t seem to notice. He continued to stare at the contents of the bag like he couldn’t figure it out. “It looks like that stuff chicks put in bowls that smells nice.”
Around everyone’s laughter, Taylor told him, “That’s called potpourri, you dork.”
“This one is yours then,” Parker said, handing Sophia the other bag.
Her heartbeat accelerated as she opened the bag. She reached in and pulled out a large square of dark chocolate.
“Yummy! Can we eat it?” Charlie took it from her hands.
“That’s not fair. Chocolate is easy,” Adam said.
“Don’t be a whiner, man, or I’ll kick you off the island,” Declan told him.
“Wrong reality show, but nice try. Okay. You have thirty minutes to come up with and create a worthy appetizer. You can use as little or as much of the supplied ingredients as you’d like, but your dish must incorporate the special ingredient.” Garrett held up his arm, making a show of looking at his watch.
Sophia put her hands on either side of the box lid, as did Declan. He winked at her when she glanced his way, and butterflies joined the heart racing.
“Your thirty minutes start…now.” Parker slashed his hand through the air.
The two groups immediately put their heads together. Adrenaline coursed through Sophia as they looked at the various ingredients. They kept their voices whispered so as not to give anything away.
“What can we make with that stuff?” Charlie asked.
Megan put her hand on his shoulder. “Lots, bud. What are you thinking, Sophia?”
All eyes came to her. “I’m thinking this is a team effort, but I really want to beat Declan. What do you guys think? Most appetizers are savory, but we have to work in the chocolate.”
Zach picked up the container of cream cheese. “We could make some sort of creamy dip for specialty breads and fruit. A chocolate one.”
Sophia picked up the whip cream. “Mixing these two together with some chocolate would make it delicious.”
The other team was whispering just as covertly when Sophia glanced over. She couldn’t hold back her smile when she saw how animated Declan’s body language was.
“What if we add a little heat to make it different?” Megan picked up the pack of Thai chilies.
“Yes!” Sophia and Zach said at the same time.
They worked together, letting Charlie mix and stir, tasting the dip as they went. Megan cut strawberries, Zach minced the chilies, and Sophia measured out inexact amounts. She pushed her hair off her forehead using her forearm and was honestly surprised when a timer went.
“Time’s up!” Garrett held his phone high in the air.
“Team captains, you’ll present and describe your dishes, please,” Parker said.
Sophia and Declan each brought their appetizers over to the island counter where Parker and Garrett sat. They were enjoying this. For good reason. It’s fun. This will be a great team-building activity.
Declan nudged her with his hip. “No tears when I win, okay?”
She shook her head. She had three siblings; she could handle a little competition.
“Ladies first. Sophia, please present your dish.”
Trying to hold back a giggle at Parker’s serious tone, she set her dish down.
She held her hands in front of her and squared her shoulders. “Tonight, my team and I have prepared for you, our gorgeous judges,” she began.
The others laughed, and Parker and Garrett sat a bit taller, clearly amused. Declan side-eyed her. “Seriously? You’re pandering to the judges.”
Turning her head, she gave him a wide-eyed stare. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She turned back to Parker and Garrett. “Our mystery ingredient was chocolate, so we went with a creamy chocolate mousse dip with a touch of heat.”
Both men scooped up a generous helping with halves of strawberries. They schooled their expressions so well that nerves danced in Sophia’s belly.
“Your turn, Declan. You should probably start by telling us how gorgeous we are,” Garrett said.
“Bite me,” Declan returned.
“That the name of your dish?” Parker arched his brow.
“We made a star anise salsa verde,” he said in response.
Leaning over to look, Sophia noted it was very pretty with all of the colored veggies and one whole star right in the center. Parker and Garrett scooped up large mouthfuls on pita chips.
“The judges need a moment,” Parker said around his bite.
As they moved back to the table, Declan leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Side bet. You win, I’ll do anything you want. I win, you don’t move out.”
Inhaling sharply, she choked on her own spit. He rubbed her back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He passed her the rest of her ginger ale from earlier, and they rejoined their teams.
They waited, impatiently, for the two men to talk back and forth. Their heads were close together. Parker had his hand on Garrett’s thigh.
“You two deciding or making out?” Adam called.
“Ew. That’s what you and Meg do,” Charlie said.
“Give us a minute,” Parker said, then leaned in to kiss Garrett just for show.
“I need someone to make out with,” Taylor said with a sigh.
Zach covered her hand with his in a brotherly gesture. “You’ll find your guy, sweetie. He’ll have to pass a lot of big brother glares, though.”
Taylor laughed. “Don’t think I’d be bringing him around straightaway. You’re all a lot to handle.”
The others laughed, but Sophia’s brain switched into work mode. “Actually, if you’re interested in meeting someone, we’ll be doing a speed dating event at On Dec next month.”
