Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
F rankie was thrilled to be headed to Lucas’s for dinner. Not only was he a fabulous chef with a beautiful house, but having Willa along to see all of that was the icing on the cake. Frankie was proud of her new friendship and wanted to bask in the glow that surrounded Lucas. Having her daughter be completely impressed with her didn’t hurt.
She’d picked out a bottle of white wine for them to bring, hoping it was a good accompaniment to whatever Lucas was serving. Harper had driven them in the golf cart to his house, Willa and Archie on the back seat. Willa was slightly goggle-eyed at the very prospect of dining here this evening.
When Lucas opened the door and greeted them with a big smile and warm hugs, Willa seemed to levitate. Of course, she’d met him before. But being invited to his house? In Willa’s words, that was next level.
“It’s so good to have you all here,” he said. “I love company. Come in and get comfortable.”
Scout stood behind him, her tail wagging wildly, her smile clearly for Archie.
“Go ahead,” Harper said, taking Archie’s leash off and giving him a pat on the backside. He scampered into the house. The two dogs took off, going out the open back doors and into the yard, where they raced around on the grass with obvious enthusiasm.
“Your house is really great,” Willa said.
“Thank you.” Lucas gestured toward the house’s interior. “Please, make yourself at home.”
They came in. Willa looked around, her eyes wide with curiosity. “This place is cool,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.
“So,” Frankie said. “What’s for dinner?”
“Straight to the food,” Lucas said. “A woman after my own heart.”
“What can I say—I like food.” Frankie set the bottle of wine on the counter.
“It’s not hard to like Lucas’s cooking,” Harper added. “I’m sure whatever you’ve made will be delicious.”
“True,” Frankie said.
Lucas picked up the wine. “Thank you for this. I’ll stick it in the fridge right now. Dinner is going to be three different salads. First, there’s a grilled corn and tomato salad with an avocado cilantro dressing topped with slices of medium-rare skirt steak. Next, there’s a ginger sesame shrimp salad with cold glass noodles. Finally, for the dessert course, there’s a summer fruit salad with a citrus brown sugar glaze.”
“Wow,” Willa whispered. “I can’t believe we get to eat all of that. Can we take pictures of it, too?”
Lucas grinned. “Yes, but I have to ask you don’t post any of them until after these recipes air. I love social media more than most people, but I can’t have you scooping me.”
Willa laughed nervously. “I would never do that. I swear.”
“Listen, once the episodes are up—which will be this week, unless you all hate the salads and I have to rework them—then go for it. Tag me. Call yourself one of my taste-testers. I’m good with any of that. Just hold off on the posting until then. Cool?”
Willa nodded quickly but looked a little disappointed. “Totally cool.”
“However,” Lucas said, his finger in the air. “You’re welcome to do a selfie with me and post that right now.”
Willa’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”
Frankie grinned. Lucas was the best. “I don’t think he would have offered if he didn’t mean it.”
Lucas waved Willa over. “Come on. Let’s do it right here in my kitchen. In fact, let’s get your mom to take the photo with my phone, then I’ll post it and you can share it. That work for you?”
“Um, yes .” Willa went to stand beside him, practically radiating delight. “My friends are not going to believe this.”
“Picture’s worth a thousand words,” Lucas said, handing his phone to Frankie. “How do we look?”
“Like celebrities,” she said. Lucas was as handsome as ever and Willa was beautiful, her smile and excitement giving her a glow that no cosmetic could ever replicate. “Say summer salads!”
They both laughed and Frankie snapped away as Harper watched. She nodded. “Very nice, both of you.”
“Thanks, Aunt Harper.” Willa leaned in to see the picture as Frankie showed it to them.
“Is that all right?” Frankie asked.
“Works for me,” Willa said.
“Same here.” Lucas took his phone back. “Give me two seconds and I’ll have it posted. I’ll tag you, Willa. What’s your name on Instagram?”
While Lucas and Willa worked on that, Frankie came back to stand by Harper. “How is this suddenly my life?”
