Page 22
Hannah
I take in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I place the last of the wildflowers on the tables. The room looks gorgeous. So beautiful in fact, it feels like Lauren should consider it for small events.
I took Tessa’s ideas and ran with them. Hopefully she’s happy with the way it turned out because I forbid her from coming to help me set up.
It’s this perfect mix of farmhouse and cute with pale yellow and gray throughout. And these adorable little bumblebee decorations that Penny helped me make.
A few seconds later, while I’m still taking it all in, Leo walks in with the cake. I gasp so loud that he startles, nearly dropping it on the ground.
He laughs, shaking his head as he narrows his eyes at me. “You should know better than to startle someone carrying food,” he says, setting it down on the table I have decorated just for it.
“Leo, this is incredible! You made this?” I ask, so overwhelmed that I feel like I might cry.
It’s this stunning petite three-tier cake with the most perfect expertly piped bumblebees, all matching the design Tessa requested. Plus, the fresh wildflowers he added, bring the whole thing together.
Penny and Lauren said they’d take care of the cake since I had the menu to organize and prepare, but I never suspected they’d ask Leo. Pastries and cakes are not his specialty.
“I’m a jack of all trades,” he replies, walking over to give me a kiss. “Plus, I’m trying to impress this girl. Is it working?”
“She was already impressed,” I murmur against his mouth. “And you’re a jack of all trades in and out of the bedroom.”
Leo’s hand slides down to my ass, grabbing it, he groans, pushing his hips against me.
“My house isn’t far,” he whispers, and my head falls back, laughing at his insatiable nature.
“I’m sorry, but I’m busy for the next few hours and I believe you are too.”
I step back, putting some distance between us before I take him up on his offer.
“But in all seriousness, the room looks so good, Han. Be proud of yourself. Your first full-on catered, decorated and organized event.”
I feel my cheeks flush, smiling at how his words make me feel. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I’m prouder about having him by my side to help me out. It’s an amazing feeling knowing your partner fully supports your career. Leo doesn’t just support my career, he loves it with me.
“Tell me about these secret cake decorating skills,” I say, changing the subject, not wanting to focus on myself. I’ve always kind of liked being in the background, cooking behind closed doors and making people happy with my food. Like some kind of Wizard of Oz.
“It’s no big secret,” Leo replies casually, like a tattooed, muscled guy is the norm when it comes to decorating baby shower cakes. “Obviously I learned it in school, but I don’t really put it to use. I do prefer cooking over baking, but I wanted to knock you off your feet.”
“Done,” I say, moving closer to him again. “And I’ll be thanking you later.” My hand moves to brush over his chest, but as soon as I do, Dylan and Tessa walk in.
I stupidly jump back like it’s obvious that we were doing something.
Even though we totally weren’t doing something.
At least not for us anyway. We’ve gotten up to much worse than my hand running across his chest, but I still don’t want Dylan to know.
At least not today. Even though I was the one who suggested telling everyone today, this day is supposed to be about Tessa and Dylan and the baby, and me dropping a bomb that I’m now dating Leo, would be like stealing their thunder.
Although, I don’t suspect Tessa will mind given the way she’s looking at me right now.
Standing behind Dylan, her eyes are wide and she has this huge beaming smile on her face, like she wants us to get caught or maybe she’s just excited about how great the room turned out. I’m hoping it’s the latter.
“Hannah,” Dylan starts, walking over to me, my heart still pounding in my chest as he pulls me in for a hug. “Thank you so much for doing this. It looks amazing.”
Tessa is the next to hug me, thanking me for making her dream baby shower come to life. With her lips still near my ear, and a cheeky smile on her face, I’m sure, she whispers, “So are you ever planning to tell everyone? Today would be the perfect day.”
I pull back, shaking my head, not because I don’t want to tell people, but today is certainly not the perfect day. This is her day. “This is about you. This is all for you and the baby,” I say, knowing no one will know that I’m referring to something different.
“Yes, but—” Tessa starts to say, but I cut her off.
