Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
HEATH
Twenty-nine years old and I’d never given a woman flowers. Not Mom—Dad had always had her covered. Not my prom dates—they hadn’t wanted wrist corsages. Not a girlfriend—there hadn’t been many.
I guess I’d simply been waiting for the right woman. With a bouquet of twelve red roses clutched in one hand, I held my breath and pressed Stella’s doorbell.
She answered moments later wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a red turtleneck the same color as the flowers. Her hair was curled. Her makeup accentuated those pretty eyes and long, sooty lashes. And in her ears, she wore the earrings I’d bought this week.
“Hi.” She smiled, lifting a hand to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and the faint jingle sound confirmed she was also wearing my bracelet.
I’d be adding more gifts to her collection. The jewelry I’d bought simply because I’d thought of her, but seeing her wear it was a rush I hadn’t expected. It was almost as thrilling as it had been to wake up to her in my bed this morning .
“Hi.” I leaned in to kiss her cheek, then stepped inside and handed over the bouquet.
“Thank you.” She pressed them to her nose, humming as she inhaled their fragrance. “These are beautiful.”
“I’m hoping they’ll buy me a date.”
“A date?” She arched an eyebrow. “What kind of date?”
“The real kind. You. Me. A nice restaurant. Good wine.”
“Is that, um . . . allowed?”
“Why not?” I shrugged.
Last night had been a train wreck. When Tobias had showed up, I’d panicked. Not just because he was Guy’s friend too, but because I wanted to talk to Dad about Stella first. We didn’t need awkward tension in the office. After New Year’s, I’d sit him down and explain. Until then, we’d keep this quiet.
Having Stella hide in my room was not how I’d planned the night to go, especially leaving her alone for hours. But Tobias had clearly been avoiding his own home—he’d stayed longer than he had after my Super Bowl party last year.
Tonight, I’d make it up to her.
Dinner downtown was a risk, but Guy had texted me earlier inviting me to a poker game at another friend’s house. Tobias was home. Maddox was home. My parents were home, soaking up time with Violet.
I’d called them all earlier just to make sure of everyone’s plans.
And if we did bump into anyone we knew, we could just pretend it was a work dinner.
“Sounds fun.” She smiled and motioned to her outfit. “Should I change?”
“No. You’re gorgeous.”
Her cheeks flushed as she smelled the roses again. “Let me put these in some water.”
While she took care of the flowers and pulled on some shoes and her coat, I called Bozeman’s newest steakhouse and made a last-minute reservation.
“Why am I nervous?” Stella asked as we left her apartment.
“Nerves? Or excitement?” Because the jitters I was feeling were from the latter.
“Both,” she breathed, slipping her hand in mine.
I loved how she was honest with me. That she didn’t keep her thoughts to herself.
Stella looked perfect in the passenger seat of my truck, her perfume filling the cab. As we walked from the parking space to the restaurant, her arm rested comfortably in mine, like this was how we should have always walked together. The hostess seated us at a table in the corner of the room, handing us our menus to read by the dim light.
“Want me to order for you?” Stella asked.
“Isn’t it customary for the man to order for his date?” Not that I would. She could have whatever she wanted.
“You’ve been proving how well you know me this week. It’s my turn to take a stab at it.”
“All right.” I closed my menu and set it aside.
She smiled, challenge accepted, and scanned the book. Then she set it aside and shot me a smirk as our waitress came over. Stella ordered wine first, a rich cabernet that I would have picked myself.
After bringing over the bottle and filling our glasses, the waitress took out her notepad. “And what are we having this evening?”
“I’m going to have your filet. Medium with a baked potato, please,” Stella said, glancing my way. “And he’s going to have the rib eye. Medium rare with fries.”
I grinned as the waitress scribbled down her notes and left us to our wine.
“So?” Stella asked .
“Nailed it.”
“Yes.” She fist-pumped and lifted her wineglass to clink with mine.
I laughed, ready to take a sip when my eyes landed on a familiar face walking our way. My smile dropped. “Shit.”
