by Linda Verji
“Oh, damn!” Snow cursed under her breath. Throwing a furtive look at Greyson who was busy plating, she murmured to April. “Take her order and keep her busy for a couple of minutes. I’ll be there when things slow down in here.”
Unfortunately, it took a while for things to slow down. By the time, Snow shook off her coat the trod to the dining-room it was closing in on three p.m.. Charlie’s mother was seated all alone at one of the corner tables reading a book while sipping on a glass of wine.
Even at fifty, Marlene Santos-Dumas was a beautiful woman. Her tall, slim, body was a testament to her days as a runway model and her olive-toned skin and curly, silky hair displayed her Filipina heritage. Wealth dripped from the top of her elaborately coifed hair, to her pearl necklace, perfectly manicured nails, fitted dress, and down to her expensive pumps.
“Marlene!” Snow called out.
The woman looked up and immediately her dark eyes filled up with muted anger. Coldly, she said, “Snow, you’re late.”
“I’m so sorry.” Snow took a seat opposite the woman. “The restaurant was a bit busy today and I couldn’t leave the kitchen.”
“Didn’t you know it would be busy?” The older woman put aside her book to glare at Snow. “You should’ve planned for it and asked me to come later.”
Snow wanted to remind the woman that she’d suggested that they meet at three and that it was Marlene who’d insisted on one p.m.. But what good would that do other than agitate the woman further. Instead, she offered, “Would you like me to get you another glass of wine.”
“No. Anymore wine and I’ll end up staggering out of here.” Marlene gulped the last of her wine before setting her glass on the table then folding her hands in her lap. Her gaze lingered on Snow as she gave her a once-over. “Is that what you usually wear to work?”
Snow looked down at what she was wearing – a simple gray t-shirt to match her gray fitted jeans. Compared to Marlene, she looked like the frumpy help – then again pearls weren’t exactly kitchen-friendly wear. Her eyes met Marlene’s again as she nodded. “Yes.”
The older woman visibly cringed, but didn’t comment further. Instead, she said, “Charlie wanted to come with me today.”
“Oh?”
Marlene nodded. “He did, but I told him that it would be better if it was just us girls.”
Snow forced a smile. “That’s nice.”
“He misses you.” The older woman gave Snow a pointed look. “And because of that he’s drinking more and acting… well, his father and I are very worried.”
She was making it sound like Charlie’s misbehavior was all Snow’s fault, like Charlie was a toddler and Snow was the caregiver who was responsible for him. Well, she wasn’t. Snow said, “I’m sorry that he’s drinking more. But there’s nothing I can do about that.”
“You can get back together with him,” Marlene suggested.
Snow blinked. “That won’t happen.”
“Why not?” The older woman asked. “I know Charlie isn’t perfect and he can be a handful but he’s trying.”
Were they talking about the same Charlie? What exactly was he trying? As far as she was concerned, he’d never put any effort into their relationship. The only trying he’d been doing lately was trying to get her back – and he was doing it in the most annoying way possible.
“He’ll change. Just give him a chance.” Marlene reached across the table, set her hand on Snow’s and squeezed. “All couples have problems, but you and Charlie can work this out because you’re good together. When you’re with him he’s a better man. And as the years go by he’ll become the kind of man you’re looking for. You’ll see.”
Years? She was supposed to spend more years waiting for this mythical change to happen? Good God! Snow shook her head. “I’m sorry, Marlene. Charlie and I are really done. I think I’ve given him enough time to change. It hasn’t happened – and it won’t.”
“So you’ll cut him off because he’s not exactly what you want? How does that make sense?” Sudden anger flared in the older woman’s eyes and she abruptly let go of Snow’s hand. “You’re not the only one who’s given up things for this relationship. Charlie could have been with a younger, prettier and more agreeable lady. He could have been with someone who isn’t so into her career and gives him all her attention. But he gave up all that for you.”
