“I warned you not to sit near me,” Lynn said as Gus eyed the enormous pile of clam shells in front of her.
“You really do like clams, don’t you?” he said.
“My favorite food in the world.” She nodded to the server, who filled the clam bowl in front of her, then plunked a lobster onto her plate. “I never would have believed they could taste this good coming all the way from Maine.”
“On Spark’s private plane, no less,” Kevin said. He, Polly, and Jasper sat across from Lynn, Gus and his kids, Maggie and Ben Morgan beside them with Bennie. Emma was sitting with her grandparents and Toby at the head table.
“Well, there is that,” Lynn said, cracking her lobster, explaining the process to Gus. He hadn’t been terribly fond of the steamers, but had enjoyed the rest of the bake—sausages, hotdogs, onions, corn, and two kinds of potatoes. He was also quite keen on the chowder and clam cakes that had preceded the main meal.
After Gus fumbled with the lobster crackers for several minutes, he seemed to get the hang of it, and when he took his first bite of succulent meat dripping with butter, he sighed. “Incredible.”
Ben Morgan waved a lobster claw at him. “And there’s plenty more where that came from.”
Lynn had come prepared with a dish towel and a can of wet wipes. As the meal concluded and ice cream was served in cups and cones, she managed to get most of the grease from her hands and arms, but despite wearing a lobster bib, her shirt was dotted with stains.
“Told you I’d be a hot mess,” she said to Gus, who was eyeing her.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
She looked up and found his eyes soft. “You’re a good man, Gus Casey.”
“Not sure you’d agree if you knew what I’m thinking at this moment.”
“Oh?”
“Better left for a time when we’re alone.”
“Then I’ll ask again sometime,” she said, her voice sultry.
“I sure hope so.”
At that moment, Cal began screaming, and they didn’t have another moment alone for the rest of the evening. No matter, Lynn thought as she drove home later. That moment said it all and more!