by Gina Wilkins
“It’s very recent. This week, actually. Your dad happened to be here when we made the announcement.”
“You didn’t tell me, Dad.” Cassie shot a look of reproof at him, then pounced on Kinley. “Let’s see the ring.”
Bonnie moved toward Paul. “It will take me just a few minutes to change for dinner,” she promised. “This dress is a little fancy for the café.”
“You look beautiful in it,” he said simply.
“Thank you. Cassie did a great job with it, didn’t she? She’s very talented.”
“When are you getting married?” Cassie asked Kinley, who had stood to display her ring.
“We’re talking about a winter wedding. That’s our slower time here at the inn, so it would be best for me.”
“I know you’ll both be very happy.” Cassie gave Kinley an impulsive hug, sharing their mutual joy.
All this marriage talk was making Paul a bit uncomfortable. Avoiding Bonnie’s eyes, he told himself it was because he didn’t like the reminder of how quickly his daughter’s wedding was approaching.
To be honest, he’d been feeling a little antsy ever since Bonnie had made that passing remark on the phone last night about what she would want in a father for her own children. It had reminded him of a similar incident a couple of weeks earlier when she joked about having her kitchen step stool in her wedding. Taken together, did those comments mean she was less “married” to her job than Nora had jokingly implied, perhaps hearing the faint ticking of a biological clock? Was she influenced by being surrounded by weddings all the time, by her own sister’s engagement? Or was he merely projecting emotions on to her she wasn’t feeling at all?
As far as he knew, she had just been thinking out loud about the future when she was ready to settle down and start a family, and he was just someone with whom to enjoy her rare time off from work in the meantime. She’d given no indication that she wanted more. From him, at least.
“So, tell me, Kinley. Did you see the ghost bride?”
Bonnie stumbled slightly on one high heel when Cassie asked the question. Paul reached out quickly to steady her.
“I, um—” Kinley gave a funny little laugh. “That’s just a romantic old legend, Cassie. I don’t need to see a ghost to tell me that Dan and I are going to have a long, happy marriage.”
Cassie sighed deeply. “Still, it would be cool to see her, wouldn’t it?”
“Your dad and I are going to walk down to the café for dinner,” Bonnie announced quickly. “Maybe you’d like to join us?”
Cassie glanced at Paul in question. It was obvious that she’d like to join them, but wasn’t entirely sure he wanted her to. “You wouldn’t mind, Dad?”
“Why would I mind?” he asked with a chuckle. “It’s a public restaurant. And your table manners haven’t embarrassed me in public since you stopped blowing bubbles through your drinking straws.”
She giggled. “Mom stopped that quickly enough. Okay, I’d love to have dinner with you. We can tell Bonnie all about our ride yesterday. I have tons of pictures on my phone if you want to see them, Bonnie. It was so beautiful.”
“I would love to see them,” she said and Paul was impressed that she even sounded sincere about it.
“Are you coming with us, Kinley?” Cassie asked.
Kinley shook her head with a smile. “Thanks, but I’ll hang around here until the charity fundraiser is over, just in case they need me for anything. The organizer is a friend of mine and we gave her a reduced rate for the grounds rental, so she’s bringing in a couple of steak dinners for Logan and me.”
“Steak sounds good to me,” Logan said from behind Paul, who moved out of the doorway to let him enter. “Bonnie, I changed that bulb in the hallway. That was all tonight, wasn’t it?”
“That’s all. Paul, Cassie, I’ll meet you on the front porch in five minutes,” Bonnie promised, already heading out, the high heels altering her usual brisk walk. Logan and Kinley followed her out, heading for the kitchen.
“I feel kind of bad about crashing your date,” Cassie said as she and Paul moved into the foyer. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Sweetheart, I’m delighted.” He put an arm around her and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “I want to have as many dinners with you as I can get in the next few weeks.”
She nestled into his shoulder. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“But after dessert, you can disappear,” he added, making her giggle.