The woman’s words pricked at Snow and she felt an angry retort rising to her lips. Sure, she wasn’t perfect but she’d given her all to Charlie. She could’ve been with a better man too. Someone more mature, responsible and dependable. Someone who cared for her as much as she cared for him. Technically, Charlie had wasted more of her time than she had his.
But she couldn’t say all that to his mother. Suppressing her anger, she simply said, “And now he has the chance to be with any of those other women.”
With a frustrated huff, Marlene sat back to stare at Snow. “You’re impossible.”
Snow merely watched the woman.
“Seeing you now, someone would think that my son never did anything for you.” Marlene clucked disapprovingly. “Have you forgotten how much he helped you when you and your father were having problems?”
Not the tuition-thing again! It took everything in Snow not to roll her eyes. “I paid back the money he gave me.”
“What about the goodwill behind it?”
“I said thanks,” Snow countered. “Marlene, I won’t be Charlie’s hostage just because he helped me out one time.”
“One time?” The older lady reared backwards. “Do you think the foundation would ever have contributed to Third Rise Memorial if it wasn’t for Charlie?”
Snow raised her eyebrows. “I thought you contributed money because you were interested in helping people with heart problems.”
“Yes. Well. We – we were-” Marlene stumbled over her words. “-But we also wanted to- to encourage you and Charlie as a couple.”
The woman could twist her words any way she liked but Snow could smell the blackmail in them from a mile away. She inhaled deeply before asking, “So what you’re saying is that if I don’t get back with Charlie you’ll withdraw your support for the hospital?”
It was clear that Marlene didn’t expect to be confronted head-on because nervousness flashed in her eyes and her hand flew to the pearls at her throat. “No, no. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just saying that you should consider everything Charlie’s done for you before making such hasty decisions.”
“Our break-up isn’t a hasty decision,” Snow returned coolly. “It’s been twelve years in the coming.”
The two women stared at each other warily for a long moment before Marlene made the first move.
“This was a waste of time,” Marlene muttered as she grabbed her purse, slung it over her shoulder and stood up. “If I’d known you’d be this stubborn, I wouldn’t have bothered to drag myself all the way here.”
What did she expect? That Snow would just go along with anything she said? Snow stood up too. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“You’re not sorry at all,” Marlene retorted sharply, her eyes crackling with anger. “But if you keep up with this you will be sorry. Charlie’s a catch. You won’t find a man of his caliber anywhere.”
And with that she flounced out of the restaurant, leaving a trail of expensive perfume in her wake. Shaking her head at the dramatic exit, Snow made her way back to the kitchen. As soon as she entered the room, Greyson’s attention was on her – and it wasn’t the good kind of attention.
His forehead knotted in a frown, he said, “Snow, my restaurant isn’t the place for you to have impromptu family gatherings and dates. Especially not during service hours.”
All her muscles stiffened as anger pulsed through her. She wanted to stride over and shake him hard but because he was still her boss, she only mumbled an unrepentant, “Sorry, Chef.”
He sent her one last sharp look before turning his back on her. She made a face at his back. Ugh! He could be s
o annoying sometimes. She didn’t even need to ask him what he thought of her meeting with Marlene. He’d probably take it as further proof that she and Charlie weren’t over. Ugh! So annoying.
APPARENTLY, ANGER DIDN’T last forever. Well, Snow’s certainly didn’t. By Friday of the same week, her anger had fizzled away. It had instead been replaced by longing. She missed Greyson with a fierceness that was surprising as well as discomforting.
Had they really dated for just over a month? It felt like she was coming out of a long-term relationship and doing a bad job of recovering from it. They hadn’t even slept together and yet she felt like he’d stolen a part of her when he’d left. She missed his kisses, she missed his touch. She missed their easy conversations, she missed their dates. She missed him.