Adam nearly choked. He slapped a hand on his chest and cleared his throat. “You’re doing speed dating?”
Parker and Garrett stopped conferring and looked over. All eyes were on Dec.
Declan shrugged. “Not me. We’re having an event at the bar. Sophe set it up. I think it’ll be a hit.”
“What’s it like?” Taylor asked, leaning forward.<
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Megan leaned forward as well, and Adam tugged her back to his side.
“When do we eat?” Charlie asked.
“We’re all set to go. Everything is warming in the oven. We’ll eat as soon as Dec tells us about speed dating.” Parker gestured to him.
He looked to her for an explanation, so she informed the whole group but spoke mostly to Taylor. “We’re hiring out to a company called Match More. You register, pay for the event, which includes two drinks, and then you spend four-minute intervals meeting different singles. If you connect with any of them, you mark it on the card, and the company will exchange information for you. Then you take it from there.”
“Wow. Good thing that wasn’t available when you were wife hunting,” Megan said to Adam, who scowled at his wife.
Everyone laughed, but clearly she was missing something. Her confusion must have shown because Dec filled her in.
“Adam figured it was time to get married because Megan—who used to be Charlie’s nanny—was going into teaching. She tried to help him find a wife.”
“Oh, my.” Sophia grinned.
“Yeah. I set him up on about three dates before I couldn’t handle it anymore.”
Adam leaned into Megan’s side. “It was always you, honey. I was just too scared to admit it.”
Oh, for goodness sake. Her emotions were rising to the surface fast. She wanted what Megan and Adam had. What Stella and Zach, Parker and Garrett clearly had. She’d thought she’d found hers, but instead, she’d ended up alone.
Declan’s gaze met hers. Not alone. But how could he want her in the same way? He’d been fully on board with the two of them exploring the off-the-charts chemistry, and she knew even that was a milestone for Declan James. But this was so much more.
“I think it sounds fun. I’m going to try it,” Taylor said.
“Really?” Sophia was grateful for the distraction. “Come by the bar on Monday and I’ll sign you up.”
“You get hit on in my bar all the time, Tay. You probably don’t need to sign up,” Declan said.
Sophia smacked him in the stomach. “Hey. Hush.”
Declan laughed and took her hand. “Yes, dear.”
“Back to the judging,” Megan said. “I’m with Charlie. I need food.”
“While both appetizers were surprisingly delicious, the winner is…Sophia’s team!”
Megan, Charlie, and Zach all moved in with noisy hugs and cheers. From the corner of her eye, she saw Declan, and two things occurred to her in that moment: one, he looked genuinely disappointed that he’d lost. Because she was still moving out? Two, and even more intriguing: Declan had to do whatever she wanted.
Her heart might be a mess, and maybe her judgment was off, but the rest of her knew exactly what that was. Him.
Chapter Fourteen
Declan poured drink after drink while Tyrell took care of the late lunch rush. Sophia didn’t join them out front, but he couldn’t get his mind off of her. It surprised him how much he missed her. An entirely foreign feeling for him. He’d thought, for sure, the space would give him some perspective, but all it did was make him think about her more. She’d moved out last Sunday, and his house was emptier without her presence.
He’d stopped by to help her get settled in the carriage home over the garage at Adam and Meg’s, but there’d been others there, and he hadn’t really had a chance to talk to her. To be with her the way he wanted. He kept telling himself a little bit of space was good. Then maybe he could straighten himself out, make himself believe it was just a crush. Even knowing she was pregnant, his desire to just be with her hadn’t dimmed one damn bit. She kept herself so busy at the pub and said she was tired at night, but he couldn’t go much longer without talking to her. Telling her he couldn’t get her out of his head.
He needed answers. A hell of a lot of answers. A nervous stitch lodged its way into his chest, knowing that regardless of the outcome, he couldn’t just walk away. He was more than smitten, and he’d waited all these years to feel an inkling of what was inside of him now, so he damn well needed for them to take a chance on each other. He just had to make her believe him.
“You okay, man?” Tyrell unloaded the empty glasses into the dishwasher that ran from the wait staff side through the bar. Lisa had called in sick for her last three shifts. When Declan called her on it, she’d quit. Said she couldn’t work in a place she wasn’t valued. Even though he knew it wasn’t true—he damn well did value his staff—it was eating him up a little.
“Yeah. I…uh.” Uh, what? He was knee deep over a woman who was carrying another man’s child? He could barely process the idea of wanting a committed relationship with one woman, and this was so much more than that.
“Yeah you are,” Tyrell said around a deep laugh.
Declan glared at him. “Shut it.”
Tyrell just laughed harder. Chantelle was coming in early to pick up some extra hours, and the new waitresses were doing a great job. More people shuffled through the door and Dec glanced up.