“Yes, Daddy.”
Chapter Ten
True to her word, Bonnie rejoined them in only a little over five minutes, a little winded and pink-cheeked from hurrying, but still looking very pretty in her more typical top, skirt and flats. They walked down the wide, paved road together to the Bride Mountain Café. The road dead-ended at the inn, so there wasn’t a lot of traffic most days, Bonnie explained, but the café did a good business from her guests, tourists and locals alike. On the outside the diner was plain, though bright green canopies provided an air of welcome. Inside, though, the décor was more inviting—simple, clean and bright—with delicious aromas that made Paul realize just how hungry he was.
Once they were seated by a slender brunette who greeted Bonnie familiarly, then introduced herself to Paul and Cassie as the owner, Liz Miller, they all ordered the dinner special—chicken and dumplings with bacon-seasoned green beans, a small side salad and cornbread which Bonnie assured them was “to die for.”
Cassie made sure there were no awkward silences during the lively meal. Not that Paul and Bonnie had ever had trouble talking anyway. Cassie showed off the photos on her phone and chattered about the bike ride, and of course the subject then turned back to her wedding festivities, starting with the wedding shower the coming Sunday.
“I’ve had nothing to do with it,” she said with a laugh. “My maid of honor—my friend Noelle, who has been my bestie since high school—she’s taking care of everything.”
Bonnie nodded, having met Noelle several times while making arrangements for the shower. “Noelle knows exactly what she wants for the shower. She’s given me very specific directions about the hors d’oeuvres I’m preparing and serving to the guests. She’s been very pleasant about it,” she added quickly when Cassie gave a little wince. “It’s actually easier for me to have clear instructions about what the clients want.”
“I have instructions, too,” Paul said with a chuckle. “Noelle informed me I’m to show up at the end of the shower and help Cassie transport the gifts to my house so she can get them packaged and shipped off to London.”
Cassie rolled her eyes comically. “I told everyone they didn’t have to bother with gifts, but you know how friends can be…”
“They want to give you things for your new home,” Bonnie said. “It’s only natural that your friends would want to do that.”
“Don’t worry, honey, we’ll get everything packed and shipped,” Paul assured his daughter. “Your mom and I will help you with it.”
“I know. Just so much to do.”
“And you like it that way,” he teased her, making her dimple and admit that he was probably right.
They indulged in peach cobbler after the meal, though Cassie and Bonnie shared an order. Paul wanted his own dessert. With ice cream. He laughingly assured them he had calories to spare, thanks to yesterday’s bike ride.
When they’d finished, they walked back to the inn where the fundraiser was winding down, most of the guests beginning to pile into cars. Cassie almost immediately announced that she had to go, giving her dad a wink as she spoke. “Thanks for dinner, Dad. And, Bonnie, I enjoyed seeing you. I’ll see you again Sunday, okay?”
Paul stood back and watched as his daughter and Bonnie exchanged quick cheek kisses. “Thank you again for the dress, Cassie. It’s so beautiful. I know you’ll get full
credit from your class.”
Cassie laughed and turned toward her car. “I have no doubt.”
“There’s that modesty again,” Paul muttered loud enough for his daughter to hear even as she hurried away, so that she left them with a laugh.
Paul turned back to Bonnie, who was looking up at him with a smile that didn’t quite seem to reach her eyes. “Tea?” she offered.
“I’d like that.”
She nodded. “Let’s go through the inn to the back so I can make sure everything is okay.”
“Of course.”
Fifteen minutes later she closed her apartment door behind them, pushing a hand through her hair in a slightly weary gesture. Seeing that, he reached out to lightly squeeze her shoulder. “Tired?”
She dropped her hand. “A little. Crazy week.”
“Why don’t you sit and I’ll make tea for us both?” She kept her kettle on the stove, and he’d seen her take tea bags from a wooden box on the counter, so he thought he could handle that.
Smiling up at him, she placed her hands on his chest. “Actually, I don’t really want tea.”
