Her insulted expression told me I should quit before I did too much damage.
“What do you think I am, an idiot?”
“No, of course not. But I don’t think you fully understand what’s going on here.”
She breezed by me, moving into the living room and plopping down onto the couch. “Sure I do.” She pulled out a coaster, set the soda on it, and then tucked her legs up under her. “It’s just like when Dr. Freeman fell in love with her patient William. He had PTSD. Dr. Freeman’s ex-husband was a total douche and hated William.”
Daniel held back a confused smile as he took a seat across from Alyssa. He sat back, listening with inquisitive zeal.
I stepped up behind him on the couch. “What are you talking about?”
As if she hadn’t heard my interjection, she continued. “So even though he didn’t really know they were together, he was just trying to get dirt on her so he could weasel out of the paying alimony.”
“Alyssa? Who are these people?”
“They’re the main characters in Desperate Denial. I read it last year. And I know what’s at stake and why they had to keep everything a secret…like you guys do.”
“Oh, great. That’s reassuring.”
Daniel finally stepped into the conversation. He leaned forward, elbows balanced on his knees. “You realize this isn’t exactly the same thing, don’t you?”
Alyssa mirrored his position with exaggeration. “You mean, do I understand the difference between fiction and reality?” Her cocky smile lit a beam of pride inside me.
Daniel glanced back at me with an accusing expression. I lifted my shoulders and held back a chuckle.
“Look, you’re a smart and mature young woman,” Daniel said. “I won’t even attempt to talk down to you.”
“Feels like you are to me.” She folded her arms and leaned back into the couch.
“Fair enough. The truth is that…” He turned to me once again, this time with a questioning stare.
I nodded and put my hand on his shoulder.
“Gray and I care about each other. We really don’t know what to do about that or what will happen in the future.”
Alyssa couldn’t contain the smile that stretched wide across her face, like a child being told her separated parents were reconciling.
“And that’s nobody’s business but ours,” I said matter-of-factly.
“No shit, Gray. Haven’t you been listening to me? Just because I’m happy about it doesn’t mean I’m going to butt in or tell anyone. Jeez, I’ve got enough of my own problems.”
Taken aback, I could only manage, “Oh,” as I made my way around the couch and sat next to Daniel.
“We appreciate that, Alyssa,” he said.
“Yeah, sure.” She scooted to the end of her seat. “So, I guess this means you guys want me to bail, huh?”
When she rose from the couch, Daniel stood as well. “Wait. I don’t want you to leave.”
“You don’t?” Alyssa’s eyes shot to me; her brows knitted.
“The thing is…Gray made me eat too much at dinner. But there’s still dessert. Cheesecake, I believe. Right?” He looked at me, and I popped up to stand beside them.
“Yeah. With a berry cream sauce on top.”
“I’m sure Gray doesn’t want it to go to waste, so why don’t you stick around and help us out?”
A feisty hand landed on her hip as she cocked her head at him.
Daniel put his arm around her. “Okay, it’s not just that. I want to hear what’s going on with you.”
“Why would you want to hear about my boring crap?”
“I care about what happens to you, Alyssa. Because of you, Jessie’s last days were happy ones. That will always mean something to me.”
“Thanks.”
He led her toward the kitchen; her head tipped, landing against his shoulder. I suppressed the fairy-tale image of the three of us being in each other’s lives like that forever. I remembered how much Alyssa used to ask Jessie about Daniel and their relationship. Jessie had once told Alyssa she would share her uncle and told her to call him Uncle Daniel. That never took, but I could see how much Alyssa wanted it to be true.
We gathered around the island and ate standing up. Despite his qualms about having room for dessert, Daniel chowed down a sizable piece of cheesecake. I watched the two of them chat about school and her work helping Rita, giving them a chance to form their own bond. I couldn’t resist bouncing into the conversation when she smiled mentioning the boy tutoring her in science.
“Hmm,” I said.
