Starting Over with the Sheriff by Judy Duarte

Author:Judy Duarte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-03-05T19:02:01+00:00

Chapter Nine

As it turned out, Marissa didn’t see Brandon that next week, which had been a little disappointing, but she’d kept busy with the wedding plans.

By the time Friday rolled around, the evening before the wedding, the party-rental company had made their delivery. They’d set up the chairs the way Marissa had instructed, with an aisle down the middle, in front of the new white gazebo, which had turned out beautifully, even though it hadn’t been decorated yet. The florist would bring the flowers and greenery tomorrow morning. But for now, everything was ready for the wedding party, who’d be coming soon.

As the sun dipped low in the western sky, Marissa stood in the yard, making one final assessment for tonight’s event. Two large tables sat at the side of the house on the lawn. In keeping with Alana and Clay’s country-wedding theme, each had been adorned with yellow tablecloths and multiple bouquets of wildflowers arranged in quart-size mason jars, each trimmed with multicolored ribbons. Mini-lanterns and string lights crisscrossed above the tables, providing romantic lighting.

Pleased with the setup, Marissa returned to the kitchen, where Ella had been cooking up a storm, the results filling the house with the aroma of savory beef, roasting vegetables and herbs. The first whiff reminded her of the restaurant Brandon had taken her to last week, high-end and outrageously delicious.

Their new roommate hadn’t lived on the ranch for a full twenty-four hours when they learned that she was a whiz at cooking—and not just for small groups. So even though Clay had offered to hire a catering company to provide the wedding meal, he and Alana had asked Ella to prepare tonight’s rehearsal dinner. She wasn’t going to accept payment, but Clay insisted.

Marissa made her way to the counter, where Ella was placing plastic wrap over the top of the salad bowl. “That looks amazing. What all did you put in it?”

“Besides the greens? There’s goat cheese, toasted walnuts, pumpkin seeds and figs.” Ella smiled proudly. “Plus my secret homemade dressing, which is already in the fridge.”

In addition to that yummy salad and roasted veggies, tonight’s menu would also consist of a choice of petite filets of beef with a balsamic demi-glace and breast of chicken sautéed in marsala wine sauce, with an option for the vegetarians—pumpkin and butternut-squash ravioli. Dessert would be make-it-yourself ice-cream sundaes.

Tomorrow, a caterer would show up with a specialized chuck wagon, where he would grill Santa Maria–style tri tip on-site. To go with it, Ella would make red potatoes and a southwestern green salad with another of her secret dressings.

“Everything smells so good,” Marissa said. “I knew the meals would be delicious, but where did you learn to balance out all the kitchen chores like this?”

“My grandmother used to be a caterer, and when I was a teenager, she let me help.”

“She certainly taught you a lot.” Marissa glanced at the luscious fruit salad that filled a large hollowed-out watermelon that had been carved to look like a fancy basket.

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