Susan Mallery Bundle: The Buchanans

by Susan Mallery

  There was a chorus of nos. Cal had a feeling the party was going to break up soon. Both Dani and Hugh had to be up early, and Reid and Naomi were looking at each other like sharks eyeing bait. He guessed they’d be heading out shortly to do things he didn’t want to think about.

  He nudged Penny’s chair. “Come into the kitchen for a second,” he said.

  She pushed herself to her feet and followed him. “If we’ve got rats, I don’t want to know.”

  “It’s a restaurant in an old building. What do you think?”

  She shuddered. “I know it’s inevitable, but I don’t want to see them.”

  “I’ve got a great exterminator.”

  “You’d better. I hate rats. It’s the tails. They’re so scaly looking. Why can’t their tails be furry?”

  “Not my department.”

  He crossed to the freezer and stepped inside. The carton Reid had brought earlier was right where Cal had left it. Orange sherbet didn’t sound the least bit like anything Penny—the queen of fussy eating—would want, but Naomi was too happy with Reid to lie. So he pulled out the container and slapped it on the counter.

  “I heard you had a taste for this,” he said. “It’s my way of saying thanks for doing a hell of a job tonight.”

  Penny took a step back. “Who told you to buy this?”

  “Naomi. I think she felt bad because I heard you planning to kill me.”

  Penny grabbed a bowl and a spoon. “I only threatened to take out your liver. There’s a difference.”

  “It’s a subtle one.”

  “Want some?”

  “No, thanks. Not my favorite flavor.”

  “More for me.”

  She scooped out the sherbet and pushed the carton toward him so he could put it away. When he stepped back into the kitchen, she’d raised herself onto the stainless-steel counter and was happily chowing down on sherbet that was a very unnatural color of orange.

  “Couldn’t you just drink juice?” he asked.

  “Not the same.”

  “If you say so.” He leaned against the counter opposite hers. “You did good tonight.”

  “Thanks. You did okay, too.”

  He chuckled. “Gee, thanks. You still mad?”

  “Not so much. Everything worked out.” She raised her head. “I’m good at my job, Cal. That’s why you hired me.”

  “I know.”

  “Then stay the hell out of my way. Do I come into the dining room and tell you how to fold napkins?”

  “There’s more to my job than that.”

  “You get my point.”

  “I do and it’s well taken. The kitchen is your responsibility.”

  “Except for the rats.”

  “Fine. The rats are mine,” he said.

  She licked her spoon. “Gloria didn’t come. I thought she might.”

  “She was here last night.”

  “Oh, I know.”

  He frowned. “Did she bother you?”

  Penny shrugged. “Was she breathing?”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not really. She’s a cold old woman. That hasn’t changed. She didn’t exactly scare me when we were married, but I never wanted us to be best friends.”

  “She’s not my favorite person.”

  “That makes me sad,” Penny said.

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s family. Your folks are gone. She’s the last living member of a previous generation. It’s too bad she makes it so hard to love her.”

  As nothing about his family situation had changed since he and Penny split up, she was dead on in her assessment.

  “I think she needs to get laid,” Penny said.

  Cal winced. “Tell me you’re not talking about Gloria.”

  “It’s true. When do you think was the last time the old bird got any?”

  “I am not going to think about that.”

  “I’m not asking you to stand in the room and watch. I’m saying she’s lonely. It’s sad.”

  “You’re being nicer to her than she deserves.”

  “I have very little to do with her, so it’s easier for me. Although last night she really got on my nerves.”

  “What did she say?”

  “What did who say?” Reid asked as he and Naomi walked into the kitchen. “Dani and Hugh bugged out. They said to say good night. We’re heading home, too.”

  “Thanks for coming, baby cakes,” Penny said to Reid.

  He walked over and kissed her cheek. “You, too, knife girl.”

  Penny laughed. “Night, Naomi. See you tomorrow.”

  “Bright and early.”

