Free Calculated Risk by Zoe M. McCarthy Page B

plates. Cute. Name cards, with names penned in perfect calligraphy, were secured in the turkeys’ fanned tails. Twelve would dine in the LeCrone home today.
    Cisney lifted three dinner plates and examined the subtle flower details on the top plate. Someday she’d have table finery and invite family and friends for Thanksgiving dinners.
    “If you’re thinking of stealing the family treasures, I’m afraid I’ll have to wrestle you to the floor.”
    The barefoot man with dark curls and the open shirt who’d chased Nick and her to the lake stood in the doorway, now fully dressed.
    She laughed. “I don’t think you’d chance breaking three plates.”
    He crossed the room and extended his hand. “I’m cousin Tony.”
    She placed the plates on the table and shook his hand. “I’m colleague Cisney.”
    He nodded toward the sideboard. “So, you’re going to put all this mess back together.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers and rocked forward on his loafers. “I told Mom she should give Aunt Ellie the tablecloth after Thanksgiving because Aunt Ellie always has the table set by the time we arrive.”
    “Ellie seems thrilled to display it this year.” Using the length from the tip of her thumb to her first knuckle as a guide, Cisney placed the rim of a plate that distance from the edge of the table. “By the way, I like your socks.” She stifled a giggle. Grandpa’s argyle socks had nearly foiled her covert flight to her room.
    “You’re not the first they’ve impressed. I need to invest in a few pairs.”
    Tony hefted the stack of remaining dinner plates and followed her around the table while she carefully positioned each plate. She wanted the table to be perfect for Ellie’s guests.
    “How’d you meet Nick?” he said.
    “We attend a lot of the same meetings. I got to know Nick better when the chief actuary assigned him as a consultant to my team’s marketing projects.”
    “Lucky Nick.”
    She lifted a plate from his stack. “I don’t think he feels particularly lucky, although sometimes I wonder if he enjoys wielding his power over marketing people in the name of company financial stability.”
    “You only work with an actuary. I have to live with one. My mother thinks in statistics and risks. Take sitting with her in a movie. Before the show starts, she’s graphing the demographics of the audience in her head and calculating the probability she’ll like the movie.”
    “You’re exaggerating.”
    “No, I’m not. She does that.”
    The plates positioned, Cisney set the turkey card holders on his upturned palms. “Does her calculation work?”
    He followed her for a second trip around the table, craning his neck to scrutinize the name cards she positioned at each place setting. “Either her method has high accuracy, or she fits her viewing pleasure to her prediction.”
    Finished with the card holders, Cisney turned from the sideboard with a handful of knives. Tony was stretched across the table. He lifted a silver turkey and then switched it with one on their side.
    “No-no.” Scurrying between the misplaced turkeys, Cisney returned them to their proper spots. “Ellie told me where she wants people to sit.”
    Cisney handed him the knives and scooped up the spoons. Tony had reassigned himself next to her and put Nick next to Fannie. She’d have to watch Cousin Tony, or fail the daughter-in-law test.
    Tony eyed his card holder. “I don’t want to sit next to my sister.”
    “You can talk to Nancy on your other side.”
    “I’d much rather talk to you.”
    “I’m flattered, but Ellie rules.”
    While she positioned knives to the right of plates, Tony followed her around the table and handed her spoons. How many times could she get him to follow her like a puppy dog around the table? After her faux pas with Nick about her challenge belt, maybe it was best to lay low on contests for now.
    Tony leaned close to her. “What shampoo do you use? It smells really