“What?” Alyssa said, defensively.
“Last year when you had to get that math tutor, you were livid. But you seem pretty delighted about this one.”
“I’m not delighted. I just suck at science, and my teacher is basically making me. He says I need it for finals.”
Daniel gave me a look of warning, but that didn’t stop me. “Or maybe you have a crush on this guy?”
“Oh my God, Austin?” she said, digging into her dessert. “You should see him. He’s like a major science nerd. That’s all he talks about…well, except he does ask me questions about myself, which is totally annoying.”
The last sentence delivered with such sweet innocence told me it was so not annoying.
“Okay, my mistake. I’m glad he’s helping you, though.”
“Good, now let’s talk about something else before I have to get back to my jail cell.”
Daniel took the opportunity to ask about Teddy, her mother’s boyfriend. Alyssa may not have realized this line of questioning had been a motive of Daniel’s the whole time, but I had seen it coming a mile away.
Alyssa swallowed her last bite and set the fork down with a clank. “He treats me like I’m his slave or something.”
“Can you be more specific? Are the things he’s asking more than typical household chores?”
A sly smile took over her face. She sat up straight in her seat. “Awesome, Dr. Dan is in the house.” She clasped her hands in front of her on the table. “Well, you see, doctor, it all started when this total has-been picked up my mom in a bar.”
I jumped in to speed up the process. “And now he’s moved in with them, and Alyssa is not happy about being told what to do by him.”
Somewhat deflated, she continued. “It’s not just that. He asks me to do ridiculous stuff, like hang up his work shirts or clean the trash out of his truck. Why the hell should I have to do that? And he’s mean about it sometimes, too.”
Daniel touched Alyssa’s wrist. “How mean?”
She slipped her arm away and took her plate over to the sink. “It’s not a big deal. He’s just annoying, that’s all.”
We exchanged concerned glances and closed mouths. I shook my head, sensing this was not a good time to press her.
“Here,” he said, handing his plate to her. “Since you’re getting so good at chores.”
“Gee, thanks.”
The opportunity for me to finish my conversation with Daniel never came. Alyssa stayed, and he left, but first he hugged her and handed over his card.
“I want you to do something for me, please.”
“What’s that?” she said, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.
“If you ever need anything…to talk or help with something happening at home, please call me.”
“I will, Daniel. Thank you.”
CHAPTER 7
--------------------------
Gray
I padded barefoot around my bedroom, stalling until the last minute to put my heels on. Forget that they were new and needed breaking in. Apprehension and excitement took to street fighting in my gut over the night ahead. Why had I let Nathan talk me into this awkward gathering? A restaurant had shown serious interest in hiring him as the head chef of their new location overlooking Bodega Bay. They’d arranged for Nathan and a few of his friends to experience the cuisine at their existing restaurant downtown.
A quick glance in the mirr
or left me second-guessing the wine-colored babydoll-style dress I’d chosen. My cell phone ringing on the bed deterred my lack of confidence. I clicked Answer without saying hello.
“Is this insane? Or is this insane?” I said in a clipped tone.
“Do you want my professional opinion?” Daniel said.
The giggle released some of the tension in my stomach. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Charlotte hates me. They’ve been fighting. You and Nathan don’t really get along. We have to pretend we’re not together…I mean…I’m not saying we’re together.”
“I know what you’re saying. Try not to worry.”
“I’m so sorry you got roped into this.”
“It sounded to me like he didn’t have much choice.”
“Well, beyond just being a master cook, it’s an image thing. They want someone with connections…someone with lots of friends and acquaintances to bring business in.”
“I’d like him to think of me as a friend, so I said yes.”
Nathan didn’t have any friends that weren’t associated with his restaurant. Charlotte worked there as his pastry chef, but he trusted her not to tell anyone he was considering the position. “Well, I think he’s starting to. I know it’s a little awkward, but at least he’s reaching out to you instead of…” Shit. Multitasking while on the phone made my brain stutter in the wrong direction.