“Have you seen the cake? Leo made it and it’s so damn cute,” I say, pointing her in the direction of the cake table, distracting her from our other conversation.
“Oh my god, Leo, look at this cake. How in the hell did you make these little bees? Could they be any cuter?” Tessa squeals, pulling Dylan over to take a look, too.
Leo humbly thanks Tessa for the compliment and of course he has me swooning with how fucking modest he is.
Someone is definitely getting laid tonight.
He should be bragging about his ability, especially with how talented he is in so many areas of the kitchen.
But that’s not him and there’s something about it that’s so damn sexy.
“Sorry that you’re going to be stuck here, like a third wheel,” Dylan says to Leo, and I swear I’m going to smack Tessa if she doesn’t stop being so damn obvious. She laughs, her hand covering her mouth and attempting to make it sound like a cough.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to be okay,” Leo replies, looking over at me and winking, and there goes Tessa again. Her fake cough is now sounding more like a laughing hyena.
“You okay, babe?” Dylan asks her, his hand running sweetly over her back. “Let me grab you something to drink.”
Leo walks with Dylan back behind the bar, grabbing drinks for all four of us.
We don’t have a serving team working today, but Leo has offered to help me run the few plates after the kitchen staff gets everything set up.
It’s not like there are a lot of us. Just Lauren and Jack, Tommy and Penny, Will and Ellen, and the four of us.
I’m actually sort of nervous to have Jack and Lauren here eating from the menu I created.
I know that they eat at the restaurants here on the property and I make the food, but there’s something about the intimate gathering that has me a little on edge.
What if they don’t like any of it and that translates over to my job? What if my pairings are crap and that reflects badly on the Somerville name?
“You okay?” Leo asks, coming up beside me and handing me a glass of wine. “You look a little, I don’t know, worried?” he tries and as if he doesn’t even think about it, like it’s a natural reaction, he rests his hand on the small of my back, leaning in to press a kiss to the side of my head.
But it hits him before he can, and like a fool, he pretends to awkwardly look over his shoulder. This sends Tessa into another laughing fit. I can only imagine how stupid the two of us look, trying to avoid looking like a couple, but we clearly are a couple.
Luckily, we’re saved by the arrival of the rest of the group, and I quickly attempt to answer Leo’s question by shaking my head, but he knows I’m lying.
“They’re going to love your food, babe,” he whispers, patting me on the ass as I walk over to greet Lauren and Jack.
We start with the chili and salad, which I can barely eat because I’m watching the faces of everyone around me, silently begging the universe to help me out.
Right now, my bosses are eating my food from a menu I created with ingredients I sourced from their land, paired with their wine and cider, that I spent the last few hours preparing.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous about my ability than I am right now. It feels stupid, since I already work here, but it’s that whole imposture thing, especially given how my old boss thought I was literally the worst chef in America.
“Take a breath,” Leo murmurs, leaning over toward me as the din from the small crowd drowns out his words. “They love it.”
It’s Leo’s words that encourage me to look around, to take in that everyone’s plates and bowls are empty, and I let out a sigh of relief. I feel the stress leave my body, my shoulders nearly sagging under the weight of worry.
Leo slips out, returning with the entrées and serving them while I try to pull myself back together. He has no idea how much having him by my side today has meant to me. And when he sits down, his hand slips under the tablecloth, resting on my thigh.
I can’t help but smile over at him, silently thanking him for being here and for being mine.
The conversation shifts to compliments about my food and Jack even suggests adding some of them to the menu at Apple Jacks, but Lauren jumps in, saying she wants to revamp the menu at Somerville’s and she gets first dibs on my ideas.
It feels totally foreign to have someone fighting over me and my menu suggestions, but I will take it.
We move on to opening gifts with Tessa and Dylan sitting in front of the bar and the rest of us around the table. I hand Tessa the first gift and Ellen calls out that it’s from her, Will and the kids.
Tessa pulls off the wrapping paper, revealing a yellow box and smiles when she sees what it is, laughing a little as she passes it over to Dylan.
