She’ll cook the dish live on air. The recipe, along with our photograph of the complete dish will appear on all the show’s social media profiles and front and center on their website the moment the segment is complete.
“I can chop and snoop at the same time.” He demonstrates by keeping his gaze set to my face while he slices perfectly sized medallions of a purple carrot. “Do you honestly think Luke is coming over here to work on that puzzle?”
“I think so.”
He gestures toward my dining room table and the puzzle pieces. “No one loves generic mountain scenes that much.”
I purse my lips. “You think the puzzle is a mountain scene?”
He moves the carrot slices aside to start on a red pepper. “It’s nature in all its glory. Your dad dumped that on the table, right?”
I nod as I grab eggs from the fridge for the fresh pasta dough. “He did.”
“That’s the only clue I need to tell you with one hundred percent certainty that your puzzle features a bright blue sky, green grass, rolling hills that lead to snow-capped mountains, and a goat hidden somewhere on the horizon.”
I laugh out loud. “You know him too well.”
He stops chopping to turn and look at me. “I know him almost as well as I know you. The brave face you’re wearing looks great with that yellow T-shirt and red shorts.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
“I know that it’s not all sunshine inside, though.” He wipes his palm across the gray apron he’s wearing. “You have some heavy discussions ahead of you. If Luke is offering an escape from that, ride that train.”
“I can’t escape what I did,” I say softly. “I called my mom last night. She didn’t have much to say, but I’ll see her and my dad tomorrow.”
He doesn’t look surprised. “I heard.”
That’s not shocking. My mom tells Nelson everything.
“What about Warren?” He shifts his gaze back to the cutting board. “Are you still planning on talking to him? I’m not an expert on the guy, but I suspect you could walk away from this without another word to him.”
I think he’s right, but that feels all wrong.
“There are things I need to say to him.” I take a shaky breath. “We both need closure.”
Joel glances at me. “If you need someone to hold your hand while you do that…”
“I can do it myself,” I interrupt him.
“I was going to suggest Luke would be the perfect candidate.” He winks. “You seemed pretty comfortable holding his hand at the church.”
I stick my tongue out. “I won’t be holding Luke’s hand again.”
Joel turns to face me. “You will, Afton. There was something in the air in this place yesterday when he walked in. I could feel it. Call it energy, or attraction, or whatever the hell you want, but it was there.”
“It wasn’t.”
He leans closer. “It was, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re a beautiful single woman. He’s a hot single guy.”
I grab a pinch of flour between my fingers and toss it in his direction. “We’re done discussing Luke Jones.”
Joel swipes a hand over the front of his apron. “For now. Something tells me that we’ll be talking about him a lot in the future.”
Laughing, I reach for a measuring cup from one of my cupboards. “Something tells me that you need to watch what you’re doing, so we don’t end up at the hospital again.”
“I’ve only cut myself twice.” He waves the knife in his hand toward me. “Besides, when I nail the audition I have next week, I may have to hang up my apron for at least six months.”
I spin around to face him. “What audition? I thought you had one last night?”
“I did, and I aced that,” he says proudly. “That was for a couple of lines on one episode of a TV show, but this morning my agent called. I’m up for a supporting role in a movie set to shoot in Ireland in the winter. There are some huge names tied to this, Afton, and I’d have a good-sized part if I can land it. I’m on the short-list of actors they want to see.”
I launch myself at him, being mindful of the sharp edge of the knife’s blade. “Oh my God, Joel.”
“I feel good about it.” He wraps his arms around me for a hug. “I’m set to go in for a first audition next week. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but this could be the break I’ve been waiting for.”
I step back to look at his face. “It is. I know it is.”
“Life’s looking up for both of us.” He smiles. “I’m going to hit the big screen, and you’re going to hit the sheets with Luke Jones.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“Same, Afton. Same.”