White-Hot Hack (Kate and Ian #2)(50)
“Shortly after we moved in. I figured since we had this great kitchen, I should learn how to use it.”
“It probably gives you something to do.”
Kate knew he didn’t mean anything by it because it was not in her brother’s nature to be unkind, but she bristled at the assumption she had nothing better to do, even if that was exactly why she’d taught herself to cook in the first place. She kept plenty busy now, but she’d promised Ian she wouldn’t say anything to her family about working for him.
After they cleared the breakfast dishes, Diane and Kate prepped the turkey and slid it into the oven.
“What do you want to do next?” her mother asked. “Casseroles? Salads?”
“I did everything yesterday,” Kate said.
“Everything?”
“I told you I was going to.”
“But now I don’t know what to do with myself.”
“Phillip and Susan won’t be here until this afternoon, so I thought we could show Kristin some of the quaint little shops we visited when you came for my birthday.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Chad and Ian walked into the kitchen with their coats on.
“Where are you two headed?” Kristin asked.
“I never got to drive the Shelby, so I’m taking Kate up on her offer to drive the Porsche before something tragic happens to it,” Chad said.
“Chad!” Kate shot him a look. “I can’t believe you just said that. Nothing is going to happen to it.”
“I was just kidding.”
“Bet you’ll let him go over a hundred,” she muttered when Ian bent down to give her a kiss.”
He laughed. “Not quite ready to let go of that, are you?”
Kate parked the Tahoe at a meter on East Washington. She loved the historic feel of downtown Middleburg. The temperature was in the midforties and the air held a distinct chill, but it wasn’t too cold to explore on foot.
“You have to see the Christmas Sleigh,” Kate said, leading them toward a high-end store that sold holiday items year-round. The window displays were filled with nutcrackers and Christmas trees. “They have the most gorgeous decorations.”
They went to Lou Lou, a women’s clothing boutique where Kristin bought a scarf, and after making their way up and down both sides of the street, they went into Common Grounds to have coffee and warm up.
“This is such a cozy little place,” Kristin said after they carried their coffee to the same small table by the window that Kate had sat at with the women from Pilates.
“It’s great, isn’t it?” Kate said. Maybe she’d see if Jade wanted to meet here for coffee sometime.
When they returned home, they put the rest of the food in the oven and retrieved a couple of bottles of chardonnay from the wine cellar.
Diane looked at the label. “Is this the one we liked so much on our tour?”
“Yes.” She opened the wine and poured them all a glass. “I stopped by the winery last week and stocked up.”
Ian walked into the kitchen. “Do you need help with anything?”
“Thanks, but we’ve got everything under control.”
“And we have wine,” Kristin said. She raised her glass to Kate and they clinked them together.
“I can’t wait for your wedding,” Kate said. “There’s something so magical about getting married on New Year’s Eve.”
“I’m not the only bride who thinks so. I feel like we’ve been waiting forever for our turn at this venue. I never would have guessed that by the time we actually got married, you’d be married too.”
“Things did move rather quickly for Ian and me.”
“How are you going to explain to your extended family that you eloped over the summer?” Kristin asked.
“I think we’re going to keep that news to ourselves for a while longer. We’ll tell them eventually. I’d love for everyone to get to know Ian, and I think it’s great Chad wanted to spend time with him today, even if it was under the pretense of driving the Porsche.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kristin said. “Chad probably won’t admit it, at least not to you, but Ian is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to him. You know the special phone Ian gave him before we left Roanoke Island after your wedding?”
Ian had given one to Steve and Diane too. “Yes.”
“Chad keeps that phone with him at all times. It’s always fully charged. If it ever actually rings, he’ll probably be so startled that he’ll drop it.”
“Aw, that is so sweet.” When Chad walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, Kate smiled at him. “I love you, Chad.”
“How much wine have you had?”
“This isn’t the wine talking. It’s just sisterly love.”
He looked at her like he didn’t believe her. “I love you too, Kate.”
Diane topped off their wineglasses and beamed. “Aren’t the holidays wonderful?”
Phillip and Susan arrived at three bearing a pecan pie and apple pie, which Susan had told Kate were Ian’s favorites. Kate couldn’t help but smile when Susan embraced Ian as soon as her hands were free. It must have been hard for her to let go of him again after they moved out of the guesthouse, but Kate thought she likely took comfort in the fact that he would no longer be moving from place to place.