Free Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck Page B

along Bay Street. One of Alfred’s Carolina Carriages rolled past with the clip-clop of the horses’ shoes against the pavement.
    Joy deliberated most of the weekend on how she’d let her guard down so easy, in such a public fashion, exposing her heart, leaving herself vulnerable.
    The passion between them surprised her, leaving her breathless and dazed. She didn’t realize everyone else noticed.
    Panic fired up her heart. Luke would find out. How could she hide her secret from him? His presence would change everything.
    This morning she’d wondered if and when she might see him again. Debated if casually dropping by the café looked too obvious. Now she fretted over how to prevent Luke from discovering her secret: that the Dining with Joy host can’t cook.

Eight
    A thick crowd lined the elongated brick sports bar of Luther’s Rare and Well-Done. As Luke worked his way toward the back table, he could just see the crown of Heath’s head.
    In the front corner, hometown boy and country superstar Mitch O’Neal set up for a nine o’clock show. Luke tried to refuse tonight’s invitation from cousin Heath to go out with him and Elle, and Mitch and his wife, Caroline.
    Spending an evening with two happily married couples with Luke as the fifth wheel had “pitiful” written all over it.
    But Mitch would pack the house, and Luke planned to blend in. Meanwhile, he’d sip a Coke, people watch, and try not to feel like a fish out of water. The kitchen was the only place he felt comfortable.
    Being the new cohost of Dining with Joy hadn’t settled in yet.
    â€œLuke, how does it feel to be Beaufort’s newest celebrity?” Elle’s bracelets slid down her arm with a gentle ting. “Aren’t you just, like, awed by the door God opened for you?”
    â€œAwed. Surprised. Hoping it’s a door He really opened.” Luke motioned to the waitress for a Coke.
    â€œHow can you doubt, Luke?” Elle’s question didn’t inquire but challenged. “Allison came to you. You prayed for God’s will.”
    Luke wished he had Elle’s holy confidence. “All I can do is have faith, right?”
    The house lights dimmed and Luke pressed against the wall beside Elle. Up front, a spotlight fell on Mitch.
    â€œHey, Luther’s Rare and Well-Done.” Mitch strummed softly.
    â€œIt’s good to be home.”
    The room stilled under the melody of Mitch’s guitar. The only distinct sounds were the clinking of glasses. Luke set his empty glass on the table and was settling in to hear Mitch when a slender redhead sliced through the spotlight.
    â€œJoy Ballard, it’s about time you showed up.” Mitch played a short, driving riff. “Give it up for the host of Dining with Joy . And a good friend of mine and my wife’s. Joy’s new cohost is also here tonight, Luke Redmond.”
    The Luther’s crowd complied and cheered halfheartedly. Yeah, who the heck was Luke Redmond?
    Joy breached their little group, breathless, flushed, her hair loose about her shoulders. She wore a pale blue sundress that danced with the color of her eyes. Luke watched her until she looked at him. Then his heart retreated inside.
    â€œHow’re you?”
    â€œGood. You?” Ah, so much for the smash-bang chemistry Allison loved. Luke had seen Joy once since Allison paired them for the show. The meeting passed smoothly with little or no tension. Luke had gone in with a single game plan. Play it cool. The egomaniac chef part never served him well.
    â€œGood. Keeping busy.” She glanced over her shoulder when the waitress paused to take her order. “I write the bits for the show. Now that you’re in the mix, I have a feeling Allison is going to run me ragged this season.”
    Still singular. Me. It’d take time. It’d take time . “Yeah, she seems like a tiger on the hunt.”
    â€œI have a lot of ideas for