“Where do you want the side dishes, Savage?” Rebecca Jetspun asked.
“And the plates,” Ava Chutney added. The two women had followed Doris and the others onto the deck and were asking Savage as he made his way back into the kitchen.
Seychelle swiveled around in her chair. The slider was open to the house. Six women were now on her deck. There were eight chairs out. A sideboard had been placed outside already, and Savage was back, carrying out a platter of steak and chicken that he’d clearly marinated ahead of time.
She stared down at her phone and finally sent him a text. You planned this.
She couldn’t help the way her heart did that little melty thing it did whenever she realized Savage did something completely out of character for him. The women hadn’t just shown up. Savage had invited them.
Sometimes, like now, he made her want to cry. For the last two days, packages had arrived from the Floating Hat. Hannah had delivered all sorts of lotions and creams as well as bath products in person the first two days they’d been home, and a variety of organic drinks and powders she had come up with to try to help Seychelle feel better.
Seychelle knew that Savage had consulted with Hannah and Preacher in an effort to ensure she got the best of care. He insisted Steele see her every day. Hannah had sent Sabelia that very morning with various teas, jellies and fresh scones.
Didn’t plan it. Doris did. Said one or two of your friends should drop by for dinner. Not a fucking army of crazy women.
She laughed as she watched Inez and Marie put stacks of plates and cups out on the sideboard and return to the kitchen as if they’d been there a hundred times. Anat Gamal and Harriet Meadows followed them out with more food.
You just happened to have enough steak and chicken marinating for eight guests? That’s usual for you? Seychelle challenged Savage as she said hello to the newcomers.
Never know when Torpedo Ink is going to drop in. Have to have food on standby.
She stared down at her phone, smiling. He made her happy with his blatant lies. He wanted her close to the women of Torpedo Ink, but he knew she wasn’t quite there yet. These women were her go-to posse. She loved them. She loved to be around them. These women made her happy, and Savage knew it. The Red Hat Society. There were others. He’d probably invited them as well, but they couldn’t make it.
I love you even if you are a terrible liar.
“Inez,” Savage called out.
“Right here, Savage.”
“My fiancée thinks I’m not telling her the truth when I say I didn’t plan this event. You, Doris and Anat planned it, didn’t you?” He sounded pious.
Inez laughed. “You know better than to try to trap a wily fox like me, Savage. As a matter of record, we did plan the actual party, but only after you called us and asked us to do it.”
He groaned and slapped his forehead with his palm. “Making your steak well done for that, Inez. You could have left that last part off.”
The ladies burst into laughter along with Seychelle.
“We thought maybe it was her birthday. Or your birthday,” Doris said.
“Not her birthday. Don’t even know when my fucking birthday is. I don’t celebrate it.”
A collective gasp went up. “Savage,” Rebecca said, her voice, as always, gentle. “You have to celebrate your birthday. Why wouldn’t you?”
He pointed to Seychelle. “Look at her. She’s a baby. If I get any older, people will say I’m a cradle robber, which I am, but I refuse to let it get any worse.”
Again, there was a round of laughter. Seychelle stared down at her phone for a long moment and then sent him several kissing emojis interspersed with old-man-with-a-long-white-beard emojis. She was rewarded when his gaze lifted from the delicious-smelling food on the grill to her and he gave her his little grin, the one that could make her toes curl.
“How many idiot vegetarians are there in this crowd, because tonight, I’ve got the real deal. I’ve got mushrooms and corn on the grill, some squash and zucchini for you. Tomatoes. Green peppers. Anat made a Greek salad you’re going to love, baby, and Harriet made a Caesar salad with no anchovies just in case you don’t eat the little fuckers.”
“Savage, really? Language,” Inez scolded.
“She needs to eat. She never eats enough. I was just teasing her about eating steak. She’s a vegetarian, and you gotta respect that. Rebecca took care of the potato salad, Seychelle. Ava contributed avocado pasta. Eden wanted to make certain you had enough protein, so she insisted you have a bean soup. She claims she’s famous for it. Doris brought her garlic sticks. I tried them and have to say they’re especially good.”
“She can’t possibly eat all that food, Savage,” Inez interrupted, laughing.
“Don’t let Inez fool you, baby.” Savage’s voice went a little softer. It was clear he felt great affection for Inez. “She brought you her famous spinach lasagna. Marie, not to be outdone by any of the other Red Hat ladies, decided to show off her talents by bringing a roasted cauliflower pasta. Has all kinds of fun stuff in it you’ll like. And if that’s not enough, they all brought some kind of dessert for you to try as well.”
Seychelle looked around her at all the women now lounging in the comfortable deck chairs, one of Doris’s frou-frou drinks in their hand, enjoying the night with her. “It all sounds delicious. I’m so glad everyone came to visit.”
Are you leaving? After you grill, are you leaving me alone with everyone? She texted him, suddenly worried that he had somewhere he was going.
No, babe, I’m staying close. Just wanted you to have some fun with your friends. I’m just making sure you know you’re surrounded by people who love you and you have somewhere to go if you need to. People to talk to if you need to work things out.
Oh God. She knew what he was telling her. If she needed to talk about her relationship with Savage to someone outside of Torpedo Ink, meaning their sexual relationship, he was giving her his permission. He was telling her he wanted her to be comfortable if she needed advice. Or if she wanted out. Or just needed someone else to lean on. She didn’t. She knew what she was doing. She had her eyes open. There were no rose-colored glasses. But it was nice to know she had her Red Hat ladies as her posse should she need them, because she knew they were formidable.
Thank you, honey. I’ve got things worked out just fine, but this is the most perfect gift you could have ever given me.
Savage turned from where he was grilling the steaks and chicken and looked at the woman he loved. Right there in front of all those women, he gave her everything she deserved. He let her see he loved her. There was no saying it because he just couldn’t, not without being alone with her, but he could give her this, an open look, stark and raw and real. Because he meant it. He didn’t understand how she could love him, but he was choosing to believe she really did. Regardless, he knew his love for her was as real as it could get.
The evening was full of fun and laughter. He went inside and left them to it after he saw to it that Seychelle had a plateful of food and all the ladies had their steaks or chicken grilled just the way they preferred them.
Seychelle blew Savage a kiss and proceeded to try to eat everything on her plate, the food was that delicious. Each dish was amazing. It was quiet for about all of five minutes, and then the conversation started up again. The women talked about everything from knitting to quilting and gossip Inez had heard in the store.