Chapter 20 #2
“The kitchen staff is setting up a brunch buffet in the lobby for the guests,” she tells Michael. “Which means you’ll have about an hour to prep and set up your desserts.”
He just nods and smiles. Why is he being so quiet now? Did he leave his voice box in the cabin? Did his brother punch him in the throat? Should I be worried?
Veronica takes our jackets, and while we’re waiting for her in the lobby, Seamus comes striding over with his twin brother, Stephen.
“Michael, I’m so glad you’re here. When I invited you, I was hoping I’d have more time to introduce you to the rest of the family before the party.
I had no idea we were in for that storm.
You remember my brother Stephen. Can I take one of those containers? ”
Michael shakes his head, and when Seamus doesn’t ask what the hell is wrong with him, I realize that this might be what Jake meant when he said his father thought he was shy.
When I can’t stand the silence, I decide to jump in.
“I think he’s got it, Seamus. He’s been working on the elements of it all weekend, and he’s just excited to put them all together.
He told me your kids asked and he couldn’t say no to them.
I think he likes being an uncle,” I add with what I hope is an endearing grin.
Seamus and Stephen exchange a look.
“They did ask him,” Seamus confirms with a fond expression, “and we’re grateful, since Tasha was working on another project with the kids and didn’t have the time. Mom loves this dessert. She’ll love it even more knowing family made it for her.”
Michael clears his throat. “I’m glad I could help.”
He can speak! It’s a miracle.
“You’re Bex’s friend, Win,” Stephen says, holding out his hand and flashing his perfect politician smile. “We’re all feeling very lucky that Michael decided to stay at the cabin this weekend, otherwise we might not have found you. I’m glad to see you’re not too banged up after your ordeal.”
He eyes my crutches and the scrape on my cheek in concern.
“It wasn’t that much of a hardship,” I assure him.
“I got to eat fancy cookies and recover on the couch while he cooked and kept the fire going. There was only one problem.” I pause for effect.
“The man would not stop talking. Just a constant stream of chatter. And don’t get him started on Turkish soap operas or you’ll never shut him up. ”
The twins have the exact same chuckle, which is both cool and creepy.
“He is a talker,” Seamus says dryly, following my lead. “Which is odd, because his brother is so introverted and quiet, I hardly ever notice he’s there.”
I glance over at him to make sure he isn’t embarrassed or insulted by the teasing. When I see him smiling ruefully, I inwardly sigh in relief. Thank goodness he didn’t leave his sense of humor back at home along with his voice.
Not home. A rental honeymoon cabin I’ll never see again. Same for those cute dogs, and probably Michael, once this party is over. My good mood deflates as swiftly as a popped balloon.
“We’ve got to get our baker to the kitchen, guys,” Veronica says into the lull. “Why don’t you two grab some brunch and enjoy the rest of the day with your family?”
Efficient. Good instincts. I definitely like her.
She and Connor walk beside us as if to protect us from any more interruptions, regaling me with their multiple mini-dates as I maneuver down the hall with the crutches, trying to pretend I actually need them and they aren’t cumbersome and uncomfortable.
A wingman’s work is never done.
She’s telling me about what they did yesterday as we walk through the double doors of the lodge’s kitchen.
“Then for lunch, he asked me to give him a little ski instruction in the training room. One on one. I used to teach here during the busy season, so of course I said yes. He’s very athletic, isn’t he? ”
Connor puffs out his chest and I try not to laugh. “That’s what I hear.”
“I suppose being a coach who loves sports as much as he does, it makes sense that he’d be so fit.
” She points down a long row of stainless steel prep tables running parallel to a half dozen oven ranges.
“I asked them to put the stool there for you to sit on, so you can stay off your feet while you help Mr. Demir.”
I give her my biggest smile. “You are so thoughtful, Veronica.”
“Why thank you, Win. I’m just so glad you’re okay and that I finally get to meet you. Connor talks about you all the time.”
“I was worried,” Connor mutters.
Aw. “He’s a good friend. Very loyal. A little bit of a clean freak,” I lie through my teeth. “But there’s nothing wrong with that, am I right, Veronica?”
The woman now has hearts in her eyes. “No, there isn’t. I think it’s wonderful.”
