28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter twenty-eight
F ox walked into Melody’s classroom and grinned at how many students were still in their seats, asking questions and working on their ideas for their online shop.
“This looks great,” Melody praised Danny, who was working on a logo. “The company name stands out. It’s unique. The color scheme highlights what you’re doing with your art. Fantastic.”
Danny beamed with pride. And maybe a little love for the woman who’d taken the time to help him sell the art he loved to create.
“Now, you’ll need to add a description and details for each piece you put up. Make sure to include the dimensions. If you can display the piece with something that can also show the size in proportion to something else, that will help people to see the scale.”
Melody moved on to the next person in the row.
Amy turned her laptop to show Melody her new logo.
“Hmm.” Melody studied it. “Amy’s Cookies. It’s simple. Based on the founder and baker. What do you think about putting a chef hat on the A? And maybe instead of the logo being a rectangle, you make it round. Like a cookie. It could even be a cookie. Like your signature cookie. Then the Os in “cookies” could also be cookies.”
Amy frowned as she studied the simple name on a mint-green background. It had a pretty font, but wasn’t really anything special.
Fox waited to see what she’d say to Melody’s suggestions.
Melody didn’t wait. She made another suggestion. “I think it would be cute if you had a cartoon version of you in a chef’s hat. Perhaps you could commission Danny to draw something for you.”
Pride made Fox’s heart swell. What a fantastic idea.
Danny leaned over. “I could totally do that. You in an apron with a spatula that’s like a magic wand that looks like cookie sprinkles or chocolate chips or something coming out of it, raining down on the Amy’s Cookies words.”
Amy’s smile took up her whole face. “That would be amazing.”
Melody left Amy and Danny to haggle over the cost and timeframe for Danny to complete the piece.
Melody made her way to him by the door. The second she was close enough, she reached out and put her hand on his chest, then rose up on tiptoe and kissed him softly. Chastely.
He wanted more. “You were supposed to end class thirty-five minutes ago. Don’t you have work tonight?”
“I do, but so many of them wanted a little extra help.”
He brushed his fingers over her soft cheek. “You’re so generous and kind and supportive.”
“Not sure Amy appreciated my suggestions.”
“They were spot on and now with Danny’s help, she’ll have a logo that stands out in a very competitive market.”
Melody studied his face. “Now tell me what’s wrong?” She read him so easily. “What happened with Tanya?”
“I gave her what she wanted. She’ll be leaving on that trip soon.”
“Okay. Then we should talk about when I’m moving to Boston.”
“Whenever you’re ready. It can’t be soon enough for me.” He turned back to the class.
She put her hand on his cheek and made him look back at her. “Fox, honey, talk to me.”
That sweet endearment meant so much to him and settled in that soft spot with her name written all over it. “She’s…” He shook his head, unsure what to say that wasn’t already obvious. “She isn’t like you. To her, I’m just a means to an end. For you, I’m…”
“Home,” she finished when he couldn’t come up with the right word to describe all she was to him.
He cupped her face and brought her close, touching his forehead to hers. “Yes. Exactly.” He choked up. Couldn’t help it. Not with her.
Her blue eyes softened. “You’re my air, my gravity, my center, my everything. I hope I’m that for you.”
“Why do you think I need you so desperately? Without you…nothing is worth doing, or being.”
“Then nothing can come between us. Nothing and no one can make you feel less than when you know I love you, your brothers love you. We’re your family. Plus a whole bunch of Wildes. So this thing with your mom…let it go. You showed up. You helped her. If she’s not willing to meet you halfway, then accept that you did your part. You got to say what you wanted to say. Rehashing it won’t accomplish anything except to make you more frustrated.”
“I know that’s what I need to do.”
“Doing it is harder. Hope springs eternal.”
He rolled his eyes. “I guess so.”
She grinned. “You took a chance and put yourself out there. You’re sending her on an amazing vacation, which I’m sure made her very happy.”
“Did it? Because it didn’t feel that way.”
That raised a brow. “But she’s been asking for this since you got here.”
He shrugged. “She always brings things back to you.”
“She hates me.”
“She thinks you’re out for my money, but she’s the one who wants me to shower her with gifts and trips.”
She soothed him with soft strokes of her hands up and down his arms. “You do what makes you feel comfortable. You don’t owe her anything, but if it makes you happy to do it for her…” Melody shrugged. “I just want you to know going in that it won’t make a difference. She’ll take it because she thinks you owe her because she’s your mother.”
“She was never that to me. Not in a kind and loving way. Hell, she can’t even be supportive now about you, the one thing that makes me happier than anything.”
“For what it’s worth, my mom sent me a text this morning after I sent her a few pictures of us in Boston. The text said, Marry him! ”
“You should. I’m a total catch,” he teased, knowing full well he intended to ask her. Soon. When they were settled in Boston. He didn’t want to overwhelm her with too much all at once.
