A trickle of perspiration ran down the back of Sophie's neck. Despite the chilly end of December night outside, the kitchen in the farmhouse was humid and chocked full of fragrant steam. She stirred the mustard thyme sauce, keeping one eye on the fresh-from-the-oven garlic stuffed mushrooms Blake was transferring to a serving dish.

"They'll need to sit for seven minutes." Sophie abandoned her post at the burners to get a better look at the arrangement of caps the server she'd hired to assist tonight was creating. "Make sure it's a circle so multiple people can pluck off the tray at one time and the ones in the middle stay warm."

"I didn't know there was so much to serving food." Blake adjusted two of the appetizers to conform to Sophie's requirements.

"It depends on the event. Tonight is part party, part sit down dinner." Sophie wiped her hands on her new chef's jacket covering the simple shift dress she'd selected to wear tonight. The coat's crisp black material adorned with a pair of intertwining W's for Wainwright Wineries stitched in an arm band had been a Christmas gift from Mary and Simon. With a few steps she was at Blake's side, pleased the layout of the kitchen she'd designed was already working out. She could inspect the outgoing items without stepping too far from the stove. "We need to keep that lot out there satiated, but not over feed them. Wouldn't want them to be too full to enjoy the sit down part of the meal."

Simon had contacted her after Christmas to propose a practice run for the investors dinner that was scheduled in less than a month. Mary had suggested the New Year's Eve date to ring in the new year in style. Emily had asked if the rest of the family could join and the six person meal had ballooned to a table set for sixteen with the addition of Sam, his wife Ali and his cousin Charlie who brought his flavour of the month date. While used to running the kitchen on the nights Etienne had been off back in her days at the XXRestaurant, Sophie had never prepared the same dish for so many people at one time.

Blake offered the mushroom covered platter to Sophie for inspection. "Is this okay?"

"Perfect." The gap in Blake's top two front teeth made an appearance. Sophie gave the girl a nudge toward the door. "Go mingle."

As Blake left, Max entered the kitchen. A bubble of excitement popped under Sophie's ribcage at the sight of him. Dressed in head to toe dark grey, his thin sweater outlined the toned muscles she'd all but devoured in his bed last night. Her skin might have flamed at the memory of launching herself at him at the train station yesterday, but the heat in the kitchen made it impossible to tell. What she did know was that she had been starved for him and as each day passed it was becoming impossible to deny she had more than a physical attraction to him.

And why should she deny it?

Sophie had relayed her conversation with Mrs. Harrington to Emily and Mary, who had vehemently agreed with Thomas and Sam's mother. The more Sophie considered opening her heart, allowing another man to take space there beside the all-consuming love she had for Thomas, the more space there seemed to be. Like love wasn't a finite thing, but an infinite resource.

Max tilted his head at the closing door. "Blake seems to be working out."

"She's a good kid." Sophie turned back to the sauce on the stove, determined not to touch Max. They didn't have the best track record in this kitchen once they came in contact and Sophie couldn't afford to be distracted. Tonight had to be perfect if she had any chance of convincing Simon to be more adventurous in his menu choices for the show and tell.

Max edged closer. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Wouldn't you rather be out there, at the party?"

"Not really. Small talk isn't my thing." His gaze fell to the floor. "Not my crowd."

The slump in his shoulders had Sophie cracking and before she knew it, her hand was on Max's chest. His sweater was soft, unlike the hard body underneath. A pulse of electricity rippled along Sophie's skin. "They can be overwhelming. But they mean well."

Max searched her face, his chest rising and falling under Sophie's touch. His eyes became pools of molten chocolate. "Can I stay with you?"

The word 'always' clamoured to escape her lips. She pried her hand from Max and picked up a knife. "I'll have to put you to work."

"I'll do anything."

Not letting her mind wander to the possibilities of things she'd like Max to do, to repeat from last night, she returned to stirring the sauce and nodded in the opposite corner. "There are raspberries in the fridge. Start by washing those. I'll need them for the garnish."

***

Finn tapped the edge of his glass, like a guest at a wedding about to make a speech. As the table settled, all eyes drew to him. He raised his glass of wine high in the air. "First, a round of cheers to Sophie for creating this wonderful meal for us."

Sophie bowed her head as the other diners echoed Finn's sentiments. Max's fingers brushed against hers under the table, in a show of support. She clutched at them, holding his hand as compliments on individual portions of the meal rolled toward her.

"Second, thanks to Simon for supplying the wine and giving us a sneak peek at his new restaurant. Enjoy the surrounding now, folks, because I suspect soon it will be hard to get a reservation." Everyone chuckled and Mary joked about being open to taking bribes for prime timeslots.