I get a look from Connor as he quickly steers his new ladylove out the door. “We’ll leave you to it. Text me when you’re done.”
When they’re gone, I find Michael staring at me with an enigmatic expression on his face.
“The funniest part about that is that it sounded like innuendo, but I believe she actually spent her lunch break teaching him how to ski. And he is athletic. I also have a feeling he’ll start doing his own laundry soon. ”
His huff of laughter loosens a few of the knots remaining in my stomach.
“So, you’re shy,” I tell him.
“I’m not.”
“You are. And not just a little bit, either. You really don’t like talking to people, do you?”
He shrugs. “I talk when I have something to say.”
“I’ll accept that for now. Especially since I know you don’t need an assistant. I was there when you made everything but the caramel in advance. So why did you ask me to help out?”
“I do need you.” He sets the containers down and plants his hands on the metal counter in front of him. “I know you’ve got things to do now that you’re back, but if you could just… Will you sit down on that stool and stay with me? Talk to me? Just for a little while?”
He’s anxious.
“I can do that.” I can be an adult about this. We had sex. It might be over now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy each other’s company. That I can’t be here to help him through his social anxiety. Is that what this is?
Forget about that. Why do you think it’s over?
Because we’re here and it is. I lean the crutches against a corner wall, out of the way, and walk to the stool.
“So what’s going on with you?” I ask as I take a seat. “I thought that conversation with your brother went pretty well. Did something change on the way here?”
He searches under the counter for a few trays, then opens his containers and starts lining up the pastries in front of us. “It went better than I was expecting. Thanks to you.”
“Personally, I think it’s thanks to your whole secret-blackmail-file reveal,” I tell him wryly. “That was very Tanaka of you, Michael. I was impressed.”
And maybe a little turned on.
“That’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about.” He hands me a tapered plastic bag filled with that crème-whatever-it’s-called and then picks up his own. “You need to hold the piping bag like this, push the metal tip into the pastry and fill each one.”
“So, I’m on filling holes? That feels appropriate.”
He doesn’t take the opening or smile. “This job is for both of us. There are four hundred, remember?”
“For two towers. I haven’t forgotten.”
Not what he told me, and not what he did to me after that. What we did to each other.
“I met the woman once at a cocktail party,” Michael says abruptly.
I squirt a little cream into the air, thankfully missing the tray of flawless pastries, and look up at him in surprise. “What woman are we talking about?”
“From the will.”
“Oh. Oh . Right.” The one he was supposed to marry to get his inheritance. How could I have possibly forgotten that insane tidbit from breakfast?
“She came to my table and introduced herself. She knew who I was and tried to flirt, but she looked nervous. Embarrassed and guilty. I told her I wasn’t interested and went to the bar.
But at some point in our brief conversation, someone snapped a picture.
I assume Ali used it to prove to my father that I’d already shown an interest in this woman.
That marrying her would be just as good for me as it was for them, but because I was shy I would need convincing. ”
He doesn’t like being called shy. And that cousin is a real piece of work. “Are we giving your father the benefit of the doubt now?”
“Bellamy is certain that’s what happened.
To be fair, he knew him better than I did.
He said he had flaws, but he wouldn’t have taken that action if he’d had all the facts.
” He pauses and sets down his bag. “It’s important for you to know that I was never with her, Win.
That I’d never marry anyone for money, and that if I was with someone, I would never be unfaithful to them. That’s not who I am.”
“I do know that, Michael.” My heart feels like it’s trying to climb up my throat. “I don’t have a single doubt about what kind of man you are. I…appreciate that about you.”
I love that about you.
I can’t think about it right now.
He stares at me for a long moment, waiting for more. When I don’t respond, he looks back to his tray and starts to work again. “Your friend seems to like Veronica.”
My shoulders relax, because I’m perfectly comfortable talking about someone else’s love life. “Oh, he does. This is the first time in years that he’s been into someone who’s into him right back. I have a good feeling about it. I bet they’ll be married by next year.”
And then what? I’ll have an apartment to myself.
I don’t really need a roommate to pay my bills anymore.
It’ll be tight, but I’ll manage. Living on my own might be an adventure.
I can stream musicals twenty-four-seven.
I can add people from work to my book club with Bex and make fancy drinks for our meetings without being teased.
I’ll have less cleaning to do. It might be great.