Shenanigans (Complete)

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Holly's POV

The cook-off for the local charity was starting this morning. I was gathering my ingredients to head down there. It had been a couple of weeks since I had seen Marc and I felt a bit better about myself. I had gotten my first kiss. If anything else it made my world a bit brighter. I had not seen or heard from Marc so I assumed it was back to normal minus the kiss.

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I pulled into the community hall parking lot, grabbing the things I headed inside. "Holly!" A few of the older ladies hollered as I started to set up.

"What are you doing for the cook-off?" The older lady had grey hair in a bun and a wide smile.

"I am thinking something Cajun this time." I winked. "What are you doing in it, Debbie?"

"Oh, I am planning to stick with my chili recipe." Debbie laughed.

"Oh yay! I brought some fry bread just in case." I giggled feeling like a little kid.

All the people, some men, and some women got to work. It was a cook-off with taste testers being a crowd of people outside, who had bought a ticket for a meal of their choice. They would not know what the meals were until they came in. I did a spicy sausage gumbo with red beans rice and homemade biscuits. I had my whole section set up for them to serve themselves. They would hand me the ticket. In the end, people would vote and count tickets. Then we could see who first and second were. The rest of the food went to needy families.

I stepped back into the fans to cool off. "Alright everyone we are gonna invites everyone in!" Debbie's husband Frank ran the front part of it.

I patted my hair and my clothes making sure I still looked ok. Everyone came in and wandered the line of cooks. I was towards the last near Debbie. So we sat back and others had their tickets taken and grabbed the food that they wanted. I grabbed a few tickets as Debbie did the same. People sat down and started eating. We would be here about 2 hours more. Then the rest would be packed up and sent to families around that needed a little extra boost.

"Holly! What did you make?" I heard Luca's voice before I saw his big blonde frame show up in a vision.

"Sausage gumbo with red beans and rice." I squealed as he came around the side and gave me a hug twirling me around. "Luca put me down." I hissed at him.

He chuckled and handed me a ticket. Grabbing his plate he piled it high and wandered off to a table. Others started filing down our way as soon as they saw Luca's plate.

"Holly!" I heard Ben's voice, looking up I saw him and his wife, they handed over their tickets and sat down with their plates. I squeezed over to grab a bowl of chili. Debbie as I dipped my frybread in.

"Wigopa," I heard the name, snapping my eyes up to see my father standing there. He looked healthy. "I will take a plate of this please." He handed me a ticket. "Smells great thank you." I could only blink and stare.

My father had shown up, wait how did he get off the Rez. I saw it then he settled down near Ben. Ah, must have been his doing. I wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes smiling like an i***t.

"Sausage gumbo?" My eyes left the table my dad was at to look at Marc. He looked good enough to eat in a button-down black shirt and black pants. His hair was down, dancing along his shoulders.

I gulped not being able to say a word, I just nodded.

"Love spicy food," He winked and filled his plate. He too, I noticed went over to the table Ben and Luca had formed.

I sat back on my stool and finished my bowl of chili, using my frybread as a scoop.

"Thanks, baby girl!" Luca walked behind the counter, picking me back up. "One day I will have you cooking in that kitchen at the bar. The money we could make." Spinning me around he plopped me down giving me a kiss on top of my head that had me wrinkle my face at him.

"Luca!" I smacked him. "Get on out of here with that crazy."

Luca just laughed and waved bye as he walked out. I took a quick look at the table to see, Marc staring. He was intense, as he watched me closely. Unnervingly so. I shook it off and grabbed another bowl of food from Debbie.

Sitting on my stool, I ate away, forgetting everyone was lost in my thoughts. "I will take a plate please." I looked up to see Kevin holding a ticket.

"Sure, thank you." I nodded. Kevin grabbed his plate and walked off to a table with him and his goons. I eyed the table but said not a word.

I didn't trust this change in Kevin. It was too soon. But I didn't dwell on it. "Can I grab another plate of this?" I heard Marc standing next to me. His words sent a shiver down my spine.

"Sure," I turned and smiled as he handed me another ticket. Which had me surprised at him.

"I figured you were a good cook and I haven't hand Cajun in forever." He smiled. "I will stick around until they leave."

I just gulped and nodded. Where had my spicy gone? I watched Marc walk past Kevin and his goons, leaning down he had all of them spurting. I was not sure what he said but they ate super fast. He stood looked over at me and winked. I think I blushed the hardest I ever have. The smirk was more of a smolder that had me forgetting there were other people around. I shook, myself and straightened my spine. No man would have that kind of power over me. I told myself. Who was I kidding, I would for Marc. But he was leaving. I shook my head and got my head back in the game. Just don't look at Marc. I knew I would melt on the floor again.