“Busy day,” Ty said.
“No kidding. Brockton Point must be thirsty.” They had several specials running, and he had a feeling Sophia’s commitment to getting his social media up and running was bringing in new customers.
Declan tapped his hand on the bar and swallowed the unexpected nerves that danced around in his chest. “Hey, Ty?”
Ty looked up from loading glasses. “Yeah?”
“Are you pissed I didn’t bring you on as manager?” He hadn’t meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. Business wasn’t supposed to involve feelings, but these people were like a family to him.
“Day shifts, right?”
Dec nodded.
“Then no. I like bartending. The money is great. Now, if you want to promote me to night manager, I’d be all over that.”
Declan grinned. “I honestly don’t know how that’d be any different than you closing down the bar when you bartend. Unless you want to take on some of Sophia’s paperwork, promotional ideas, and dealing with vendors, scheduling—”
Tyrell held up a hand. “I’m happy with the status quo. And for the record, Lisa left because she wanted to. Because she didn’t get her own way. Not your fault, man.”
The pressure eased from Declan’s chest. When the door to the bar swung open again, a guy Declan didn’t recognize walked in. It happened frequently. College kids, businesses from farther out of town, and tourists frequented his place, but a good portion of Declan’s patrons were familiar.
Knowing Tyrell could handle the new customer, Declan started for the back, the need to see Sophia and spend some time with her pushing him forward.
“How’s it going?” Tyrell greeted.
“Excellent. Is Sophia Strombi around?”
Declan stopped in his tracks and turned. He took another look at the guy. Slick. Polished. Expensive suit, yuppie haircut. His jaw looked perfectly smooth, and Dec would bet money the guy didn’t have one tattoo. Probably couldn’t handle needles. Yeah. He definitely needed answers, or he’d worry every guy who walked through the door looking for her was her baby daddy. Sophia said there was no chance of reconciliation, but kids changed things. They changed everything.
Tyrell strolled over to Declan and stopped, giving him an interesting grin. “You want to go get Sophia or just mean mug this guy while I do it?”
A low sound left Declan’s throat, and he stomped back to the office. Sophia was gathering up one of the binders she loved to tote around and her bag.
Her cheeks went pink when she saw him, and she dropped the binder. A quiet curse left her lips, and when she bent to pick it up, he met her there, grabbing the book before her and taking her hand.
“I, uh, I have a meeting.”
“With some slick-haired suit?”
They stood. Her brows furrowed. “Excuse me?” She pulled her hand from his.
Hooking a thumb over his shoulder to point at the door, he answered, “There’s some yuppie-looking dude here to see you
.”
“Oh. That’s probably Dan Russell. From Match More.”
Again, the pressure that built in his chest loosened, and he took a deep breath. “Sophe, we need to talk about…us…you…your…” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He wanted this. He just didn’t have the words to tell her how much.
Sophia stepped closer, and his breath hitched. God, she smelled good. “If you say my condition, I will cause you physical harm.” Her eyes burned with a fire he’d like to see at another time in another place.
Grinning, he tugged a lock of her hair that had fallen loose of her ponytail. “Hmm. I like that you’re so feisty. I wasn’t going to say condition, but we do need to talk.”
She sighed. “I have a meeting, and really, it’s none of your business.”
He scowled. “I want it to be my business.”
Her eyes widened. “Dec, you’re sweet and you’re sexy and you have, literally, dozens of women who would line up for the chance to be with you. But I’m kind of operating on too little sleep, too many hormones, and not enough food. I can’t do this. You don’t have to take care of me. I came home knowing I wouldn’t have anyone in my corner as far as my family was concerned. But I will. In the end, we’re blood, and they’ll want to be part of my baby’s life. You’re a really good guy, so I know you mean well, but honestly, this can’t go anywhere. Even if you are in for a relationship, you’re lying if you tell me the fact that I’m pregnant doesn’t freak you out.”
Her voice hitched, and he worried she’d cry. He knew she had a meeting, and doing her job well was important to her, so he only had a minute, tops.
He took her arms, running his thumbs over her biceps. “Can you listen to me for a second?”
She sighed again, but she nodded.
Panic and uncertainty whirled. How did he make her understand how much he wanted to take this leap with her? He didn’t even understand it himself. But he fucking missed her.
“You know how I’m a bit of a closet dork with my collections? My comics and my Lego sets?”
A small smile lifted her lips and warmed his heart. “That room is triple the size of any closet I’ve ever seen, but yes.”
“Sometimes, there’ll be these collector’s editions that I stumble on, and even though there are plenty of others I could have, or already have, it’s not the same. Because when you find something rare, something precious, it’s worth the effort it takes to make it yours.” He stared at her, nerves clawing when her face scrunched like she was trying to process his words.
