Best Laid Plans(25)

“Your wish is my command.”

“I’m so hungry, and whatever you cooked smells amazing. And here I thought you could only cook breakfast and spaghetti. Not that I’m complaining—you make the best spaghetti I’ve ever had. Don’t tell my dad that.”

“Never. I want to remain on his good side.”

“You are. It’s Jack you have to worry about.”

The brief flash of panic on Sean’s face had Lucy laughing. It felt so good to laugh.

“I’m teasing,” Lucy said through her giggles.

She ate the salad—Bibb lettuce and blue cheese and walnuts and cranberries. “This is—like a restaurant.”

He feigned hurt. “Are you implying I didn’t make it myself?”

“Of course not. I saw the mess in the kitchen.” She smiled. “It just looks like you took a crash course in food presentation. And it tastes as good as it looks.”

When they were done with the salads, Sean retrieved two plates that had been warming in the oven. He took off the lids and presented them.

“You made jambalaya?”

“You loved it when we went to that restaurant in Sacramento. So I researched different recipes and thought this would be spicy enough for you.”

She tasted. “Oh my God, I’m in heaven.”

Sean was certainly pleased with himself. “I thought it was good, but I’ve been nibbling all afternoon.”

“It’s better than any I’ve had. And I’m not just saying that to stroke your ego.”

“More wine?”

She rarely had more than one drink, but smiled and held up her empty glass.

They talked about everything except work. Sean showed Lucy new pictures of his niece Molly. He told her about Patrick taking a temporary job in New York City and Elle going with him. “What kind of trouble is Elle going to get Patrick into now?” Lucy said.

“She’s good for him.”

“She’s a train wreck. But I’ll reserve judgment.”

Sean laughed. “This is you reserving judgment? I seem to remember Patrick wasn’t too pleased when you and I started seeing each other.”

She opened her mouth to argue, then said, “You got me.” She told Sean about a long, frustrated email from her sister Carina, who was pregnant and due in less than two weeks.

“She’s not handling maternity leave well,” Lucy said. Carina was a San Diego homicide detective and had been on desk duty for the last three months. She had started her maternity leave last month when the doctor told her to stay off her feet after a false labor episode.

“I don’t know a lazy Kincaid,” Sean said.

“She said if it’s a girl, they’re naming her Rosemary—Rose for our mom, Mary is Nick’s mom.”

“Pretty. And boys?”

“Carina wants Nick, Jr., but Nick apparently put his foot down.”

“He’ll give in.”

“I’m surprised they haven’t already peeked at the gender. My sister doesn’t like surprises.”

“That, too, runs in the family.”

“I liked this surprise,” she said and sipped her wine. “I’m stuffed.”

“What? No room for dessert?”

“Maybe in an hour … or three.” She leaned back and finished her wine.

Sean smiled. “It’s chocolate mousse.”

Her weakness was chocolate. “You made chocolate mousse?”

“No. That I bought from Bird Bakery.”

She loved that place. “I’ve never seen chocolate mousse on the menu.”

“It’s a special order. They like me.” He grinned and straightened his bowtie.

“Okay, why all this attention? You made the most amazing dinner. You’re dressed in a tux. You bought my favorite dessert. Favorite wine—” For a split second she thought he was going to give her bad news. Her mind went to the dark side, all the things that could go wrong with them or their families. But he wouldn’t have done all this if it was bad news.

Sean stood up and took her hand. “I know that look, Lucy.” He pulled her up and kissed her. “I want you to feel loved.”

“I do. Every day.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and put her head on his chest. “You don’t have to cook elaborate dinners to make me feel loved.”

“I know. But that look on your face when you first walked in … I’ll do it again and again just to see the joy in your eyes.” He tilted her chin up to look at him. “I love you. I will never get tired of saying it, or hearing it.”

Lucy kissed him. “I love you,” she whispered. She kissed him again, lightly biting his bottom lip. “I love you,” she whispered again. She smiled as she kissed his jawline, his neck, behind his ear.

“You do that again and I’ll carry you into the house and have my way with you,” Sean said, pulling her to him.

“This is a house,” she said. She stepped back and pulled the dress over her head. She stood in front of him in her simple black bra and panties and strappy sandals. Maybe it was the second glass of wine, or the flickering candles, or the intimate pool house, but she didn’t feel self-conscious in the slightest. With Sean, she had always felt wholly safe and deeply loved.