I jogged to the large, freestanding buffets along the sidewall. “What the heck?”
“Don’t worry. I just rented the buffets. The rental company will pick them up Saturday. We have a cold buffet for salads and a hot one for the food. I don’t want the guests to get sick, so we’re going to keep the food at the proper temps.”
I spun around and rested my hands on his chest. “You’ve thought of everything, but Mathias, there’s only like thirty people coming to this shindig. This might be overkill.”
His grimace told me what he was about to say wouldn’t make me happy. “There might be more than thirty people. The rest of Gulliver’s family found out about the wedding, so he invited them. That doesn’t include a large number of farmers and gardeners who might come.”
I swatted at his chest. “Mathias! I didn’t order enough food! Why didn’t you tell me all of this? And why farmers? This makes no sense. Charity wanted a small wedding. Note the word ‘small’!”
He grasped my hands and held them in his. “Relax. I ordered enough food. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to stress you out. Plus, there wasn’t a lot I could do about it once word got out. Most of Gulliver’s friends are farmers and gardeners, which can only help us considering what we’re doing here.” He motioned toward the coolers. “You’ll have a captive audience to discuss your product ideas and your desire to find quality honey.”
A smile tipped my lips up. “Okay, I’ll give you that, Mr. Businessman. But oh, I hope Charity doesn’t freak out.”
“She won’t. Let’s face it, what’s a wedding without tons of food, fun, and family? Even if that family isn’t all blood relation. She’ll have a ball, and she knows everyone since she works with them at Butterfly Junction. Relax, okay? I just want you to relax a little bit.”
I rested my head on his chest and took a deep breath. His T-shirt, dark blue tonight, was as soft as a cotton ball under my cheek. Another thought struck me, and I jumped back. “How many are coming? I don’t have enough cake! Oh my God, or bathrooms!”
He burst out laughing, his amusement filling the small garage. “Beautiful, I have it covered. There are two more sheet cakes in that cooler,” he said, pointing to the one behind him, “and they’ll be dropping off a porta-potty tomorrow and picking it up Saturday.”
“I guess you’ve thought of everything,” I said, letting out the breath I’d been holding.
He nodded once. “I have, and you have to start trusting me to have your back. Got it?”
“Got it,” I whispered, resting my head on his chest again. “I’m tired. It was a long day.”
“I know, that’s why I did all of this, so you didn’t have as much to do tonight. Should we get the rest of those decorations up?”
I nodded against his chest, and he wrapped his arm around me. “Maybe we could eat something too? I didn’t have breakfast or lunch.”
He leaned me back and lowered a brow. “Seriously?”
“It was meeting after meeting. I had a snack, but I could use a meal.”
“You know Mor would not approve,” he scolded as he helped me to the door.
“Well, I do have to fit into my dress tomorrow,” I bantered back.
“Speaking of”—he motioned me toward the kitchen—”are you going to let me see it?”
I nodded happily. “Yes, I am. Tomorrow, around three.”
I held the door open for him, and he grabbed my waist, tickling me until I cried uncle too many times. We were both laughing hysterically and had to stop and catch our breaths at the kitchen table.
He leaned forward and tugged on my hand. “I meant before the wedding.”
“Not a chance.” I jumped up and hurried away before he could tickle me again, but he hooked an arm around my waist before I got halfway across the room.
“I’ll make a deal with you,” he said, kissing my neck like he had the right to do that whenever he wanted. His playfulness now always involved having his lips on me, and it was a constant yo-yo of joy and confusion. “You put the decorations up the way Charity wants them while I grill some steaks. Then after we eat, we take a walk to the beach.”
I grabbed a bag off the floor and stood. “Steak and the lake? I’m in.”
He did a fist pump while I got right to work.
♥
Hand in hand, we stood staring out over the lake, the waves beating against the shore. The moon shone brightly upon the water, and its reflection off the waves made it much brighter than it should be this late at night. The wind had picked up, so I decided to decorate the tables tomorrow morning before the ceremony.
“I’m so full and so tired.” I leaned into him sleepily. “It’s nearly midnight.”
