“Did you mean what you said about helping me with events?” she asked. “That you’d be a real working partner?”
“I did. Why?”
“I want to give you a trial run. It will help me decide.”
She knew she was assuming a lot—for one thing, that Drew would be available on a night when most single, good-looking guys had plans. Not that she’d heard of him dating anyone, but he often kept his romantic relationships private. For all she knew, he was practically engaged, something she found herself not wanting to think about.
“You want me to work a wedding?” he asked. “Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Is the last-minute thing a test or desperation?”
She sighed. “Mostly desperation. My regular hires called in sick. They worked a party at the Chapel on the Green. Someone brought in some bad shrimp and they all have food poisoning.” Silver shuddered. “Based on what I heard, it’s really awful.”
“I don’t need any details,” he said quickly. “I’m happy to help. Just tell me when and where.”
“Weddings Out of the Box in an hour. Wear khakis and a Hawaiian shirt. That’s what all the servers are wearing.”
“Should I bring anything?”
“I’ve got that handled.” She hesitated. “Thanks, Drew. You’re helping me out of a jam.”
“Glad to do it. See you in an hour.”
Silver hung up. She’d already changed into khaki shorts, a red bikini top with an open red Hawaiian shirt tied at the waist. Her hair was pulled back in a simple braid with a silk hibiscus clipped to the end. Her makeup was light, her earrings simple gold hoops. Her job was to provide bar service and otherwise blend in with the background. In a perfect world, she wouldn’t be noticed at all.
She drove over to Weddings Out of the Box and backed the trailer into place. Once it was in position, she unhitched it and drove the truck around to the far end of the parking lot, then returned to her Airstream to start setting up. That morning she’d collected all the supplies she would need for the drinks. The decorations had been finalized and delivered at the last prep meeting on Thursday. Except for additional manpower, she was good to go.
She’d barely unlocked the trailer when she heard the sound of rapid footsteps on the walkway. She turned and saw Renee Grothen scurrying toward her.
The petite redheaded wedding coordinator had a tablet in one hand, a clipboard in the other and an air of concern pulling her eyebrows together. Looking at her, one would assume the sky was falling, but Silver had done enough weddings with Renee to know that the woman was always in full-on freak-out mode right up until the wedding started. Once the happy couple were safely married, she slowly relaxed. As the reception transitioned from appetizers to entrées to cake-cutting with nary a disaster, she relaxed a little more and the frown went away. Renee knew her stuff, but she was a little on the tightly wound side.
“I’m fine,” Silver said before Renee could ask.
Renee’s green eyes widened. “I heard there was food poisoning and that everyone was vomiting.”
“They are, but I wasn’t there and I’m fine.”
Renee’s hands trembled. “You can’t handle the bar yourself. It’s too much. Even with the limited drink menu there is simply no way—”
Silver smiled. “Renee, trust me. I have it under control. Help is on the way. This part of the wedding is totally taken care of.”
Before Renee could start keening or whatever it was she did when she was really upset, Pallas, the owner of Weddings Out of the Box, joined them. Silver and Pallas had been friends for years. When Pallas had started working at Weddings Out of the Box and Silver had opened AlcoHaul, they’d begun working together on a regular basis.
The previous year Pallas had fallen madly in love with artist Nick Mitchell. They’d married and were expecting their first baby. Silver glanced at her friend’s still almost-flat stomach.
“How are you feeling?”
Pallas’s first trimester had been a nightmare of morning sickness.
“Better,” her friend said. “I’m only occasionally queasy and it passes quickly. What a relief!” She turned to Renee. “If Silver says she has it covered, she has it covered. You can let it go.” She smiled. “I mean that.”
Renee’s nod was reluctant. She’d only been working for Pallas for a month or so and was still in triple-checking mode. Or maybe she was always like that, Silver thought. It would be a tough way to live but she would guess it meant all the details were managed.
Pallas led Renee away and Silver finished opening up the large double doors on the side of the trailer. She connected two power cords, then turned on the lights inside. She pulled out boxes of decorations and set them aside. The folding tables and chairs came next. They were stacked together to be assembled later. The large easel and chalkboard were in the back. She got them out, along with a box of chalk.
Drew walked up, dressed as she’d requested. He looked good. Calm and capable and just a little bit sexy. When he spotted her, he frowned.
“Hey, you’ve already unloaded. Did you leave anything for me to do?”
“Plenty,” she said, trying not to let her relief show. Of course, she’d known he would be here, but having him actually present made her feel better about everything. Despite her promises to Renee, she was a little concerned about getting everything set up in time. Even with Drew around, she was short a body and both her helpers had known what to do. Drew was a novice.
Still, he’d always come through in a pinch. Back when she’d told him she was pregnant, the first thing he’d done was propose. Compared to that, tonight should be a snap.
She had him hook up the hose that would keep the water tanks full, then wash his hands.
“Your first job is to cut up honeydew melon,” she told him. “It’s messy so you’ll want to wear an apron.”
She half expected him to protest the coated cotton apron covered with drawings of landmarks of downtown London, but he only settled it over his head, then tied the strings behind his waist.
“Cut up how?” he asked. “Big chunks? Little chunks?”
She got out a massive cutting board, a serving spoon and large knife. “I keep it sharp, so be careful.” She set two bowls in front of him. “The bigger one is for the melon. The smaller one is for the seeds. The fastest way to do this is to cut the melon in half, then seed it.”
She demonstrated. She placed the flat side down on the cutting board and cut it into two-inch slices. “Cut off the rind then chop the slices into big cubes. Those go in the bowl.”
“Got it,” Drew said. “How much do you want me to do?”
She showed him the case of honeydews. “All of them. There are more bowls in the cupboard by your feet. When you have five full bowls, come get me.”
“Will do.” He winked.
The unexpected movement caught her off guard. She felt a flash of heat low in her belly. No, no and no, she told herself. She wasn’t going down the Drew is the sexiest man I’ve ever known path. Not now, not ever. This was work only. Work and maybe an awkward conversation about the child they’d given up. There would be no funny business, regardless of how he winked at her.
Drew went right to work. He cut and chopped deliberately, being careful to keep his fingers away from the blade. After a couple of seconds,