Dad crossed the restaurant with Mom on his arm.
“What?” Stella followed my gaze. “Oh.”
So much for our date.
“Hey, you two.” Dad extended a hand as I stood. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” I nodded, my mind racing.
As far as I knew, there had never been an office relationship at Holiday Homes. We didn’t have an official policy against it, but tonight was not the night to discuss it with my father. Not until Stella and I’d had more time together. Not until we’d told Guy.
And just like last night with Tobias, I panicked.
“Stella and I were at the office.” The lie spewed from my lips in a desperate attempt to make this not look exactly as it was. A date. “We were both hungry and I remembered you mentioning this place was good.”
“Ah.” Dad nodded. “It is good. I didn’t realize you were both working today.”
“Just catching up on emails,” I lied again, hating the way Stella’s spine stiffened.
“I was, um... running some new numbers for the Jensen remodel.” Her eyes flickered to mine for the fastest glare in history.
“Joe cornered me at the party,” Dad said. “Told me about the flooring. Sounds like you handled it just right.”
“Thanks.” Stella gave him a smile, then turned to Mom. “Hi, Mrs. Holiday. ”
“Hannah,” Mom corrected. “Please. And we’ll let you kids get back to dinner.”
“Unless you’d like to join us?” The invitation came so fast I said it before I thought about the words.
Fuck. Me. What was wrong with me?
“Are you sure?” Mom asked, looking between the two of us.
“Why not?” I held out the chair on my other side for her as Dad took the fourth.
The hostess appeared, bringing with her the other two place settings she’d cleared away earlier. Then the waitress hurried over so we could order another bottle of wine before Mom and Dad placed their orders.
Stella sat rigidly, her hands clasped on her lap, and kept her attention on my parents.
Tell them. Just tell them. I opened my mouth but Dad spoke before I had the chance.
“How was your Christmas, Stella?” he asked her.
“It was lovely,” she said. “I spent the day at my parents’ house and relaxed. You?”
“We did the same. Let Violet entertain us.” Dad chuckled. “That girl is going to give Maddox a run for his money when she hits sixteen.”
“Good thing he’s worth billions,” I teased.
Mom laughed. “Isn’t that the truth. Stella, how’s Guy doing?”
At the mention of Guy, Stella seemed to throw up even more of a guard. On the surface, she wore her beautiful, enchanting smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s good. Still working as a programmer.”
“I never quite understood how he got into computers.” Mom shook her head. “For a person who thrives around people, I always thought he’d become a teacher or a coach or a used car salesman. ”
“Can you imagine Guy teaching kids?” Stella groaned. “That’s terrifying.”
We all laughed because she wasn’t wrong.
Tell them.
Every time I opened my mouth, either my mother or father would speak first. And as the minutes passed, as the conversation carried on, it became harder and harder to find an explanation for lying in the first place.
Damn it. When they walked up to the table, I should have just told them. Dad wouldn’t care, right? I’d have to wait and find out at work next week. So I sipped my wine and ate my meal while Stella completely charmed my parents.
She gave them her fullest attention, answering their questions and listening to stories. It was me who was ignored. Through the conversation and our meal, her cold shoulder became as frigid as the winter temperatures.
It was only after our plates were cleared, the tab was paid—by Dad, insisting that he’d expense it since this had been a staff dinner—and we were all bundled in our coats, did Stella finally glance my direction.
Her expression was flat. Guarded.
God, I was an asshole.
“Where did you park, Stella?” Dad asked as we congregated on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. “It’s dark so we’ll walk you.”
“I got it. We parked in the same lot,” I lied. Again.
That was the tenth or maybe the twentieth lie tonight. I’d lost track. Dad had bought them all. Mom, not even a little bit. Probably because I was a shit liar and Mom had always had a nose for when her sons were being devious.
She looked between Stella and me, and if Mom’s expression had a name, it would be You’re Not Fooling Me, Son.
