“He what?” She laughed.
“Yeah. But I kind of deserved it.” I shrugged. “Anyway, I want to wear something nice—not too dressy, but not as frumpy as jeans and a T-shirt.”
“I would let you borrow something of mine, but I’m far too portly.” She looked over at the clock. “I have a better idea. My friend Helena owns the boutique in town. It closes pretty early. We don’t have much time, but I bet she’d keep it open a little later for us. We’ll make sure we get you something that accentuates your beauty but isn’t over the top.”
I never asked her for much, but when I did, Mrs. Angelini always came through. I tried to block the emotions that bubbled inside of me right now, because her coming to my rescue yet again reminded me of exactly something a mother would do.
* * *
Leo
Track 5: “The Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh
Carrying the heavy bucket into the house, I said, “Please tell me you know how to cook clams.”
Sigmund narrowed his eyes. “What in God’s name did you bring back here?”
“Felicity and I took my boat out to dig for these.”
“Your boat?”
“Yeah. Have a look outside. It arrived while you were out earlier. A rental, of course.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Maybe.” I smiled. “Yeah.”
“When have you ever touched a boat in your life, aside from stepping onto your father’s yacht?”
“This time here in Narragansett is all about exploring new things, Sigmund.”
“And I’m sure exploring the water was exactly what you were aiming for with this boat today, eh?”
“We had a nice time.”
“I was sort of hoping you’d forget about her after she dumped that fish on your crotch and made a mockery of our date last night.”
“The only mockery about that date was the brain-dead conversation.”
“Okay, so now what? I’m roped into Operation Woo Carrot Top by having to learn how to cook these things?”
“You’re the cook. It’s what you do. Figure something out that won’t embarrass me.”
“You’re going to owe me big time for this.”
I arched my brow. “I suppose footing the bill for this entire trip counts for nothing, then?”
“Solid point.”
“I also told her we were having lobster.”
“So I’m supposed to make an entire seafood feast for you both?”
“I’ll head out and get the lobsters. You figure out what to do with these clams.”
After jetting to the shop and picking up three, one-pound lobsters, I returned to the house to find Sigmund had removed some of the clams from their shells and was cutting them into tiny pieces. He’d texted me to pick up some Portuguese sausage as well.
“What are you doing slicing them? I thought we were supposed to crack them open and eat them that way?”
“Is that what you’d like to do to the redhead? Split her wide open and eat her?” He snickered.
“Can you please stop?”
“Why are my innuendos suddenly bothering you so much?”
“Because my attraction to her has nothing to do with sex.” That was partly a lie. “I mean, I am sexually attracted to her, but it’s not all about that.” I wiped sweat off my forehead. “Anyway, answer my question. What the hell are you doing to those clams? Why aren’t they in the shells? You’d better not be ruining them.”
“This is a recipe called stuffies. I figured it was appropriate considering you’d like to stuff Pippi Longstocking.”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, what are you stuffing?”
“Relax. It’s why I had you buy the sausage.”
“Please tell me the sausage wasn’t some kind of sick sexual thing, too?”
“No, you bloody wanker. Who’s the one with the dirty mind now?”
“Clearly I don’t trust you.”
“The sausage will be mixed with the clams and some breadcrumbs, then put back in the shells and baked. It’s apparently quite a popular way of making them, despite your assumption that I’m working to taunt you or sabotage your dinner.”
I relaxed a little. I should have more confidence in him. The one thing he rarely screwed up was food.
Looking over at the clock, I realized there wasn’t much time before Felicity would arrive at eight. My clothing still smelled like the salty ocean from our jaunt earlier today. Leaving Sigmund in the kitchen, I went upstairs to shower and get dressed.
When I returned downstairs, the counters were empty. “Where’s the food?”
“Will you relax? I didn’t ruin anything. The stuffies are in the oven. And the lobsters are boiling. Everything is under control—except you. Calm your balls.”
“Also, can you not be an arse to her tonight? Is that too much to ask?”
“I can’t promise I won’t slip up. But I’ll try. Unless you’d prefer I leave altogether?”
“No. I told her we would be getting together as a group. I don’t want to freak her out. This isn’t supposed to be a date.”
“Ah. I see what you’re doing. Very clever. Reel her in by making her believe you’re no longer interested in dating her, all while charming her slowly.”
The doorbell rang.
“That’s her now. Turn on your manners button.”
He pressed repeatedly on his chest. “Bugger. It must be stuck. Looks like you’re out of luck.”
I sighed and went to the front door. When I opened it, the breath nearly left my body.
Her flaming hair was down, styled into long, loose tendrils. She wore a bright red dress that wasn’t formal, but rather made of thin cotton with a tie around her neck. It was short, simple, and sexy as all hell, accentuating her long legs. Her lips were painted a matching shade of red. This was a different look for her, but I loved it. My favorite part was the ability to see for the first time just how far the freckles traveled down her chest.
“Felicity, you look…” I cleared my throat. “Incredible.”
“Thank you. I thought it might be nice if I actually dressed up for once. You know, not quite Mary Poppins, not quite tomboy—somewhere in the middle.”
“You look lovely no matter how you’re dressed. But you’re particularly stunning tonight.” I shook my head, realizing I’d been so mesmerized I hadn’t invited her inside. “Come in. Come in.”
As she entered the foyer, she took a deep breath. “Something smells good.”
“He’s making…stuffies?”
“Oh yes. Good choice.”
The fact that she’d heard of them brought me relief.
When we entered the kitchen, my cousin’s eyes widened. “Felicity, you look absolutely gorgeous.”
“Why, thank you. I think that might be the first nice thing you’ve said to me.”
“Well, it’s deserved.”
His compliment irked me. And I didn’t like the way he was looking at her now, either—like he was finally seeing what I had been all this time. But it didn’t matter to me whether she was in a red dress or a baggy T-shirt; she was beautiful.