Forever Summer - Melody Grace Page 0,60

scrambled eggs and bacon in the sleek galley kitchen before he had to leave for work. “Take your time,” he said, grabbing his keys and wallet. “In fact, take all day. Stay right here, naked, until I get home.”

“Tempting …” Evie laughed, kissing him at the door. “But I have a million and one things to do back at the inn.”

“Then how about dinner, tonight?” he suggested. “I still have that reservation favor to call in at Sage, and I owe you to make up for that pathetic excuse for a meal last night.”

“Definitely,” Evie agreed, gulping at the memory.

“Then let’s do it right this time,” he said, smiling. “Candlelight, flowers, little fancy carved butter pats …”

Evie laughed. “How can a girl resist a butter pat?”

He gave her a last steamy, searing kiss—one that had Evie reconsidering her plans for the day. Maybe she could just laze around here in a haze of morning-after glow …

But no, there were purchasing orders to place, and she needed to contact local staffing agencies about hiring some housekeeping help. So Evie took a quick shower and dressed in last night’s clothes, glad she’d picked a casual outfit that didn’t scream “walk of shame” now that she was wearing it to stroll back through Sweetbriar Cove.

“Evie, hi!”

She was halfway across the square when Mackenzie, sporting a pair of paint-splattered dungarees and an extra-large coffee cup, flagged her down. Evie eyed the cup enviously. As stylish as Noah’s apartment had turned out to be, it was missing one vital appliance: a coffee maker.

“It’s from the cart around the corner,” Mackenzie said.

Evie laughed. “Am I that obvious?”

“If you started drooling, maybe. Want to walk over?” Mackenzie asked. “I said no to a muffin, and I’m regretting it already.”

“Done.” They strolled over, and Evie ordered up a frothed, whipped confection that made even the guy behind the cart look ill. “And two—no, make that three extra shots of espresso,” she added.

Mackenzie raised her eyebrows. “Late night?” she asked.

Evie blushed. “Those are cute overalls,” she blurted, changing the subject from who, exactly, had kept her up so late. “I should get a pair of those. These days I can’t take two steps though the inn without brushing up against some wet paint. I was walking around town all yesterday with a massive blue patch on my butt.”

Mackenzie laughed. “Been there, done that. Just one of the many hazards of being an artist … along with dry hands from all the clay and painting so many damn sailboats I want to scream.”

“Are they in demand?” Evie asked, gulping her coffee.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” Mackenzie gave a shrug. “But who am I kidding? Those sailboat dishes pay my rent a dozen times over. That reminds me, I have the bowls you ordered ready for pickup.”

“Oh, thanks,” Evie said. “Would you mind holding onto them another day? I don’t want to risk carrying them home right now. Knowing my luck, I’d smash them all to pieces before I made it across the square,” she added.

“How about I send Noah over with them?” Mackenzie asked with a grin. “He may as well earn his keep, right?”

“Right,” Evie replied, feeling her cheeks heat again.

Not that he wasn’t already earning it in many delicious, sexy ways …

Mackenzie must have seen her expression, because she laughed. “I know that smile. So things are still going well? I was afraid dinner with the family would send you running for the hills.”

Evie was about to ask how she knew about that, then stopped. Who was she kidding? A town crier had probably strolled through the square first thing that morning, updating everyone on her latest romantic updates. “Dinner was … interesting,” she said instead.

“Ha!” Mackenzie snorted. “You’re so polite. Next time, take a baggie to hide your food,” she advised.

Evie laughed. “That’s what Noah said. I didn’t believe him—but I do now.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll teach you all the tricks for surviving the Montgomery family cooking,” Mackenzie said cheerfully. “That is … if you’re planning on coming to any more family dinners?” She gave Evie an expectant look.

“Is that a thinly veiled question about how things are going with Noah?” she shot back, and Mackenzie laughed.

“See, I knew I liked you. Enough to warn you that Aunt June is headed in our direction,” she added, glancing over Evie’s head. “And ‘thinly veiled’ definitely isn’t part of her deal. Go, quick!” she whispered, “Save yourself before she starts quizzing you!”

“Thanks!”

Evie bolted away so fast she nearly spilled her coffee,