  Reid put his arm around her. “Early, at least. I don’t think your assistant is going to be getting any sleep tonight.”

  Naomi smiled. “I like that in a man.” As she passed Cal, she patted his arm. “Want to know how many times we did it last night?”

  “Not even for money.”

  Reid made a fist. Cal did the same. They bumped them together.

  “Later,” Reid called as they left.

  When the front door of the restaurant closed, Penny grinned. “So do you think they’ll wait until they get back to his place or do you think they’ll do it in the car?”

  “What is with you? You’re on a roll with the sex talk tonight.” Was she feeling an itch? He would admit to a need to scratch. After all this time, Penny could still get to him just by being in the same room. “Someone else might think you were issuing an invitation.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “Don’t go there. This is my kitchen and I know where all the knives are. It’s just interesting to speculate. Okay, not about Gloria, because I don’t want to think about her naked. But with Naomi and Reid. Come on—you have to wonder. They’re both out to break the land speed record for most partners in a lifetime.”

  “Doesn’t it get old after a while?”

  Penny’s eyes brightened. “Are you saying sex gets boring? How interesting.”

  “No. I’m saying switching partners all the time would get old. I gave up counting conquests about the time I turned twenty-two. The sex is more fun when I’m in a relationship.”

  He hadn’t had any complaints about Penny. She’d been caring and responsive and just adventurous enough to keep him guessing about what was going to happen next.

  “I think they both do it because they can,” she said. “I’m not sure Naomi’s ever met a guy who didn’t want her and Reid is just, well, Reid. Women flock to him.”

  “Not you.”

  “I know. I always saw him as a friend.”

  “And after we split up?”

  He’d wondered. Had his brother offered comfort?

  He’d told himself it wasn’t possible. That neither of them would do that to him. Except Reid didn’t play by the rules and Penny had wanted revenge.

  “Yuck,” Penny said, sounding both sincere and annoyed. “Why on earth would I sleep with your brother? It’s gross and tacky. It would be like you sleeping with Naomi.”

  “No, thanks.”

  “That’s my point. Besides, I wouldn’t have done that to you.”

  “Why? I thought you hated my guts.”

  “I did. But I didn’t want you punished.”

  He thought about the angry fights, the things she’d said to him. “Could have fooled me.”

  Penny put down her empty bowl. He hadn’t understood then and she doubted he would understand now, but she meant what she’d said. She didn’t want Cal punished—she’d wanted him to get it. She’d wanted him to love her enough to want to have a baby with her. She’d wanted them to be a family.

  Deep in her heart, she believed he loved her but with Gloria always ready to pounce at any sign of emotional weakness, he’d been afraid to show his tender side. Leaving had been a last-ditch attempt to get him to admit that she was important to him. The plan had backfired. Instead of coming after her, he had let her go and decided that being apart permanently was the best course for both of them.<
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  “It was three years ago,” she said. “Does it really matter now?”

  “Probably not. But speaking of the past, I heard an interesting story about you the other day.”

  Uh-oh. “From who?”

  “Gloria.”

  “Then it’s probably not true.”

  “She said you’d stabbed one of your cooks when he wouldn’t do what you said.”

  Penny laughed. “Actually, that is true.” She giggled at Cal’s shocked expression. “Well, sort of.”

  “What happened?”

  “This guy was bugging me. He didn’t like that I’d been promoted over him. You know how guys are in the kitchen. Every word is profane and it’s a giant power play. The guy had been backing me into the corner and touching me. I told him to stop it or I’d make him stop it.”

  She paused as Cal stiffened. “Don’t get all macho on me. I mean it. I took care of him.”

  “How?”

  There was anger in that word. His hands curled into fists and he looked ready to take on the world.

  His reaction was that of a man to a woman in jeopardy. She liked that he was still one of the good guys, even if he wasn’t good for her.