“Who?”
“I was going to say Kevin, but that was careless of me. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize as long as you’re staying away from him.”
I paused. If Nathan gave Kevin a second chance, it might be unavoidable. “Obviously, I want nothing to do with Nathan’s brother.”
“He’s bad news, Gray. I hope you saw that when—”
“Daniel, please,” I cut in. “I don’t want to think about that or Kevin. Can we focus on tonight?”
“Of course. It might be fun.” His tone didn’t convince me that his mind had left the subject yet.
“I don’t know. It’s just…you know how bad I am at small talk, even in the best of circumstances.”
“I would think this would be right in your wheelhouse.”
“Thanks.”
“Too soon?” he said on a chuckle.
I appreciated his efforts to move to a lighter conversation. “Who am I going to talk to, anyway?”
“You could work on getting more acquainted with Charlotte. Maybe that would put her at ease with Nathan.”
“Maybe…”
“Although…if you look as gorgeous as I’m picturing, she still might be jealous.”
My heated cheeks tightened and pulled up at the corners. “You’re awfully sweet tonight.”
“I figured I’d get in my compliments and sweet-talking while I can, before we have to act professional. And this will make two dates in a row.”
When he hit the word date, my tummy fluttered. I glanced back at the mirror, now satisfied with my selection, which pitted sweet against sexy. “Two dates?”
“Dates that I won’t get a goodnight kiss, that is.”
This flirty side of Daniel was incredibly hot. I found myself turned on by his words alone; tonight would be more of a challenge than I’d imagined. I sat on the bed and slipped on a shoe. “You never know what the night will hold, Daniel. I’ll see you there.”
When I arrived at Savoy, I hadn’t noticed Daniel’s car in the parking lot. I took my time, lingering in my car under false pretenses. Then it dawned on me that we couldn’t walk in together anyway, so I went up to the restaurant. Glancing around the foyer, I waited at the podium for the maître d' to finish talking with a guest. I sighed through the pinching sensation that gripped my left pinky toe and wondered how many hours the night would last.
“Gray.” An oddly cheery voice caught me on my right side.
I turned to find Charlotte exiting the ladies’ room with a sorority sister grin on her face and a slight sway in the step of her platform heels. The night just got a whole lot more interesting. With her bony arms bowed out, she tugged down on her ivory-colored knit dress, apparently attempting to cover her dignity. Maybe she hadn’t realized the place had a dress code. Her dusty blonde hair, perched on her head in a messy bun, looked like it hadn’t started that way. She came at me with her tiny purse clutched under her arm and executed our first side hug, complete with pretend cheek kisses. Did we walk through the looking glass?
When we pulled away, I caught the stench of strong liquor on her breath. “Hey, Charlotte.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, Gray.”
I hadn’t expected a friendship bracelet, but this? The maître d' called to us, and Charlotte turned her head as I mumbled under my breath, “You get bored at the open bar?”
“Huh?” she said after turning back to me.
Smiling, I held up a finger to stall our host and get a handle on the situation. “Look, sweets. Why don’t we make a detour over to the bar, grab you some coffee or something?”
Her bronze-colored lips pulled tight. She raised a hand as she drew in a breath to protest. Then her expression cooled, and she sighed out. “You know what? Yeah. Let’s do that. I have a few things I want to say to you, Gray.”
We sat at the far corner of the bar, the special seating area for our party within view. I saw Nathan standing by a window talking to a stout man in a three-piece suit.
I ordered two raspberry teas despite the disdain on Charlotte’s face.
“I’m not drunk. I just haven’t eaten today.”
“Okaaay. Well, you’re about to get the meal of your life.”
“I know.” She raised her eyebrows at me and took a sip from the glass the bartender had just set down. “Nathan said you were coming when he came to pick me up. Like he feared telling me. Needless to say, I had a large glass of wine before we left.”