“I think the same thing when I’m sitting with Mitch, talking about his writing.” Harper tucked a loose strand of hair behind one ear. “I have to tell you, I’m starting to lose all interest in going back to California.”
Frankie sucked in air. “Are you being serious? Please say you are. Having you close would be amazing. I would love that.” She didn’t want to freak her sister out with her eagerness, but there was nothing she wanted more than having Harper within driving distance. They’d been apart from each other too many years already.
Harper smiled noncommittally and lifted one shoulder. “Don’t get too excited. It’s just a thought. Arlington’s house is a lot to take care of. Selling it makes more sense.”
Before Frankie could respond, Lucas clapped his hands. “All right, I have steak to grill and then we can eat. Why don’t you help yourselves to drinks and join me outside?”
They did just that, each of them getting what they wanted to drink from the galvanized tub he’d set out filled with ice and bottled and canned beverages, including an already open bottle of white wine. They trailed after Lucas to his outdoor kitchen. The steak sizzled on the grill, sending a delicious aroma into the air. Willa was on her phone, no doubt sharing the picture he’d just posted.
Harper found a ball and tossed it for Scout and Archie. Frankie went to stand by Lucas, a glass of white wine in her hand. “Don’t you want something to drink?”
“As soon as I get this steak cooked and set it to rest.”
“Tell me. I’ll get it for you.”
“Same thing you’re having.”
She gave him a smile. “Be right back.”
As she was pouring him a glass, Willa came in, phone in hand. “Did you see he posted his new logo and linked to your website? Mom, that is so cool. Have you gotten any responses yet?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “To be honest, I haven’t looked at my phone. I spent most of the afternoon working on another project. The illustrations for a children’s book. I had my notifications turned off so I wouldn’t be interrupted.”
“Well, you should turn them back on.”
“I will. But not now. I’m happy to focus on the evening.” And Lucas. She didn’t need or want to be distracted by anything else.
Once the steak was cooked, Lucas sliced it and laid it overtop the salad he’d made. With the yellow corn, red tomatoes, additional greens and veggies, it was beautiful. He brought out the ginger shrimp salad and the fruit salad as well, arranged them on the table, then took a few photos.
“All right,” he said, setting his phone down. “Let’s dig in. And, as always, be honest. If you don’t like something, tell me. Needs more salt, less acid, too much heat, anything. I want to hear it.”
But it only took a few tastes for the praise to begin. Frankie did a lot of nodding while she chewed. “Lucas, these are amazing. I wouldn’t change a thing. I hope you know I’d tell you if I thought otherwise.”
“Agreed,” Harper said. “I could eat salads like this every day. They’re great for hot weather. You’ve outdone yourself.”
He grinned. “Thank you. Willa?”
She looked up, mouth full. After she swallowed, she smiled. “I don’t think I’ve had a better salad. Ever. The ginger shrimp one is a little spicy, which I was not expecting, but I still like it. It’s not overpowering heat.”
“I am so glad to hear that. And the fruit salad will help with the spice. I’ve got a batch of the ginger shrimp ready to take on the boat tomorrow, along with more of the fruit salad. It was so nice of Mitch to call and invite me. I know Joyce is preparing chicken salad and a few other things, too.”
“Something baked and delicious, no doubt,” Willa said.
Lucas nodded. “I should hope so.”
They all laughed.
Harper swallowed a sip of wine. “Joyce was at the house yesterday morning and told us her sister’s coming to visit, and apparently her sister is an incredible baker.”
“Is she really?” Lucas asked.
Frankie nodded. “Joyce said her sister is a better baker than she is.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed in thought. “You know, I don’t do that much baking because it’s really not my thing. Baking is its own category, to be honest. It’s a science, really. But having a guest baker definitely appeals. I wonder how Joyce’s sister would feel about that?”
Willa, fork in hand, glanced at him. “Joyce might get jealous.”
Lucas nodded. “Good point. She might. I’ll run the idea by her and see what she thinks first. But truly, I’d be happy to have both of them on.”
Frankie smiled. Lucas was really something. How did he not have a girlfriend? He was the perfect catch. Maybe tomorrow, on the boat, she’d ask him about that.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.