  “I didn’t exactly have a plan. One day I was cutting up chicken. Someone called to me. I turned, just as the guy moved close. I don’t think he meant to do anything. It was a small kitchen and really crowded. Anyway, I was holding the knife and someone bumped me from behind. I fell forward, so did the knife, which slid neatly between his ribs.”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t hit anything vital and even though I told the police it was an accident and everyone backed me up on that, all the guys in the kitchen thought I’d done it on purpose. Including him.”

  “What happened when he came back?”

  “He called me ma’am.”

  Cal grinned. “Good for you. Now you have a reputation for being a tough boss.”

  “Now I have a reputation for being a dangerous bitch who’ll take out your eye if you talk back to her. I like that. It makes my job easier. I wonder how Gloria heard about it?”

  “She hears everything.”

  “Ah. A network of spies to admire.”

  Penny was suddenly aware of the quiet of the evening. Except for the guy cleaning up the dining room they were alone. It was late, she was tired and that made her vulnerable to Cal’s appeal.

  Dangerous, she thought. It was past time for her to head home.

  “It’s late,” he said.

  “So I was just thinking.”

  “You head out. I’ll lock up.”

  “Okay.”

  She jumped down from the counter. He moved toward her.

  It was one of those moments when good sense seemed highly overrated.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “Liar.”

  Despite the tension, she grinned. “Yeah. But I’m cute when I do it.”

  They moved closer until they were almost touching. And then they were in each other’s arms, his mouth on hers.

  Several things occurred to her at once, the foremost being that the man could still kiss like the devil. Even with his lips only lightly pressing hers, she felt shivers and heat and need. Second, her breasts were so exquisitely sensitive—probably from a combination of abstinence and the pregnancy—she suspected if he’d simply touch her tight nipples she would explode into orgasm.

  She wanted to throw her arms around him and give in to the moment. She wanted to crawl inside of him and see how much two-become-one they could muster. But then that pesky third thought crept into her brain.

  This was not a good idea.

  She wanted it to be, but it wasn’t. Smart people did not get involved with their ex-husbands at work. Not even ones who were only sticking around for a few months.

  She gathered every ounce of strength and stepped back.

  His arms looked inviting and she wouldn’t mind more pressing her sex-starved body against his. But then what? Did she really plan to get naked with him? Ignoring the whole working together issue, the second he saw her without clothes, the secret would be out. She might be able to disguise her condition behind loose shirts at work, but in the nude, she was obviously pregnant.

  Not exactly how she wanted to tell him, she thought.

  “You still have it,” he said, his eyes dilated, his voice low.

  “You, too.”

  “Not a good idea. Mixing work and…”

  She nodded. “So I guess I’ll, ah, go.”

  She headed for her office where she grabbed her purse and keys. “See you in the morning.”

  He walked her to the back door. “Come in later. I’ll be here at seven to check on the delivery. If there’s a problem, I’ll call. Otherwise, you get some sleep.”

  The concept was too heavenly to ignore. “Thanks. You have to check the fish. Sniff it. You shouldn’t be able to smell anything.”

  He smiled. “I know how to buy fish, Penny. I’ve done this before.”

  “So you say.”

  She hesitated, suddenly wanting something more but not sure what it was. A connection? Closure?

  Whatever it was, she and Cal had already had their chance and messed it up big time. There was no going back.

  TWO WEEKS LATER Cal ran the numbers a second time, then tossed the report in the air. “Damn, we’re good,” he said. They were already thirty percent above their income projections. Profits were only up eighteen percent, but that was because Penny insisted on large portions of expensive ingredients. As much as he hated to admit it, she was onto something.

  Someone knocked on his open door. He glanced up, then waved in the young woman standing there.

  Tina was still in street clothes, her coat and handbag over her arm. She held her punch card.

  “You said you wanted to see me?” she asked.

  Rather than asking her to sit, he stood, then pointed at the clock on his wall.

  “Care to tell me what that says?” he asked.

