“Kidding.” She lifted her hands defensively, then turned toTanya. “Kidding. I’d be playing the part for any opening I had a hand in.”
“Well, it suits you.” Tanya nodded her approval. “But I’m stillgoing to put you to work. Jack and Erin are setting up drinks and couldprobably do with a little adult supervision.”
Amanda looked around the kitchen, then at Quinn. “Do that. Thingsare under control here.”
She made to leave the kitchen but stopped. She might not devourAmanda in front of Tanya, but there was no reason she couldn’t give her atleast a little kiss. She crossed the space—the space that had nearly doubled insize—and took Amanda’s face between her hands. She planted a very reasonablekiss on her mouth and said, “Holler if you need me.”
She grinned at Tanya’s low whistle, then headed to the front ofthe bakery. Despite Tanya’s teasing, Jack and Erin seemed to have everythingunder control. A coffee and tea station had been set up where the registerwould normally be and matching glass dispensers of pink lemonade and iced greentea sat on a table off to the side.
She was about to commend them on their handiwork when the bellhanging from the front door jingled cheerfully. Cal walked in, followed byDaniella and Mel. She got that now familiar mixture of delight andapprehension.
“Hey, Quinn.” Cal strode right over to her and gave her a hug.“You look like such a grownup.”
She chuckled. “I kind of am a grownup.”
He made a face. “Overrated.”
Daniella offered her a polite nod and Mel extended her hand.“Good to see you.”
It was entirely possible she was imagining it—her own milddiscomfort laced with uncertainty—but she got a strange vibe from Mel. Notchallenging, exactly, but something close. Smug, maybe. Like there was acompetition Quinn didn’t even know about and Mel had just won it.
She brushed off the feeling and turned to Cal, who was ravingabout the new design and asking her a string of questions about how and whyshe’d come up with this or that. Mel and Daniella put their heads together andwhispered to each other. At this point, she was perfectly happy to let themkeep to themselves.
Amanda emerged from the kitchen and a flurry of hugs andcompliments and enthusiasm ensued. She took that as her cue to fade into thebackground, at least for the moment. She joined Erin and Jack and chatted withthem about the bakery and the weather and whether or not Amanda would manage tohold on to some of the more laid-back lifestyle she’d embraced over the lastmonth.
Julia and Taylor arrived with a bakery warming gift—a photo ofSeneca Lake in a frame made with wood salvaged from the renovation. Amandacried and asked Quinn to hang it in the seating area where a more generic pieceof art had been.
Guests started to arrive in earnest and Quinn slipped intoarchitect mode. She chatted about the project and handed out business cards.She talked up Joss and pointed her out to anyone and everyone who expressedinterest in any kind of reno work. As much as she wanted to be at Amanda’sside, she was content to do her own thing and let Amanda shine.
And shine she did. Every time Quinn had a free moment, shesearched the room for Amanda. She talked. She laughed. She positively glowed.And when Mel sidled up to her and whispered something in her ear, Quinn hardlyeven minded. Because when the party was over, Amanda was going home with her.
* * *
“I bought you a gift.” Mel’s face was sly.
“You did?” Amanda’s mind went to the framed plans she’dultimately decided to hang in her decorating room, making her smile.
Mel winked. “I couldn’t let such a big day pass withoutsomething.”
No point telling her the smile was for Quinn. Mel might not giveher the flutters anymore, but the fondness remained. Always would, shesupposed. “Are you giving it to me now?”
“That was the plan.”
If a small part of her was annoyed Mel chose the middle of theparty to give it to her, she brushed it aside. That was Mel’s way. “All right.”
“It’s out front.”
A warning bell sounded in her brain. “It is?”
“I arranged to have it delivered.”
The warning bell grew louder and words like danger flashedthrough her brain. Whatever it was, it was going to be showy. “You didn’t gooverboard, did you?”
Another sly smile. “What’s overboard, really?”
Without waiting for a response, Mel took her hand and led herthrough the crowd toward the door. She searched for Quinn, relieved to find herdeep in conversation with Erin and Julia. She resisted the urge to yank herhand free.
On the sidewalk, topped with a giant red bow, sat a doughsheeter. And not any dough sheeter. No, it was the kind of high-end,free-standing model she’d lusted after for years. The kind that cost ten grand.“Mel.”
“I think it’s about time you have one of these, don’t you?”
Whether she did or not was beside the point. It was expensive,extravagant, and completely inappropriate. “You shouldn’t have.”
Mel slung an arm around her shoulder. “But I wanted to.”
She shouldn’t accept it. Couldn’t. Though, God, it was beautiful.“It’s too much.”
Mel released her shoulder and turned to face her. “There were somany years I wasn’t as supportive as I should have been. Let me do this for younow.”
There was no answer because the first part, at least, was true.
“And don’t pretend you don’t want it. Daniella assured me thiswas the thing you’ve been most pining for.”
“That’s not the point.”
Mel grinned. “Of course it is. I’m giving you what you want.”
She realized they weren’t talking about a piece of kitchenequipment or how often Mel did or didn’t show up while they were together. Theywere talking about something much more in the moment. Embarrassment wassuddenly the least of her problems. “Mel—”
“It’s here. Do you love it?” Daniella’s enthusiastic voiceinterrupted her train of thought. Which maybe wasn’t a terrible thing becauseshe had no idea what she was going to say.
Mel’s arm went around Daniella. “She’s getting there. You know howshe feels about gifts she thinks are over-the-top.”
Daniella rolled her eyes. “Seriously.”
The fact that they’d