“Then when you got here you hit the bar?”
“Yep.”
“Charlotte, I’m no threat to you.”
She turned away from me, gazing out toward where Nathan still stood talking. “Your very existence is a threat to me.”
I examined her as she watched him, guilt spreading through me. She was a tiny, decent-looking girl who, according to Nathan, lacked confidence. “We’re just friends. And Nathan cares about you so much.”
She swiveled back to me, a cocktail of fire and defensive dread in her eyes. “As much as he cares about you?”
I opened my mouth to say who knew what when I saw him approach behind her. He arrived with narrowed eyes and a hand slipped into his pocket.
“Nathan…hi.” I popped off my stool, catching Charlotte’s attempt to calm her face.
She stood and slowly turned to face him. “Sorry, I just ran into Gray and…”
“We were just catching up, since you looked busy.” My lying reflex still came in handy for emergencies. I smiled at Charlotte and then Nathan. She eyed us as he came around to give me a hug.
“Yeah,” she said, pulling off a tight grin. “So what did Mr. Reinhart say?”
His head volleyed between the two of us while he sighed. “I’ll fill you in later. Appetizers are being served, so let’s get in there and get you some food.” Out of character, he walked off ahead of us as if we were to follow him and his orders.
Charlotte grabbed her purse from the bar. Her eyes flitted to mine for only a second before they fell to her hands. She took off after Nathan, heels snagging along the carpet.
I scanned our small area to see if somehow Daniel had slipped by us. The beautiful table for eight featured ivory linens adorned with a gold table runner and a gorgeous floral centerpiece. I hadn’t met his other guests, but I knew of one: a restaurant contact, Hugh, and his wife, Iris. Another was Carter, an old friend of Nathan’s he’d met when they were both table waiters. After meeting each one, I sat between Carter and Nathan. Two seats were left empty—one for Daniel and one apparently for a no-show. Nathan really did need some friends.
The six of us dug
into albacore crudo just as Daniel walked in. His gaze converged on mine as if I were the only one in the room. He tried to hold back a smile, letting it come through his eyes instead. Electricity dotted the back of my neck and traveled to my extremities. Anticipation flowed between us before the notable silence caused him to break away.
“I apologize for being late,” he said, stepping over to shake Nathan’s hand.
“Thanks for coming,” Nathan said.
Introductions were made all around, and I watched Daniel’s face as he acknowledged each person. Charlotte knew that Daniel and I were connected through Alyssa and Jessie. Nathan had promised not to tell her about the therapy or the relationship. But as Daniel took the seat next to her, she glanced over to me as if to check my reaction. I gave a nod, and then directed my attention back to my plate. If she wanted to cause trouble, this night would murder a few birds with one stone.
Lobster bisque arrived moments later, followed by a choice from two preselected main courses of pork tenderloin or sea bass. Daniel and I both chose the fish selection and exchanged knowing glances as he chatted with Charlotte, and I chatted with Carter. I peeked over at them to discover her hand on his forearm and her best bedazzled smile. I made sure the notable uptick in my pulse didn’t generate any visible signs. Then I turned to Nathan, who spoke with the waiter. Was she trying to make him jealous or me?
Carter told me how he had just moved back home to Napa to start his accounting business when Charlotte’s voice cut in. “That’s right. Carter, didn’t you say you were looking for office space?”
Nothing about Carter’s appearance said “accountant,” but I didn’t question it. His wavy brown hair loitered around his face, and he shook it away intermittently. He ran a finger across his chin and over his five o’clock shadow, which only showed in the goatee area. “I haven’t started looking yet, but yes, I’m in the market.”
“Well, Gray’s building always has empty spaces. It’s that giant one over on Market.” Charlotte served me up a satisfied grin like I owed her a favor. Instead, it caused my stomach to turn. “Isn’t that right, Gray?”
“Uh…yeah. That’s the one.”
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