Luke didn’t need his parents’ approval, but it didn’t suck to hear. “She likes you, too.”

Fred took a socket from the pile of metric sizes and tossed it into the standard box.

“Do you think things are going to work out with the two of you?”

His father never talked about his relationships, but then again, Luke hadn’t had many since high school.

“I’d like to think so.”

“The geography isn’t ideal.”

“Which is why I’m going to visit her.”

Fred stopped looking in the box and stared long enough for Luke to stare back.

They were silent for a good minute.

“I remember the first time you climbed under a car with me,” his father said, taking a trip down memory lane.

“Your old Chevy . . . and it was a truck,” Luke reminded him.

“I was the luckiest father in this town. You didn’t cause us any problems, you willingly greased up your hands with mine.”

Luke wasn’t sure where this was leading. “I like cars. Lucky me you knew how to keep them running.”

Fred sighed with a nod. “Yeah, but I never pretended that you’d stay here forever. River Bend isn’t a big place.”

“What’s this all about, Dad?”

His dad looked away. “Oh, I don’t know. Your girl lives in Texas. She doesn’t have a lot of family love here.”

“Zoe has a ton of friends who care.”

“I know that. But her blood drove her away once. It would be hard to get her back.”

Which was why Luke was exploring other options. “It’s just a visit.”

Fred winked. “You should know that I’m capable of running this place on my own, son. In case you thought otherwise.”

Equal parts warmth and sorrow washed over him with the meaning behind his father’s words. “Trying to get rid of me?”

Fred shook his head. “Just making sure you’re following your heart and dreams and not sticking around here for mine.”

Emotion clogged Luke’s throat. “I’ve never felt stuck.”

“I know. And I don’t want you feeling it now.”

Luke moved in for a hug, and felt his father hold on longer than he had in some time. “Love you, Dad.”

“Love you, too, son.”

Chapter Thirteen

Zoe stretched her legs until her pointed toes reached Luke’s. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

He wrapped his arm around her back and pressed her naked frame against his. The sheets were still damp from the last hour of lovemaking.

“Hope you don’t mind a roommate for the next few days.”

She traced a finger over his chest. “The benefit package that comes along with a lack of bed space is workable.”

He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

“Seriously, though, if you’d told me you were coming, I could have arranged some time off.”

“I think it’s a better idea to spend time with each other when we’re in our normal routines.”

“There’s nothing normal about my routine. Thinking about you sitting around doing nothing stresses me out.”

“I’m sure I’ll find something to do while you’re working. Besides, I plan on crashing the set tomorrow.”

Zoe wasn’t sure if that would be more stressful or not.

“If you distract me . . .”

He slid a knee beside hers. “What do you mean, if?”

“Felix likes you, but he’ll kick you off the set if I can’t concentrate.”

“It sounds like you don’t want me there.”

Zoe glanced up. “I’ve never had a guest on set.”

Luke’s eyes widened. “Never?”

“Not a personal guest. I’ve had producers, other chefs . . . friends in the business, but not . . .” How was she supposed to quantify who Luke was to her? Lover didn’t sound right. Friend was an understatement. Boyfriend sounded adolescent . . .

He must have caught her distress, because he leaned down and kissed her softly. “You won’t know I’m there. I promise.”

Not only did she know he was there . . . so did everyone else on set.

Felix set up a director’s chair beside his and forced Luke to sit next to him, behind the bright lights.

The set had holiday decorations, including Christmas lights, and a tiny, decked-out tree.

The team had already measured and prepped the dishes she was going to make, leaving the actual cooking to her.

Makeup took a little more time. Felix asked that she glitter her eyes to add to the festive feel of the shoot. They had her in a fitted red sweater, black leggings, and three-inch heels. The air conditioner in the studio blasted out a steady sixty degrees, making everyone other than her frozen.

“Okay, Zoe . . . let’s do this in as few takes as possible.” Felix moved around the set, pushing colorful bowls of sweets a little to the right, a tad closer to the cameras. “It’s cold in here.”

Zoe pulled her sweater away from her skin. “Speak for yourself.”

September moved beside her, handing over a giant glass of ice water while the other hands scrambled to clear the kitchen.

She felt Luke’s eyes on her as she took her position behind the counter.

He lifted his hand in a silent wave.

She smiled and directed her attention to camera two and the teleprompter that would cue her opening before she improvised the rest of the segment.