He was always on her mind. He was on her mind when she slept, and when she woke up. Whenever she saw him at the restaurant all she wanted to do was latch onto him and beg him to make up with her. Whenever he gave her rides to and from work, she internally pleaded for him to turn to her and ask her to get back together. He never did. When she wasn’t at the restaurant, she kept looking at her phone, begging it to ring, begging it to be him. But he never called. The only man who ever called her was Charlie, and ever since she’d blocked him those calls had stopped.
Greyson was really serious about cooling it off, wasn’t he? It was almost as if their relationship had never happened because he was back to being the Greyson she’d known before they’d started dating. Stoic, standoffish and a little scary.
Snow wasn’t used to such decisiveness. Whenever she and Charlie broke up, Charlie had always been the one to come crawling back and begging for them to get back together. But Greyson wasn’t Charlie, and she was slowly discovering that he wasn’t the crawling-back type either.
But she really wanted him back in her life.
By Sunday, she was at desperation level. She had to get Greyson back.
Should she make the first move? She wondered as she watched him expertly crack the crust of the salt-crusted fish. Nah, she couldn’t! Not after the whole ‘take all the time you need’ speech she’d given him. Then was there a way she could encourage him to start the mending of fences? She racked her brain for ways but by the time they closed for the day, she still hadn’t come up with any ideas.
She was about to go and change into her street-clothes when Greyson held her back. His gaze cool, he said, “I can’t drive you home today.”
Immediate disappointment lanced through her. “Oh?”
“I need to pass by the supermarket,” he explained.
She wanted to offer to go shopping with him – they’d done it before, hadn’t they? But the fact that he hadn’t asked her was a clue that he didn’t want her with him. That hurt – it really hurt. Trying not to show it, she squared her shoulders and offered him a stiff smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll take the bus.”
With a curt nod, he set off leaving her to make her own way home.
Why did her apartment seem so empty today? Snow wondered when she finally trudged into it. And why did it feel so sad? Ah! She missed her man! With a sad sigh, she tossed her purse on the couch then made her way to the bedroom. She fell atop the bed and buried her face in the pillow. Wasn’t he missing her? She couldn’t be the only one with this hollow ache in the belly. It felt like something, or someone, had sucked the happiness out of her.
Groaning, she turned her head only for her eyes to land on his jacket – the one he’d given her on the day they’d gone deep-diving. The navy-blue piece of clothing was draped across the back of her armchair Almost unconsciously, she scooted off the bed to grab the jacket. She pressed the heavy fabric to her nose and pulled in a deep breath.
Some of the scent was hers, but most of it was foreign. Warm, masculine, spicy….. just like Greyson. She hugged the jacket tightly to her chest. She wanted to see him without that professional façade between them. She wanted to see him smile at her wickedly. She wanted to be held in his arms.
Why were they both so proud?
Still holding his jacket to her chest, she despondently lay back on the bed. Pride was nice, but was it worth the fuss? Pride couldn’t hold her. Pride couldn’t talk to her and it certainly couldn’t make her smile. All it was doing right now was causing her heartache.
She sat up again. The rift between her and Greyson was as much her fault as it was his – so why did it have to be him to start the healing? She could do it too – or at least try. The worst that could happen was him telling her that he wasn’t ready or interested. Then again, he might also be waiting for her to make the first step.
That’s it! She was going to break the stalemate. She grabbed the jacket and strode to the living room. From her purse, she extracted her phone then dialed his number. He picked on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Are you home yet?” she asked.
“No, but I’m heading there. Did you nee-”
She ended the call before he could complete the question. Now that she’d decided on a course of action, she needed to follow through with it today, before she lost her nerve. Urgency nipping at her nerves, she locked the front door and turned on the alarms before she left.
CHAPTER 20
What was that about? Greyson stared at his phone in confusion. After a week of acting like strangers, Snow’s abrupt call asking about his whereabouts was unexpected.
“What did Princess want?” Roman, who was seated opposite him, asked.
“Don’t call her that. She doesn’t like it,” Greyson rebuked automatically. Though he’d intended to go shopping alone, somehow his cousin had ended up tugging along. They were now at the food-court so Roman could grab a quick sandwich.
