Chapter 10 Luke
LUKE
On Tuesday evening, my family and I gathered at one of Tate's vineyards about one hour outside Chicago. Usually, he asked us here to taste new wines, but this time it was the menu for his wedding.
Tate, Paisley, and Lexi were here along with Tyler, Declan, Liz, Travis, and me. Our parents were here too. Sam had already left the States, heading back to Honduras.
We were in the building’s cellar where he kept the wines. The walls were all brick, and I had no Wi-Fi reception. Donna had sent me an important email, and I couldn’t reply. Sporadically, there was a weak signal, but mostly only enough to receive incoming emails or messages.
"Luke, darling, why don't you put the phone away?" Mom said. "We need your opinion, not for you to just be here."
"Sure," I said, pocketing my phone. “But why can’t we do this up in the vineyard? You’ve got a table there.”
“I’ve got a million wines here. I want to find the perfect pairing for each course,” Tate explained.
Fair enough. I just needed a Wi-Fi signal.
I had an important decision to make. An integral part of the intern program was a trip to see a client’s property.
I asked interns to come up with a vision for it while we were there.
Then I required them to come up with three very different models of what they would do if this were their project.
Megan could even use it as her project for the competition.
Every single intern said it was one of the highlights of their internship. But I wasn't sure if it was smart to go with Megan. I could send someone else with her.
After our lunch together, I didn't trust myself around her.
She thought I had excellent self-restraint. She was wrong.
I was hanging by a thread, but I wasn't going to get to the bottom of that problem right now. Donna was on my case to give her an answer about the trip—I’d told her I wasn’t sure I could make it this time. But it could wait until after the tasting.
"I like all three appetizers," I said.
Lexi sighed. "Which one's your favorite?”
“The salmon roll."
"Okay, see, now we're getting somewhere."
I enjoyed great food and fine wine, but I wasn’t a connoisseur. I was what I liked to call an appreciator of life.
"The wedding is going to be amazing. Your menu is delicious," Liz said. Declan’s girl was a baker and usually very knowledgeable about food.
Lexi smiled at her. "Thank you for offering to make the cake."
"Are you joking? I love, love, love that I get to do it."
Lexi was so thrilled with the cake that she’d promised to spread the word about Liz’s bakery and get her in the wedding cake business.
At some point, Liz offered to bake some wedding cakes so Lexi could know what to ask for when she ordered her own.
Lexi had been so amazed by the cakes she’d made that she asked Liz to do it for the wedding herself.
I liked the connection between Lexi, Liz, and Kendra—Tyler’s fiancée.
My family always had one another’s backs and supported each person every way they could.
My brothers had chosen great women. They fit perfectly into the family.
"So, when are we discussing the bachelor party?" I asked.
"Yeah, that we can do with style," Travis added, and Tyler chuckled.
Tate looked around the table with a serious expression. "No. This is the second time I'm getting married. Isn't there a rule against having a bachelor party?"
"No," I replied. "Besides, you didn't want one the first time around either."
“Maybe that should give you a hint," Tate said.
"Get off his back," Declan said with a warning expression.
I pointed at them. "You'll both get a bachelor party. And Tyler too."
Tyler nodded eagerly. "Hey, I want one. And count me in on the party for those two."
"What's a bachelor party?" Paisley asked.
Okay, that shut me up. Tate and Declan were shooting daggers at me. Mom and Dad were trying to suppress smiles.
Tyler and Travis had on their patented "You’re on your own" looks. Lexi and Liz exchanged a glance, but no one was talking. It was up to me to answer.
I cleared my throat. "That's a party to celebrate when someone's getting married."
Paisley narrowed her eyes which meant she wasn't buying it. "But that's what the reception is for."
I glanced once around the table for help. Come on. Someone has to help me out of this hole I dug for myself.
Travis and Tyler were barely holding back laughter.
Lexi leaned over the table, looking at Paisley. "It's a party only for your dad, his brothers, and friends."
"So, only for guys?" Paisley asked skeptically. "Why?"
Okay, no one answered now, not even Lexi.
"You know what? I’m going to Google it on the iPad. Adults never want to tell me anything." Paisley turned around, leaving the table and going upstairs.
