“Don’t you dare ruin my fun. I’m just going to throw some things together for us.”

Which translated into a gourmet feast. Tara loved Aria’s cooking. That’s it. He could invite her over for a dinner with their friends. He was actually surprised that Aria hadn’t suggested it yet. And it was definitely nondate territory. “And by us, you’re including Tara, right?”

“Of course. How could I forget Tara? I would love to invite her gorgeous twin brothers, too, but I don’t think they can shut down the brewery for the night to come play with us.”

Seth heard Lucien’s muted voice in the background say, “The gorgeous twins can’t come? That’s a damn shame.”

“Don’t be jealous, baby,” Aria told her husband. “You’re handsomer than the two of them combined. I was just saying. You know, objectively speaking.”

“Stop with your lovers’ spat,” Seth cut in. “So should I ask Tara to join us around seven?”

“Yes, we’ll be there by four to prepare dinner, but we can eat around seven.”

“Should I get the wine?”

“Are you trying to insult Lucien?” Aria made a good show of sounding horrified. “We’ll be bringing a box of his vineyard’s finest wines. But do ask Tara to bring a few growlers of her best ales. I’ll make some beer-friendly appetizers to pair with them.”

“Got it. I’ll see you guys soon,” Seth said.

“We can’t wait, sweetie.” Sometimes she seemed to forget that he wasn’t the gawky teenager he was when they’d first met.

And like the sap that he was, the first thing he did when he got off the phone was to text Tara.

SETH: Can you get tonight off?

TARA: Why? I already took too many days off for my sprained ankle. I should be working extra days.

SETH: Aria and Lucien are coming and want to invite you over for dinner.

It wasn’t his idea at all.

TARA: Ugh. How can I resist Aria and Lucien?

SETH: Hey … and you can resist me?

There was a pause before she responded.

TARA: You know I can’t resist you.

Her breathless cries as she fell apart in his arms echoed in his mind. No, she can’t resist me. A lazy smile curved his lips at the thought.

SETH: Just making sure. So can you come over? Around seven?

TARA: I’ll prevail upon the kindness of my brothers’ hearts. Again.

“Yes.” Seth pumped his fist, extraordinarily proud of his accomplishment.

Then he heard a small cough behind him. He spun around to find the interior designer standing at the door of the restaurant’s office. Ah, yes. He hadn’t closed the door.

“The chairs are here,” the designer said with the slightest arch of his brow. “Do you want to check them out before we accept delivery?”

“Sure. I’ll come with you,” Seth said, keeping his expression bland.

He stood back and let the interior designer take charge of inspecting the chairs since it was his area of expertise. Once the chairs were accepted and lined up in one corner of the dining hall, Seth called it a day and headed back to the house.