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“Careful with that little guy.” She nods at the pepper in my hand. “You might want to wash your hands with coconut oil before you accidentally touch your eye or nose or anything.”
Dropping the fruit, I walk over to the sink to do as she says. If anybody knows the dangers of hot peppers, it’s Dylan.
“That’s all I’ve heard, and I’ve been a little scared to text.”
“No news is good news?”
“Something like that.”
Dylan stands in front of the blender with her hand on her hip. “Am I in a pepper rut? I’ve made hot pepper salsa twice now, and both times it’s been mixed with mango and pineapple.”
“I haven’t heard any complaints.” I walk back to where she’s studying the recipe card. “It’s a different pepper, isn’t it?”
“What’s that face about?” Craig walks over to where we’re looking at the menu. “Don’t tell me. You’re worried Oliver Duck has found himself a new pepper princess.”
“Shut up.” Dylan bumps him with her hip. “Where’s Clint? He hasn’t sent me a bouquet selection in weeks.”
“He said he’s got everything he needs. He’s done with you.”
My nose wrinkles, and I lean closer on the bar. “Doubtful. It’s still your wedding.”
“What’s the latest on the Edward situation?” Craig walks to the refrigerator.
“Zane told Rachel they were meeting with the judge this afternoon.” Dylan carefully dices the Scotch Bonnet “That’s all we know.”
“You don’t know where they are now?” He frowns.
“I’ve been too scared to bother him.” I pull up my phone and open my messenger app. “You’re right. He said to text him if I get anxious.”
“Yes…” Dylan drops her paring knife and crowds along with Craig around my phone.
My fingers tremble as they move over the face, and I keep making typos. “Y’all are making me nervous.”
I’m about to hit send when a low voice almost makes me toss my phone. “What are you three doing?”
I’m running before my eyes even land on him. “Zane!”
He laughs, catching me in his arms and lifting me off myfeet. Our mouths unite, and I don’t care that we’re in the kitchen in front of God and everybody. Parting my lips, I thread my fingers in his hair, pulling his tongue with mine and wrapping my legs around his waist.
I drop my face to his neck, holding him in a hug. “I missed you so much,” I say against his skin.
“I missed you.” His fingers are in the back of my hair, and my body is pressed against his.
Lifting my chin, I look around the kitchen from Thomas, staring fixedly at the tiny, black-and-white TV by his grill, to Dylan intensely studying the recipe she’s working on, to Craig staring at the ceiling.
“Sorry.” I exhale a laugh, then I lift my hand and do a little cheer. “Welcome back!”
Dylan’s lips tighten, and she bursts out laughing. “You two are so adorable. I’m so happy my big brother found somebody to love him as much as I do.”
She runs over to hug us both, and Craig shakes his head as he slowly joins us.
Moving my tongue around, I realize I have a grape candy in my mouth. “Were you eating a Jolly Rancher?”
“I told you I missed you.”
“Stop being so ridiculously cute!” Dylan yells from beside us. “What happened?”
Zane’s eyes are fixed on me as he reaches into the breast pocket of the really nice suit he’s wearing and hands me a folded document.