“What the hell is this thing?” Dylan asks, examining the box.
“It’s a breast pump,” Tessa replies, shaking her head.
“Like you use it to make your boobs bigger?” he now asks and oh my god, I can’t believe he’s going to have a baby in a few months. He’s never sounded more clueless. “Like a penis pump?” he adds, and the group erupts in laughter.
“Dylan!” Tessa shames, swatting at him. “No, it’s for pumping milk for the baby.”
“It’s kinda a weird gift,” Will chimes out, looking a little red-cheeked. “But Ellen claims no one ever buys the mom one, but they’re a necessity.”
It’s hard not to laugh at how much these guys know about babies and pregnancy and then there’s my clueless brother. He’s going to need to spend a week with Will, learning all the basics.
“It will be the best gift Tessa gets when she decides she wants to go out one night and leave the baby with you,” Ellen adds, and I’m starting to wonder if Dylan is panicking. I can’t picture him alone with a baby, even if it is his baby. Hopefully that whole parenting instinct kicks in.
Tessa continues with the gifts, opening a car seat from Jack and Lauren. “I can help you install that. I’m kinda a pro now,” Jack states, gallantly. “Had to install four, you know. Two in my car and two in Lu’s.”
“Wait, I have to install this?” Dylan asks. “They don’t do that for you at the hospital?”
I know he’s not trying to be funny, but holy shit, he is. I’m really hoping Will and Jack take him under their wings and show him the ropes or poor Tessa will be watching YouTube videos on how to install a car seat while nine months pregnant.
“Yep, you’ve gotta do it yourself,” Jack replies. “But no worries, mate. I’ve got you. We can have a car seat installation tutorial at work tomorrow.”
Tessa and Dylan finish up opening presents, but not without a few more laughs at Dylan’s expense and the guys once again, reassuring him, they’ll help him out.
Leo walks over to cut and serve the cake, and I join him, trying to find a time to thank him for being here and for supporting me. He didn’t have to be here. I’m sure he would’ve come to help celebrate with Dylan and Tessa, but today it feels like he’s here more for me than them.
“Thank you,” I say, setting out plates for him.
“You think I’m going to let someone else cut this baby?” he says, winking at me. “This was fucking hard as hell and if anyone is going to ruin it by cutting into it, it’s going to be me.”
“I meant thank you for being here with me, but by all means, cut away,” I tease.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Hannah.”
Leo cuts several slices and I pass them out, taking a seat across from Jack and Lauren. I watch as he slides his cake over to her, and she smiles gratefully.
“This cake is amazing, Leo,” Tessa says, just as he’s joining us at the table. “What kind is it?”
“It’s honey butter cake with apple buttercream frosting,” Leo tells her, but just as he does, Lauren gasps out loud.
“My cake is that good, huh?” Leo jokes, but Lauren’s eyes are wide, and Jack instantly jumps up.
“I either peed my pants or my water just broke,” Lauren announces, and Jack immediately starts to usher her outside, ordering Will to go get the car.
Will doesn’t miss a beat, rushing out the door with Ellen following behind him. We all follow Jack and Lauren outside, and within just a minute or two, Will has Jack’s truck, and off they go to the hospital.
When I turn to look at Dylan, his face has gone white and once again, I feel like we’re all going to be laughing at his expense.
“What’s wrong, bro?” I ask, linking arms with him.
“Fuck, that hit a little too close to home. What if you go into labor?” Dylan now says, looking over at Tessa.
“I am going to go into labor. That’s what happens when you have a baby, but don’t worry, we still have a few more months to prepare you,” Tessa replies sweetly, taking his hand in hers. “How about we head home? I think you’ve had enough for today.”
Penny and Tommy pack up all the gifts, and head outside to load them into Dylan and Tessa’s car before everyone says their goodbyes and heads home. As soon as they’re gone, I turn to Leo, laughing, I say, “Remember when your cake made our boss go into labor?”
“Get over here, you cheeky girl,” he replies, grabbing for me.