He slipped his arms around her, his heart starting to thud against his chest. “Neither do I,” he confessed. “But if you’re too tired…”
Laughing softly, she tugged his head down to hers. “I think I can find just enough energy for this.”
The kiss was explosive, heated by all the pent-up frustration of the past few days. He held her tightly against him, and she crowded even closer as if it still wasn’t enough for her. It certainly wasn’t enough for him.
She gave a little push against his chest, and he dropped his arms immediately, thinking maybe she was too tired, after all. Instead, she gave him a slow smile and took his hand. Without a word, she turned and moved toward her bedroom.
Articles of clothing fell just inside the bedroom door, at the foot of the bed, next to the head of the bed. They lowered themselves to the bedclothes, snuggled together and slowed down to savor with long, tender kisses and soothing strokes. Bonnie’s little purrs were music to Paul’s ears, letting him know she took pleasure in his touch, that their caresses were as arousing to her as they were to him.
“Mmm,” she murmured, when he rubbed his hand in slow circles on her back, gently massaging the knots he found there. “This is exactly what I needed tonight.”
What she needed tonight, he repeated to himself. No mention of the future, no reason to think she was reading anything more into this than she should. A few hours of pleasure. He couldn’t help wondering how many more nights he would have with her. How many more times they could be together this way, so easily. So passionately. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever be able to walk away from her without leaving a part of his heart behind—and that was a fear he’d never really faced with anyone else.
“Paul?” Bonnie caught his face between her hands and drew back enough to give him a quizzical glance. “You look so stern all of a sudden. Is everything okay?”
What the hell was he doing? He was in bed with a beautiful, willing woman and he was wasting time trying to predict their future?
He rolled her beneath him, pressing her into the pillows with his best imitation of a pirate’s grin. “Most definitely okay.”
Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his mouth down to hers. “Good,” she murmured against his lips. And then, a moment later, “Very good.”
The wedding shower for Cassie on Sunday afternoon was a big success, and the food Bonnie served received glowing reviews. She hadn’t wanted to be too heavy-handed with Cassie’s wedding colors of pistachio, dove-gray and coral, but she’d incorporated all of the colors in the antipasto and petit four trays, in tiny sandwiches and canapés and, of course, little bowls of pistachios and mints. She didn’t make the stunningly beautiful cake, which was purchased from a bakery in Christiansburg, but it looked exactly right amidst her own contributions.
There weren’t a lot of guests, only Cassie’s closest friends, her sister and mother, but it was a cheery group with a lot of laughter, chatter and genuine happiness for Cassie. Bonnie stayed quietly in the background for the most part, keeping an eye on the food, discreetly refilling coffee carafes and water pitchers. Cassie opened gifts with squeals of appreciation. Then, almost before Bonnie knew it, the guests began to leave.
Which meant that Paul should be arriving soon, she thought with a thrill of anticipation.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d left her apartment late Thursday night, though they’d spoken by phone Friday and Saturday nights. There’d just been no time to get together. Their chats had been light and easy. They’d talked of her work and his preparations for the coming new school year, of the wedding preparations and funny things the twins had said. They did not talk about the future, nor about any feelings they might have for each other. Any time the conversation had strayed too close to either of those subjects, they’d both quickly deflected it. She certainly didn’t want to admit her deepening feelings for him over the phone, or discuss her concerns about whether she meant more to him than a friend with benefits—very nice benefits, but increasingly not enough for her.
One of the shower guests paused in front of Bonnie, a tiny baby in her arms. Bonnie hadn’t even heard the infant fuss during the event, though she’d seen her passed around and cooed over quite a bit. “This is such a beautiful place,” the woman said. “I can see why Cassie decided to have her wedding here. I’m Lynn, by the way.”
“Thank you, Lynn. We’re delighted Cassie chose us. I’ve been admiring your baby during the shower. She’s been so good,” she said, leaning in to get a better look at the sweet little face beneath a stretchy pink lace headband adorned with a white lace rosette. “What’s her name?”