“Fine.” Roman rolled his eyes. “Was that Snow?”
Greyson set his phone on the table. “Yes, that was Snow.”
“What did she want?”
“Beats me.” Greyson shrugged, feigning nonchalance he didn’t feel. Eyeing the half-eaten sandwich on Roman’s plate, he asked, “Are you done with that? I still have to pass by the electronics store.”
“No, I’m not done,” Roman said but he didn’t pick up the sandwich. Instead he sat back in his seat and stared at his cousin. “How long will you keep doing this?”
“Keep doing what?”
“Whatever it is you and Snow are doing?” Roman folded his arms over his chest. “This cat and mouse game.”
Greyson hadn’t planned on telling his cousin what was going on between him and Snow, but barely a day into their break up Roman had noticed it for himself and harangued Greyson into a confession. Greyson had expected his cousin to be on his side – after all the man wasn’t the biggest fan of commitment. Surprisingly, Roman was firmly in the get-back-together camp.
“It’s not a game,” Greyson mumbled.
His cousin eyed him. “It’s obvious that you miss her.”
An instant protest rose to Greyson’s lips but before he could say anything, his cousin cut in, “Don’t try to deny it. You think I haven’t noticed those longing stares you keep throwing her when she’s not looking?”
Greyson wanted to deny that too, but he couldn’t. Not when it was true. Though externally he kept a poker-face, inside he was a mess of emotions. Today, he’d almost burnt the steak because he couldn’t stop sneaking looks at her. He knew that their conflict wasn’t his fault, yet that didn’t keep him from missing her or from wanting to reconcile. Only his ego kept him standing; it kept him from going down on his knees and begging her to end their standoff.
He ran a hand over his stubbled cheek. “It doesn’t matter whether I miss her or not. I refuse to be her rebound.”
“You really think you’re her rebound?” Roman quizzed. “From what I’ve heard, she’s been working hard to get rid of Charlie.”
“Not hard enough,” Greyson mumbled.
“Exactly what do you want her to do?” His cousin pointed out, “This is a guy who’s been in her life for twelve years. It’s not that easy to cu
t him off, especially not when he’s so insistent on getting back in the game.”
“I know it’s not easy to cut him off, but there has to be a better way than what she’s doing right now.”
“How would you know?” Roman offered him a raised eyebrow. “You’ve never been in a long-term relationship.”
“That doesn’t mean that I don’t know when someone is dragging their feet,” Greyson retorted sharply. “And she’s dragging her feet and letting him lounge around in her life. She still even hangs out with his mother.”
“What are you talking about?” Roman frowned. “Are you talking about Charlie’s mother coming to the restaurant on Tuesday?”
Greyson nodded curtly.
“I don’t think the woman’s visit had anything to do with hanging out.” Roman leaned forward as if sharing top-secret intelligence. “I heard some of the wait-staff talking about their conversation. According to them, Charlie’s mother came to convince Snow to get back together with Charlie, but Snow refused. I heard the lady was in a real snit when she left.”
This new information was enough to deflate Greyson’s confidence that he was in the right. Thoughtful, he rubbed his jaw. “Snow refused to get back together with Charlie?”
“Yes, like she’s been doing since you two started dating.” Roman added, “Apparently, she’s even blocked his calls. What more do you want her to do?”
Greyson wasn’t surprised that his cousin knew so much about what was going on with Snow these days. The man spent most of his time in the front-of-house and was in prime position to catch all the gossip. What surprised Greyson was how much effort Snow had been putting into cutting off Charlie. Was he wrong about her not wanting to get rid of Charlie? Was he expecting too much from her?
Roman cut into his thoughts. “You always nag me about my inability to commit to anyone and how I float from relationship to relationship but you’re just as bad. My problem is that I have bad taste in women. Yours? Hell, you’re just scared. You’re so scared of complications that the moment things look like they might get complicated you walk. No, make that run for the closest exit.”