I’d seen it countless times in my life. Usually before she’d grounded me for doing something stupid. Like the time I’d hauled my sled onto the roof so I could get some air and instead of hitting the snowbank beneath the eaves, I’d crashed through the neighbor’s fence.
“So lovely seeing you, Stella.” Mom pulled her into a hug.
Dad shook Stella’s hand. “Don’t worry about the Jensen project. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Same to you, Heath.”
“Will do.”
Dad held out his arm to escort Mom, and with a wave, they headed down the street.
I sighed when they disappeared around a corner. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Stella nodded and spun in the other direction, starting down the sidewalk toward where we’d parked.
It was definitely not fine. Her shoes made an angry click as we walked. She kept her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket, her shoulders bunched at her ears.
Any time I moved closer, she’d inch away or walk faster. And at the truck, when I moved to open her door, she waved me off for the driver’s side.
The trip to her apartment was silent, the tension growing thicker with every turn. When I parked in front of her place, she bolted out the door before I’d even put the truck in park.
“Damn it,” I muttered. Then I was rushing after her, jogging to catch up before she could shut me out. “Stella, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” She fit her key into the lock. “We’re a secret .”
The last word was so enunciated that I felt every letter like the whack of a hammer against a nail’s head. S-E-C-R-E-T.
“I need to tell Dad. Make sure he’s okay with it. I should have just done it tonight but... I’m sorry.”
Stella looked up over her shoulder. “And if he’s not okay with it? ”
“He will be.” He would be. He had to be. There wasn’t another choice. “There’s a chance that he’ll ask us to be discreet.”
She dropped her gaze, her shoulders falling. “More secrets?”
“It’s not forever.” I put my hands on her shoulders as I leaned in closer. “I panicked tonight. I didn’t think we’d see anyone.”
One minute she was starting to lean into my touch, the next she was shoving the door open and storming inside. Shit . Maybe I shouldn’t talk tonight. I hadn’t said a damn thing right.
I stayed on the stoop, watching as she stripped off her coat and hung it up on a hook. “Stell. I want to tell people. I want to tell Guy first.”
“Then tell him.” She tossed up her hands, standing close to the threshold like a blockade. “I don’t like being a secret. I don’t like lying to people, especially my brother, my boss and my boss’s wife.”
“You’re right.” I held up my hands. “I’m sorry.”
She dropped her chin, staring at the floor for a long moment. Then she looked up and the shame in her eyes made me feel about three inches tall. “I know it’s only been a week. Less than a week. But you’re... you. I want to tell people about you. Because I like you. I like you a lot.”
“I like you too. More than a lot. I’ll tell them. My Dad. Mom. Guy. Tobias. I’ll tell them all.”
She blew out a long breath. “When?”
“Next week. First thing Monday morning, I’ll tell Dad.”
“And Guy?”
“Sunday night.” Which meant that for my meeting with Dad on Monday morning, I’d probably have a black eye. “Once Guy comes back from that party he’s going to in Big Sky. ”
“Okay.” Her frame deflated. “Thank you. I know he’s going to be as mad as a hater but... he’ll get over it.”
“You’re welcome.” A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. This woman and her messed-up sayings. “And it’s as mad as a hatter.”
“I know. But?—”
“You like your version better.”
“Yeah. Haters gonna hate.”
“You got that one right.”
She gave me a small smile. “I guess so.”
“I don’t like this either, Stell. The secrets. I swear.” But we had years, right? What was a few days of hiding when we had years and years to share this with the world? “Tomorrow. Want to try this again? Just you and me?”
And hopefully, date attempt number three wouldn’t be a disaster.
“Actually... my best friend Wendy invited me out. She works at a gym in town and they’re having a party at The Crystal.”
“Oh, okay.” Damn. I’d hoped to be with her on New Year’s Eve.
“Want to come along? As my date?”
The invitation felt a lot like a test.
I wasn’t one for failing tests.
“Yes.”
She must have thought I’d say no because the smile she sent me was full of relief. “Are you going to come inside?”
“If you’ll let me.”
She stepped aside and crooked a finger.