“Alanna. She’s five weeks old. My husband had to work unexpectedly today and I couldn’t bear to miss the shower, so Noelle said I should just bring her with me.”
Alanna’s eyes were open, trained on Bonnie’s face with that puzzled, intrigued, slightly unfocused look unique to infants. “Is she always this quiet?”
“Most of the time. But when she gets wound up, she can pretty much bust your eardrums. Would you like to hold her while I get my things and say goodbye to Cassie?”
Bonnie blinked a little in surprise, since she didn’t even know the woman—but her hands were practically itching to get ahold of this tiny vision in pink-and-white lace. “I would love to.”
The transfer went smoothly. Lynn stepped away to gather her things and speak with her friends, though Bonnie noticed she kept a close eye on the baby, understandably so. Alanna seemed perfectly content to be held by a stranger, looking wide-eyed at the room around them, her gaze occasionally locking on Bonnie’s face. Bonnie was quite sure she wore a sappy smile as she cooed at the infant, and when she was rewarded with a quick, toothless smile, she laughed delightedly.
“You,” she crooned, “are an angel. Just about the cutest baby ever.”
Alanna made a sweet little sound accompanied by a funny face that caused Bonnie to laugh again. When it came to babies, she was just such a girl, she thought wryly.
She’d been so focused on the baby that she didn’t immediately notice Paul had arrived. She glanced up just in time to see him staring at her with a startled expression before Lynn came to reclaim her child. All the guests departed, leaving Bonnie with Cassie, her mother and sister. And her father.
“Dad, look at all the nice gifts my friends gave me,” Cassie urged him, motioning toward the items displayed on a table. “Wasn’t that sweet of them? I’m going to miss them all so much.”
Paul pointed a finger at his daughter, speaking in a stern voice underlaid with a note of humor. “Don’t even start that. I’ve gotten enough tears from your sister.”
Fourteen-year-old Jenna, a cute brunette with braces on her teeth
and a hint of freckles across her short nose, put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “I didn’t cry, Uncle Paul. All my friends did,” she insisted.
“Uh-huh.”
In response to his teasing skepticism, she rolled her eyes in a way only teenagers could pull off so eloquently.
While Bonnie began to tackle her part of the cleanup, Cassie and her family repacked gifts and carried them out to the parking lot. Bonnie couldn’t help watching Paul interacting with his daughter’s mother and half sister. He was so easy and comfortable with them, his affection for them visible on his face. His behavior toward Holly wasn’t exactly fraternal, but very close to it. Considering they’d known each other since childhood and had been platonic partners in child-raising for more than twenty years, Bonnie supposed that made sense.
With everything packed away, Holly reminded Jenna that they had plans for the evening. She took her leave of Bonnie graciously—the way she seemed to do everything, Bonnie couldn’t help thinking. “I’m sure we’ll see each other several times during the next couple of weeks,” Holly said. “We’re getting down to the wire.”
“Be sure and let us know if there’s anything at all you and Cassie need from us.”
Holly smiled and pressed Bonnie’s hand. “We will, thank you. Come on, Jenna, let’s go.”
Bonnie watched through her lashes as Paul brushed a kiss against Holly’s cheek, then gave Jenna a hug and a head tousle.
“Don’t forget you promised to take Jackson and me to the movie Wednesday,” the girl reminded him.
“I won’t forget. I’m bringing my headphones and an audio book,” he assured her gravely, earning himself another eye-roll.
“The movie won’t be that bad,” she said. “You might even like it if you’d just give it a chance.”
“A film about a bunch of teenagers acting out and making fun of adults? Honey, I’ll be seeing that every day in just a few weeks. Not my idea of comedy.”
Jenna was laughing as her mother escorted her out. “You’re just counting the days till you’re free from all of us and don’t have to haul us around,” she said over her shoulder.