Chapter Five
Rosie
The restaurant for Melanie’s wedding reception is at the top of the casino hotel.
It has a panoramic view of the city and the dark, mountainous desert.
The ma?tre d’ leads us to our table in a private tasting room and goes to pull out my chair for me but stops when Daniel clears his throat.
He moves behind me, his hand ghosting over my hip, then holds my chair for me.
Like he’s going out of his way to treat me like a grown-up after my confession in the suite.
We’re hardly alone for a minute before two people arrive—a wedding coordinator for the hotel and one of the chefs—to go over the tapas-style tasting menu Melanie selected.
“I spoke with Ms. Burke this afternoon, and she explained that due to the storm in New York, you two would be enjoying the dinner preview that is a part of her wedding package.”
Mr. Burke—Daniel—has a subtle reaction to the explanation. His whole face shifts ever so slightly. It’s not quite an eyebrow raise, more of a sustained twitch, like a cross between being amused and trying very hard not to say something sarcastic in response.
Like the fact that he’s paying for this dinner, I realize.
When the introduction is finished and we’re alone, he slides a glance my way. “We need to work on your poker face,” he murmurs.
“What?”
“The way you looked at me.”
I blush. Was I checking him out? “I didn’t mean—”
“You totally picked up on my reaction to her calling it Mel’s wedding package like I’m not paying for it.”
I exhale in relief. “Oh. Yes. I did guess that.”
“And then you gave me big eyes across the table.” He grins. “I liked it. But I’m not showing you my hand when we play cards later.”
Has he already forgotten I’m not old enough to go on the casino floor? “I told you, I—”
“I’ve been thinking about that. There are private games where nobody checks ID. They’re better than the casino floor, anyway. No tourists. If you want the full Vegas experience, I’d be happy to take you.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.” I don’t have much money at all. Every cent I’ve made working at Brewed Awakenings back home has been funneled into paying for this weekend.
“Consider it a birthday present. If that’s what you want—I don’t want to push my interests on you. And I’m rapidly coming to the realization that you are not the little girl I once knew.”
I’m blushing again. Maybe still. “Thank you. That’s very kind. And you aren’t pushing anything. . . there’s a reason I was so excited to come to Vegas this weekend. I’d love to learn how to have a better poker face. If you don’t mind me tagging along?”
He shrugs. “I’m all alone. Thought I’d have time with Mel and her fiancé tonight, so you’re keeping me company. And it is good to catch up. Other than that unfortunate incident”—he winks, making me laugh—“I haven't seen you since Melanie moved to New York.”
I nod. “And then they moved to the Caribbean!”
Her fiancé works in finance and has an office in the Turks and Caicos. They go back and forth between there and New York City, living the absolute high life.
I will never in a million years understand why they opted for a Vegas wedding, not that I’m complaining. It’s probably the only one I could have afforded to attend unless she went for a back home wedding in Conception Ridge.
Daniel makes a face, interrupting my thoughts.
I sigh. “You don't like that she's so far away, either.”
His expression turns thoughtful. “I’m happy for her. But for a long time, it was just the two of us, and it's been an adjustment process.” He takes a deep breath. “Learning to live by myself and all that. If you haven’t figured it out yet, Rosie, I’m a very lonely man.”
“There are plenty of people interested in becoming Mrs. Burke.” I don't know why I say it.
It’s definitely a mood killer. Not that there's been a mood between us. But he ignores it and turns the conversation to me. “How about you? Are you still living at home?”
I swallow my discomfort again at why I said that and answer the question. “Yep.”
“You stayed in Conception Ridge for school.”
I don’t want to tell him it’s the only thing I could afford. He could send Melanie to the best university, wherever she wanted to go. For me, my option was the college in town or nothing at all. “I like Ridge College.”
“It’s a good school. We always hire co-op students from the engineering program.”
“That’s amazing. Your company has grown so much. I remember when it was just you and your pick-up truck.”
“It took me a while to find my groove.”
I exhale. “That’s what I’m afraid will be the case for me, too.”
“I didn’t say it like it’s a bad thing.” He takes a long sip of water.
“I got to spend more time with Mel when she was little than I ever did when she was a teenager. I had your parents to help, and for that, I’m grateful.
There’s a time for the big professional push, and it doesn’t need to be in your twenties. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Well, that’s good because I still don’t know what I’m going to do for any professional push. I don’t see myself being a barista forever.”
He chuckles. “You work at a coffee shop?”
“Yeah, Brewed Awakenings just off campus.”
“And I always go to Wake Up Call downtown.” He crooks a smile. “I’ll have to change up my routine now that I know.”
“Oh, please don’t.”
That makes him laugh. “You don’t want to see your friend’s dad while you’re at work?”
“What? No! I mean, sure, I want to see you. That would be fine.”
He sits up straighter and leans in, bracing his forearms on the table. “Then why shouldn’t I change where I get my morning coffee? What if I want to see you more often?”
Before I can answer, the first course is delivered. If you can call it that. It’s foam.
“We eat this?” I ask Daniel once we’re alone again.
He shrugs and takes a spoonful of it. “Let’s see what it tastes like.”
I follow suit. While the foam is weird to look at it, it’s wow on the tongue. I groan and take another scoop, which sadly is the last of it. So little foam, so much flavor. I lick the spoon again, then glance up at Daniel.
He’s staring at my mouth.
“I liked it,” I say a bit awkwardly. “I wish there was more? But I guess with ten courses. . .”
But each subsequent plate is just as small as the first. All the food is delicious, but it’s more of a tease than a meal. By the sixth plate, Daniel is frowning at the menu card the chef gave us.
“Are you worried about the meal?” I ask him.
A muscle in his jaw twitches. “What do you think?”
It’s a fancy, impressive event. “Melanie is going to love it.”
His gaze softens. “And does Rosie love it?”
I fight a smile. “Rosie thinks it’s more decoration than food and isn’t sure which parts are edible.”
He exhales. “Thank God. I was worried it was just me.”
I laugh. “No.”
And then my stomach rumbles.
He frowns. “We should probably add something to this menu, right?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Will most guests have already eaten earlier in the afternoon? There’s a whole dessert buffet that we won’t be tasting tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right.” His eyebrows raise in disbelief. “How do you keep it all straight?”
“There’s a Google Drive folder dedicated to the details. With subfolders.” I pause for effect. “You’ve been added to it.”
He pauses with his glass of beer halfway to his mouth. “Are you suggesting I’m not taking my duties as father of the bride seriously?”
Now I’m outright grinning at him. “Are you going to pay for the reception?”
“Of course.”
“And are you going to walk your daughter down the aisle without growling too much at anyone?”
He winces. “Yes.”
“Then your duties will be taken care of. My job is to worry about the little details. And a bachelorette party. And make sure the champagne brunch the morning of the wedding is heavy on the brunch, low on the champagne.”
“That’s a lot. And now apparently, tiny food assessment.”
“It’s so tiny, Mr. Burke—”
He holds up his hand.
I blush. “Daniel.”
“Thank you. Don’t make me feel like an old man too much, all right?”
“You’re not old.” You’re perfect, I want to say.
But that might be the lightheadedness talking.
He relaxes back into his chair. “What do you say we go off script and order some burgers?”
“I would love that.”
When the next course is delivered, he does exactly that.