"Thanks for the help," I said.
Travis whistled. "Dude, she asked you."
"No. She asked the table," I countered.
"Here's a thought: watch what you say around Paisley," Declan said.
I looked at Tate. He said nothing, just gave me a murderous look. I deserved it.
"Fine, but now that she's out of the room, we can talk about it."
"No, no, no," Lexi said, shaking her head. "Let's focus, okay? I need everyone to tell me their favorite from the first course, the second course, and the snack in between. Note it on the sheet of paper you have next to you, and if you have any tips for the kitchen, write those down too."
Holy shit, that woman was thorough. I had zero notes, but I couldn't help but think that Megan would have a ton.
This was only the second wedding in the family, and it was so different from Tate's first wedding.
His ex-wife had been all about what would look good in pictures, what would give the guests the most to talk about, not about what we, or Tate, would like.
I couldn't believe we would have two more weddings in the family after this.
Tyler and Kendra hadn't set a date, and neither had Declan and Liz, but I knew my brothers.
They weren't going to wait too long. That was how the Maxwell men went through life; we knew what we wanted and made no apologies for it.
While I was filling out Lexi’s sheet, my phone vibrated. It must have caught the rare signal. I was betting it was Donna again, nagging for a reply.
It wasn’t.
Megan: Hey, I found some cool options for the treehouse that fit your specs.
Damn. I’d only just sent her the specs. I couldn’t reply from here because I’d lost the signal again.
I glanced once around the table. Lexi and Tate were pointing at the plate with the salmon roll, murmuring under their breath.
Kendra was bent over the sheet of paper, writing with purpose.
Tyler was finishing off Kendra’s main course—veal with pureed peas.
Declan was sipping a glass of wine, and Liz was tasting the entrees again.
Travis had yet to write anything on his sheet.
“Anyone need water? I’m going upstairs to get a bottle,” I said. I needed to find somewhere with a signal.
Following a chorus of “Yes,” I headed upstairs. There was a pantry right outside the staircase where Tate kept bottles of water. I looked around for Paisley. She was sitting on the couch in front of the entrance, playing on her iPad. The administrators’ offices were to the right.
“Paisley, you okay there?” I checked.
“Yes. I’m researching.”
Jesus. I didn’t ask what she was researching. I didn’t want to know.
I immediately texted Megan.
Luke: Why are you working at this hour?
Megan: This isn’t work. It’s fun. Tell me more about your niece so I can find something she likes from everything that fits. What colors does she like? Is she a tomboy or a girlie girl? Does she like books?
Luke: No clue on the color. She has dolls, so not a tomboy. And she prefers movies to books.
Megan: Okay. I can work with that. And you were right about starting the research process early. The delivery times are insane. But I’m going to make sure it’s all perfect.
Fucking hell, if she were here, I’d kiss her right against this wall.
I wanted Megan—there was no way around that.
“You get lost searching for that water?” Travis asked. Glancing at my phone, he added, “Or not. Work stuff again? Please tell me you’re not turning into a workaholic. I thought you were normal.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Look who’s talking. You worked around the clock the year before the sale.”
He shrugged. “That’s because it was necessary. Now I’m living the good life.”
“I’m arranging a work trip.”
“Where? I can fly you over there.”
“You can? That would be great and drastically cut the travel time.”
“When is it?”
“Thursday.”
“Works for me.”
I decided on the spot to go ahead with the trip.
Opening the door to the pantry, I handed Travis two bottles of water and took two myself.
“Come on, let’s go back, or everyone will be on our case,” I said.
“I’ll make all the arrangements for Thursday.”
“First I’ll check with Megan if she’s okay with flying.”
“The trip is with Megan?” Travis asked. He was behind me on the staircase. I couldn’t see his expression, but I bet he had a shit-eating grin.
“Yes.”
I had promised Megan to be 100 percent professional, and I intended to go through with it. She deserved nothing more than stellar training. I just had to find a way to stop fantasizing about her. She'd asked me not to cross the line, so I wouldn't. At least, not until her internship ended.
Travis cleared his throat. “I just have one question. Do you need me to be your wingman or a cockblocker?”