  “Five-fifteen.”

  “Right. Your shift starts at five.”

  Tina sighed heavily. “I know, but there was traffic.”

  Something that happened every night, he thought. “You know the rules. No unexcused tardiness, Tina. You call and give us notice or you show up on time.”

  She stared at him. “Are you kidding? You’re mad ’ cuz I’m fifteen minutes late?”

  “I’m not mad. You’re not in trouble. You’re fired.”

  Her mouth opened, then closed. “For fifteen minutes?”

  “You were told the rules when you were hired. You had to sign a copy of them along with your application. Call if you’re going to be late or lose your job.” He bent down and picked up her paycheck. “I’ll walk you out.”

  “Don’t bother.”

  She jerked the check from his hand and sailed out. He heard grumbling, which he ignored, then returned to his seat. Penny walked in.

  “Someone’s unhappy. One of the waiters just left in a huff.”

  “Tina. She was fired.”

  “For what?”

  He nodded at the clock.

  Penny took the chair opposite his and sighed. “I do that, too. Fire ’em for being late. You have to or no one believes you mean it. Call and let me know what’s going on, just don’t leave me hanging. I sure can’t afford to be wondering if I’m going to be shorthanded for the night.”

  “So we agree.”

  “About that.” She smiled. “Don’t get your hopes up. I’m here to complain.”

  Why wasn’t he surprised? Penny had earned her reputation as a perfectionist. Three days ago she’d come in saying that the flowers on the table smelled too much—their scent interfered with the aromas from the food. She demanded excellence and wouldn’t accept anything less.

  “What’s wrong now?” he asked.

  “The wine list sucks.”

  “Agreed, but I’m working on it.”

  She leaned forwar
d. In her white chef’s coat and headscarf, she looked both professional and completely feminine. An intriguing combination.

  “I have a plan,” she said, her voice low.

  “I’m not going to like it.”

  “You don’t know that yet.” She glanced over her shoulder, as if checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then smiled. “Raid the wine cellar at Buchanan’s. I sent someone over to check it out and it’s fabulous.”

  “I’m not cannibalizing from one of the family’s restaurants.”

  “Why not? We don’t care about them. The Waterfront is what matters. Just take half of all the good stuff. The wine list here is too young. We don’t have any really expensive wines. You know how diners love to impress each other with the pricey stuff. We’re going to lose their business, along with the serious wine lovers. Come on, Cal. You have pull. You could do it.”

  “I could, but I won’t. And before you start calling me names, read this.”

  He took a piece of paper off his desk and handed it to her. Then he leaned back and prepared to enjoy the groveling.

  She scanned the sheet, then looked at him. “What happened?”

  “Two restaurants went out of business. I heard about them first and bought up their wine lists. Both were excellent. And you wanted to say what about that?”

  She grinned. “You’re the best.”

  “And?”

  She sighed and reclined in her chair, the back of one hand to her forehead. “You’re smart and funny and I’m just so lucky to work for you. Oh, I can barely breathe from the excitement of just sitting close to you.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  She straightened. “Seriously, this is very cool. I’m impressed.”

  Her compliment pleased him. She wasn’t a woman who impressed easily and she had no reason to be especially nice to him.

  Things were so different now, he thought. While he’d liked being married to Penny, she hadn’t been very strong back then. He’d worried about her getting hurt. Ironically, he’d been the one to hurt her the most. Now she was tough, and he admired her ability to take charge.

  If she’d been like this back then, would they have made it? Or would his secrets still have screwed up things?

  Probably the latter, he thought. Penny could forgive a lot, but he doubted she would have understood why he’d been unable to risk loving another child.

  Penny pulled a sheet of paper out of her pocket. “I can meet with you tomorrow morning about the group bookings. I’m open to the idea, but I want to start slow. We have to be up and running in the kitchen, with all the kinks worked out before we start feeding fifty at the same time.”