Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
D ominic paced himself to walk at my side and held open the lodge door for me. Inside the restaurant, he took the lead, weaving through the tables with supple strides.
He moved like he owned the space around him, his face remote and his expression a little severe when I glimpsed his profile. His body was lean and long, broad shoulders square in his cable-knit sweater.
My hands were clenched inside the pockets of my jacket. It was like I’d decided to follow a tiger. I was breathing too fast, a little dizzy and lightheaded.
At a window table with a view of the waterfall sat an elderly woman with a thick cap of platinum waves around her done-up face. She wore round gold-rimmed eyeglasses and a sour expression.
“So,” she said in a deep hoarse voice. “You convinced her. Well, child, sit down. I’m Ophelia. You know my nephew?”
I cleared my throat. “No. I really don’t.”
She gave a honk of laughter. “Too true. You’re pretty enough. How old are you, girl?”
“Kelsey,” I said, glancing at Dominic. He had one eyebrow raised at his aunt.
“Well…Kelsey?”
I folded my hands on the table. “I’m twenty-eight, ma’am.”
She snorted. “Good. You look younger. Call me Ophelia.”
The server sped over with water for the table. Ophelia put in her lunch order before he’d finished setting down the glasses.
The server turned to me. “And for you?”
“Coffee, thank you. Cream and sugar.”
“For you, sir?”
“Baked mushrooms for the table, an order of fish and chips, and the wild trout entrée.” He closed his menu and handed it over. “In case you change your mind,” he said to me.
I took a sip of my water, far too aware of him sitting beside me at the table. All signs pointed to a controlling man—not what I wanted. I had made a conscious choice not to let another one lead me along.
“I’m glad we did this, Dominic,” Ophelia said, raising her chin while glaring at him. “Spent the night in River Gorge and saw a landmark. One last hoorah for a dying woman.”
He leaned back and crossed his arms. “You’re getting treatment, and they caught it early. You’ll get through this.”
“Colon cancer,” Ophelia said to me.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Is it too much to ask one thing of my nephew?”
I raised my eyebrows.
“He needs to marry.” She slapped the table. “Produce a child. This family is dying out.”
My mouth gaped.
Dominic shrugged. “There are more than enough people on the planet to replace us.”
Ophelia shook her head. “I told him I’ll leave my estate to his cousin if he won’t shape up. Doesn’t seem to care about that either.”
“Your choice.” Dominic appeared completely unconcerned.
I blinked, feeling a bit like I’d been dropped into a soap opera. My coffee was delivered to the table, and I cupped my cold hands around it.
“Why aren’t you married?” Ophelia barked at me.
“Ophelia,” Dominic said, frowning.
“What?” she said. “I want to know.”
I set my cup down. “Well…I’d like to be married.” I didn’t look at Dominic.
Ophelia nodded at me, her heavy-lidded eyes seeming compassionate.
“Two days ago, my partner made it impossible for me to stay with him. I don’t want to say why.”
Ophelia drummed her fingers on the table. “Did he steal from you?” She nodded at my shocked expression. “Happened to me too. A beautiful man with a heart like a weasel. Give him hell, girl. Don’t go soft.”
I smiled, ridiculously reassured to hear that this dragon of a woman had dealt with a Gerry, too. “I’m trying.”
The food came, and with both of them telling me to eat, I knuckled under, as usual , and picked up a piece of fried fish. Also, I was starving. The granola bar in my car wouldn’t come close to anything on that table.
“His cousin,” Ophelia continued as if it was the most natural thing in the world to fill me in on the family drama, “is worse than Dominic. Spoiled. But Sebastien hasn’t committed himself to this saving the planet nonsense. Who are you saving it for, huh?”
Dominic ate slowly. His eyes met mine as soon as I glanced at him, and it was like electricity shot down my spine. “It’s where I prefer to focus my energy and resources.”
Harrumphing, she dabbed at her mouth and pushed her soup aside. “A family makes you care more, not less. Right, Kelsey?”
“Hm. Care differently, I think.” I wiped my greasy fingers off on my napkin. “I have three sisters—and a lot of cousins. I like having family in my life.”
“Only child,” Dominic said.
“Yes.” Ophelia thumped her glass down on the table. “The root of it all.”
“Wasn’t my choice,” said Dominic.
“Now most of our family is gone.” Ophelia reached out and patted Dominic’s hand.
He sat as still as a statue and didn’t say anything.
“Catholic?” Ophelia asked me.
I nodded.
She sniffed.
The server tried to entice us with dessert, but we all shook our heads.
“My rotten stomach. Can’t eat the good stuff.” Ophelia held out her hand to me. “Kelsey, help me to the restroom.”
“Of course.”
Dominic stood up when we did. “Thank you,” he said.
Ophelia gripped my arm with one hand and used a cane with her other. “What do you do, dear?”
“I’m an accountant.”
“And you live in River Gorge?”
“Yes.”
“We’re in Portland.”
I held open the bathroom door, a little nervous when she had to let go of my arm. We both used the facilities without mishap, and then I guided her back to her nephew.
“Park me in front of the waterfall,” Ophelia commanded Dominic. “You young people can go do whatever.”
“I should get going.” I gripped my car keys in one hand. “Thank you for lunch.”
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Dominic said.
Once Ophelia had settled onto the bench she wanted, Dominic and I set off down the wide concrete steps toward the parking lot. I shivered when our sides touched, pressed together by a busload of tourists streaming up to the falls.
“Thanks—again,” I said as our feet stirred up fallen leaves on the trail down the slope.
“Thank you for taking some of Ophelia’s fire.”
“I didn’t mind.”
“Your ears are red again,” he said prosaically.
I halted, glared at him and his bland expression, then kept walking.
“It’s really cute.” His elbow bumped mine. “Makes me feel a little bit special.”
I tried to repress a smile as we stepped onto the concrete parking lot. “Is that why you bought me lunch?”
A car turned toward us, moving a bit fast. Dominic put his hand on my lower back. I jolted, pressing my fingernails into my palm. He guided us onto the sidewalk.
We stopped, staring at each other, his hand still pressed against me. My lips parted—it was hard to breathe.
“No,” he said.
My eyes darted up to his, a rich sepia brown flecked with amber and ringed with dark lashes. No —that was right. I shouldn’t want to kiss him so much my thighs were clenching.
“Not for the blushes, although I like them.” He leaned down, and I froze, watching his lips come closer. His mouth turned, and he whispered in my ear, “I want you…to tell me your name.”
“My name?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath and stepped away. “I’ll message you.”
“Oh.” I wanted to lean into his chest—he’d smelled like pine and frankincense. Swallowing, I tried to focus on what he was saying. There was a slight smile on his face again. “It’s Owen.”
His eyes traveled over my face. “The next time I see you, Kelsey Owen,” he said, “will be for more than lunch.”