Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(44)

Sam’s parents looked at her with equally welcoming expressions. She felt herself relax in their presence.

“I’m excited about having it all come together,” she said. “We don’t usually get weekends this fancy in town.”

“We’re looking forward to it very much,” Lark said as she linked arms with her husband.

A server appeared with glasses of champagne. A second followed with a tray of appetizers.

“Please,” Dellina said, motioning to the drinks and food. “I’m looking for objective opinions. This is our final chance to tweak the menu. I would very much appreciate your honest thoughts on every part of the meal.”

They toasted to the weekend and then tasted the appetizers. Dellina was careful to have one of everything and take notes.

“I like the presentation,” she said, putting a puff on a plate so it could get cold. One of the challenges of appetizers was that people tended to chat before eating them. Having something that tasted good at room temperature could be difficult.

Reggie looked at her notes. “You’re organized.”

“I have to be.”

“You own your own business?”

She smiled. “Yes. It’s just me. Sometimes I think about expanding but then I’d give up control. Plus there are parts of what I do that I really love. I wouldn’t want to hand them off to someone else.” She paused. “I do think about hiring an office manager, though. I’m not great with balancing my own books.”

“I understand that,” Reggie told her. “When I retired from basketball, I had to figure out what to do with my life. I had a degree I couldn’t use and no experience beyond a great jump shot.”

Lark moved close to her husband and leaned against him. “That’s not true. You had loads of life skills. You just had to find out the best way to use them.”

He nodded. “I went back to college and paid attention in class this time. I got my master’s in business. Went to work for a large company and worked my way up.”

Dellina smiled at Sam. “So you come by your interest in finance honestly.”

“Dad was an influence,” he admitted.

Reggie beamed at his son. “Sam’s very intelligent. A planner, too. He played football, but was looking to the future. I spent a couple of years being lost after the crowds went away.”

“Having Kenny and Jack around helped,” Lark added. “They’re good friends. They took care of one another. The world of professional sports can be difficult. Not just the physical requirements, but the media attention. Now with so much accessibility through the internet, there’s nowhere to hide. But Sam navigated his transition with grace.”

She, like Reggie, sounded like an extremely proud parent. Dellina didn’t understand what Sam was complaining about. From what she’d seen, his family was lovely.

He caught her gaze and shook his head, as if telling her to wait. It was all going to get worse.

“When did you start writing?” she asked Lark as they moved to the table and took their seats.

The other woman frowned delicately. “About fifteen years ago. I’d always been interested in the link between sexuality and marriage. As the children got older, I started to study the subject more rigorously. I ended up starting a women’s support group and we exchanged information. My first book grew from that.”

Dellina waited, but Lark only smiled. Just as she’d thought—the outrageousness had been highly exaggerated. She relaxed in her chair and explained about the menu for dinner.

“We’ll have tasting portions,” she said. “Three different entrees but only a small amount of each. I really do need your honest opinions. We’re going to give our guests options on a limited menu.”

Lark leaned toward Sam. “Was the party your idea?”

“We thought it was a good way to bring our clients together,” he said, his voice a little stiff. “To thank them for all their business.”

“It’s a good way to bond with the town, too,” Lark said. “From what I’ve seen, Fool’s Gold is charming and lovely, but small. You want to stay on everyone’s good side. The party allows you to pump money into the local economy, but in a subtle way.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled, then reached for his wine.

Dellina wanted to grab him by the arm and drag him out of the room for a private conversation. She sensed Sam’s tension and was sure his parents felt it, too. And for what? Lark and Reggie were a charming, loving couple. So they touched a lot. Wasn’t that a testament to their happy marriage? In an era where so many couples were getting divorced, their love for each other should be celebrated.

She wondered if his failed marriage with Simone had made him so wary of seeing someone else in love. Taryn had mentioned there had been other failed relationships. Had he grown unnecessarily cynical?

The servers brought out the first course. There were three soups and two salads. Dellina studied each offer, then made a few notes.

Lark tasted the first soup. “Delicious,” she said. “How long have you and Sam been lovers?”

Dellina swallowed and choked. When she could breathe again, she wiped her eyes, then sipped some water.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her voice a croak.

“You and Sam,” Lark said. “You’re sexually involved.”