"Lastly, I want to thank each of you for being here to celebrate with myself and my family today. That you chose to spend the last day of this year and the first moments of a new year is significant to me. I am honoured. It's been quite the year." He took Emily's hand and kissed her knuckles. "As my beautiful wife often says, let's focus on the good. We all have so much to be grateful for."

Another round of confirmations rumbled around the table. Sophie squeezed Max's hand. His head snapped to her and she leaned against his shoulder. "I'm grateful you decided to come to the lakehouse."

Max blinked rapidly and the tendons in this neck rippled. He cleared his throat. "Really?"

"Definitely."

The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a carefree grin. Sophie's insides smouldered at the vision and she wanted to take a snapshot to keep forever. Better yet, she longed to keep that look on Max's face for eternity.

At the other end of the table, Finn drew everyone's attention with another clink of his glass. "Okay, I get it, everyone wants to eat. Just one more toast." He focused on Mary. "To new beginnings."

Mary's hand flew to her sternum and the back of Sophie's eyes pricked at Finn's words. Mary clinked her glass against her brother-in-law's as the table repeated the sentiment amongst themselves.

Distracted, Sophie barely noticed Max shift closer until he whispered in her ear. "Just so you know. I've never been so grateful to be on leave."

Sophie's breath caught.

Leave.

Her heart stumbled, the blood suspended in motion for a beat. Max would leave soon. The cheer of a kitchen design that worked, creating a successful meal, Finn's words, reseeded faster than the train she'd taken to Bridgetown. How had she forgotten Max was only here temporarily? Unlike Finn, Max had active duty to return to with the Navy.

His job.

His job that would take him to the other side of the world.

His job that was dangerous. People died. Natalie had died.

The organ in her chest slammed into action.

Max would leave her.

And just like Thomas, she was powerless to stop it.

"Sophie?" Max's eyebrows drew together. "Is something wrong?"

She swallowed the bile creeping up her throat and shook her head. "No. I thought maybe I didn't turn off the oven."

Emily raised an eyebrow as Max stood, pulling Sophie to her feet.

"We have to check on something in the kitchen," he said.

Emily turned back to her food without a word.

The kitchen was impossibly bright compared to the candlelight of the dining room. Sharp edges of steel gleaming, white countertops crisp and clear. Reality in precise focus. The dangers in the kitchen were evident. Sophie headed for the stove, attempting to regulate her breathing as she pretended to check the temperature even though she knew she'd turned it off.

"All good." She spun and crashed into Max.

His hands bracketed her face as his lips crashed against hers. Sophie lost her breath yet again, overwhelmed by the passion poured into the sudden kiss. Ovens, menus, raspberries, expectations, responsibilities, everything Sophie worried about ebbed away as she drowned in Max's embrace.

Too soon, Max's mouth left hers. He pressed their foreheads together. "I've been dying to do that all night."

Dying.

Sophie couldn't bare to let that word linger. Her fingers dove into his hair, pulling him closer, reattaching their lips. She clung to him like she could make him stay. The hard lines of his body pressed into her as his fingers slide along her shoulder, torso, bottom, not stopping until he found her knee and guided it up over his hip. His length nestled between her legs and they moaned in unison.

"Sophie. Are there any more—"

Sophie and Max sprang apart.

Mary crossed her arms and leaned against the closed door. "Am I interrupting something?"

Sophie straightened her skirt, avoiding Mary's smirk by staring at the bulge in Max's pants. Sophie cleared her throat. "Did you need something?"

"Not as badly as you." Mary snickered.

Sophie's cheeks flamed again, feeling like a teenager caught by her mother making out with a boy. She stepped in front of Max, whose back remained turned to Mary. "Could you not..."

Her friend pushed off the door and swirled her finger in the air. "I hope this isn't a habit of yours."

"No." Max's gruff voice cut through the air. He inched away from Sophie, facing Mary, his shoulders straight. "This is my fault. I over stepped."

A stone sunk in Sophie's stomach. Max was making an excuse to cover their relationship. Taking the blame for her. Sacrificing himself.

The grin fell from Mary's face. "I thought..." She stared at Sophie.

Sophie tore her gaze from Mary and turned to Max. A muscle ticked in his rigid jawline. Sophie gently traced the pulsing point. "You thought right, Mary. He didn't overstep. I was kissing Max." The hard line of his chin melted as Max turned and locked eyes with Sophie. The bewilderment in his expression, tinged with a hint of hope sliced at her. What had denying what they were done to Max? Why had she put him through that? How could she every begin to make it up to him. "I've been kissing him for a while. He was hiding our relationship because I asked him too." Sophie grasped his hand. "No more."

A slow clap emanated from the other side of the room. Sophie tore away from Max's soft eyes and faced Mary.

"Well, its about time." Mary beamed. "Welcome back my friend."

A lightness Sophie hadn't felt in years filled her.

Max shifted beside her. "Are you sure?" The words were barely a whisper.

Sophie answered him with a kiss.