“I’ll think about it,” she teased back, trying not to smile. “I mean, you are really fantastic in bed.”
Fuck. He went hard just thinking about how she’d woken him up this morning with her sweet mouth on his hard cock. “Are you going to meet me there tonight?”
“No place I’d rather be.”
“Good.” He pulled her in for a kiss that was all too short and chaste as the students started packing up their stuff.
Danny stopped next to them. “Thanks for all your help today.”
“My pleasure.” The softness in Melody’s voice said she meant it. “I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.”
Danny’s cheeks went ruddy. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here.”
Danny lingered. “You’ve got really great suggestions.”
“Your talent will sell itself. Don’t forget to look into shipping costs for some of your larger pieces, so you can price accordingly.”
“I will.” Danny ducked his head and left with some of the others, leaving Fox and Melody with Amy in the room.
Fox nearly groaned, but held it back as Amy approached, holding Melody’s bag.
“Here you go.” Amy’s smile seemed too bright and cheerful to be genuine.
Melody took her purse. “Thanks. Off to get ready for your evening class?”
Amy turned to him. “Will you be joining us for dinner? The class is making steamed salmon, wild rice with button mushrooms, and steamed broccoli with a butter garlic sauce.”
“Sounds amazing, but Dean and I have plans.”
Amy glanced at Melody. “I take it you’ll be working the bar.”
“As always. Though Wednesdays aren’t as packed as the weekend, so it should be an easy night.” She pressed a kiss to Fox’s lips. “I’m sorry I don’t have time for lunch. And I might be a little late because I need to make the schedule for next week.”
He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, just so he could touch her. “You know where to find me.”
Melody grinned, then nodded to Amy. “I hope you found the classes helpful.”
“I did. When I get back to Boston, I’m going to set up shop. Maybe soon I’ll even be able to do it full-time, instead of working for someone else.”
“I love being my own boss,” Melody said, pulling her car keys out of her bag. She gave him a quick kiss. “See you tonight.” Melody walked out of the classroom, leaving him with Amy.
He immediately headed for the door, too.
“Hey, hold up a sec.”
Fox reluctantly stopped. He had work to do, but didn’t want to be rude. Not to someone who worked for him, even if she had made things weird. “What’s up?”
“I heard you’re opening a new restaurant in Boston.”
How the hell did she hear that? He’d told Tanya. Melody had told her family. She probably talked to them at the bar, which meant others overheard them.
Small towns. Everyone knew everything.
“I would love to open my own bakery, but that dream is going to take some time. You know my skills and that I’ve worked in catering. I love baking and cooking. I’d love a job as a chef at your place. Or better yet, to be your dessert and pastry chef.”
Not a good idea. But he didn’t say so. “We’re a ways from opening. And besides, the restaurant and bar is Melody’s place. You’ll have to talk to her.”
She sidled up closer to him. “You could put in a good word for me.” She was damn good at what she did; that’s why he’d hired her so often and put her on at the center. “Come on, Fox.” She pouted a bit with a gleam in her eyes. “You know I’d be an asset. And Melody and I already know each other. You can make this happen. I know you can.”
“I’ll tell Melody you’re interested, but that’s all I’ll do. She’s in charge.”
“Well, if anything happens, like she decides to stay with her family here, I’d be happy to step in and open the place for you. I’ve got a ton of ideas for a really chic place that could cater to the Boston elite as well as wining and dining your clients. It’d be a match made in heaven.”
Fox wanted out of this conversation and pointedly checked his phone when it buzzed with an incoming email. “I’ve got a meeting.” He headed toward the door.
“Come to the dinner class. I’ll make it worth your while. You know you can’t resist my food.”
Up until he started spending time with Melody, he’d often found himself in the kitchen with the students at dinner time, learning to cook and enjoying a meal with Amy.
She’d often brought him breakfast from the morning class, too.
He could see where she thought they were closer than they were. Fuck.
“Sorry. I can’t make it. I have a work thing.”
He’d tell Melody Amy wanted to work at the new restaurant and make it clear it was up to her, but he didn’t like the idea.
There. He’d fulfill his promise to Amy and let Melody know it wasn’t what he wanted. She probably wouldn’t either. Not when she’d pegged Amy’s flirty intentions already.
But something nagged at him about the way Amy so casually mentioned that maybe Melody wasn’t ready to leave her home and family behind.
No. She was baiting him again, trying to make him think something about Melody that simply wasn’t true.
Melody had talked about buying a dining table for their whole family to fill and getting houseplants. And the way she had looked when she stood in the restaurant space and described what she envisioned for it… She wanted to come to Boston with him.
All he had to do was make sure she never regretted it.