The Perfect Ingredient (Dare Valley)

by Ava Miles

  “We didn’t think we could get everyone together at the same time,” Rhett said, “so we decided to share our news with y’all first. Honey…”

  Abbie’s smile was radiant as she said, “We’re having a baby.”

  Keith let out a whoop of pure pleasure, and Jane rushed forward to hug them all.

  Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open, but her expression soon turned into a grin. “Oh my God!” she said, dashing toward them. “Congratulations, Rhett, Abbie, Dustin. That’s wonderful.”

  Lifting her off the ground in a bear hug, Rhett said, “I figure that between the two of us, we’re going to make an artsy poker player.”

  “Do you think the baby’s going to grow as tall as you, Uncle Rhett?” Keith asked.

  “Only if he’s a boy,” Rhett said, taking Mac’s hand and giving him a man bump. “How about that, Maven?”

  “Couldn’t happen to better people. I’m going to be an uncle again.” When Mac and Abbie embraced, she pressed her face into her brother’s neck. “I’m so happy for you, Abbie.”

  She wiped a tear away. “We figured it wouldn’t be fair to Dustin if we waited until he was in college to have a baby, so Rhett convinced me to accelerate the timetable. At least he’ll have a little time to enjoy his brother or sister.”

  “I’ll be coming home for college, Mom,” Dustin said as Mac grabbed him in a bear hug.

  “You’d better,” Mac said. “This kid is going to need an older brother.”

  Peggy hugged Abbie, and the others offered their congratulations one at a time. Terrance was the last one to give Rhett a man hug.

  “Congratulations. Seems some cooking classes might be in order for another reason now. You’ll have another mouth to feed.”

  Rhett pounded him on the back. “Yep. I need to take a cooking class on baby food once Abbie’s job is finished. It’s going to be fun. I’ve never been so happy.”

  But even his friends’ uplifting mood following the happy announcement couldn’t shake off Terrance’s sour one. Elizabeth was on the other side of the deck now, talking to Jane and Abbie.

  He had never felt so alienated from her, not since finding a Dear John note and the lingering smell of her Chanel perfume on his pillow.

  Chapter 34

  Terrance was stewing. Even from across the porch, Elizabeth could see how angry he was. She couldn’t blame him. His impending trip to New York had sent her into a tailspin.

  All she’d been able to do was sit in her seat, her purse clutched in her hands, wondering if Vince had called him and asked for the meeting. A taunt like that would be just like him.

  When Terrance explained the purpose of the trip, she’d tried to relax. Until he started talking about how he and Mac wanted to discuss their new franchising venture with Vince, something she should have anticipated. Her mind was in turmoil, the pressure giving her a headache. Terrance and Mac could not give Vince another business venture.

  Even Jane’s famous poker face hadn’t been up to scratch when the trip came up at dinner. The way she’d looked at her and then Matt had made it that much harder to breathe like normal.

  Especially when Terrance laid his hand on her thigh, his desire to reestablish connection evident.

  Now they were drinking out on the porch, and Elizabeth was doing her best to reestablish her severely compromised poker face.

  “Can you help me in the kitchen?” Jane asked, taking her elbow and steering her away before she could reply.

  Girlfriend was not taking no for an answer.

  “Does anyone want anything?” Elizabeth asked as she let Jane pull her to the patio door.

  “How about you get some of that fancy champagne for a toast?” Rhett called.

  “Rhett, I can’t drink,” Abbie reminded him.

  “The doc said you could have a sip, but if you don’t want any, sugar, that’s just fine. What else would you like?”

  “Water would be great,” Abbie replied.

  Elizabeth tried to smile when she met Terrance’s stony gaze, but it was of no use. She yanked open the door, eager to escape the questions she could see in his eyes.

  Jane strode to her wine cooler and pulled out a bottle of Dom. Turning, she pointed the pricy bottle at Elizabeth.

  “Remember when you agreed you would revisit our discussion about telling Terrance? Well, now’s the time.”

  “Shh. Do you want someone to overhear?” She scanned the various entry points in the kitchen to make sure no one had followed them inside.

  “Elizabeth! We need to talk about this.”

  “Not now, Jane,” she said, grabbing champagne glasses from the cabinet.

  Jane popped the cork and started to pour, her motions choppy. “Matt doesn’t like this whole thing one bit, and I know he’s even more upset now that he knows Mac’s involved through this new franchising venture. Elizabeth, it can’t go forward.”

  She darted a glance at the doorway again. “I know, Jane. I’ll think of something.”

  “Tell him. He deserves to know. You’re not protecting him…you’re hurting him.”

  She picked up four glasses, balancing the stems between her fingers. “I’ll send someone else in to help you,” she said and walked back out without another word.

  What should have been a night filled with laughter and happiness was instead rife with worry and despair. The champagne tasted flat in her mouth after Rhett gave a toast that brought tears to her eyes.

  To our baby. May he or she know how much all of these people here tonight already love him or her.

  Rhett teased her and Jane about being aunts for the first time, but Terrance kept his distance, staying on the edge of the group, sipping his champagne with narrowed eyes.

  When everyone said their goodbyes, they walked to his car without speaking or holding hands. He didn’t even open the door for her. Only slammed his own.

  They drove back to her house in silence, her heart thudding in her chest. Still intent on keeping her secret, she searched for plausible excuses that would pacify him given how important his life in New York clearly was to him . He was being featured in GQ, and his star was rising even higher now. There was no way she could hurt his career.

  When they reached her house, he cut the engine, but made no move to open his door. “Do you want me to go? Because the way you acted tonight sure as hell makes me want to leave.”

  If he did, they would be in tatters again, and she wasn’t sure she could patch them together a third time.

  She laid a hand on his arm. The muscles were locked beneath two layers of fabric, his griffins poised to fight.

  “Please come inside.”

  “Give me one good reason why I should after tonight.”

  Oh, God. “Because I love you, and I’m scared.” That was the truth at least. “And I don’t always know what to say or how to handle what’s between us either.”

  He turned in his seat to face her. “What is it about New York that bothers you so much? It’s not just this trip, because I saw the way Jane and Matt acted when I mentioned it tonight. Whatever you told them, it couldn’t have been about the trip. I only told you on the way over there.”

  His logic wasn’t wrong, and she decided she could only share her feelings. Not the cause of them. She hoped it would be enough for now.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to lose you,” she whispered. “Everything you’ve ever had or wanted is in New York. All your friends. Your hangouts. The show. I can’t compete with that.”

  “Oh, Christ,” he muttered and shoved open the car door.

  He stalked around the front and circled to her side. She pushed open her door, and they both stood in the cool night air, gazing at each other.

  “Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?” He thrust his hand up to the stars. “I love you. I. Love. You. If I haven’t yet conveyed what a big deal that is for me, then I’m sorry. You don’t ever need to be afraid of competing with my life in New York, Elizabeth.”

  Her lip quivered
in the cool night, and she wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to control the emotions raging inside her.

  He kicked the ground and strode off two steps before coming back to stand in front of her. “You’re my perfect ingredient. You! Okay? I’ve scoured the world for something—a spice, a condiment, a rarity—thinking food was the answer to filling up this hole inside me. I never thought it would be a woman. Cooking saved me. It’s been the best part of my life…until you.”

  Her hand reached out to clutch his jacket. Her heart was thudding in her chest, pushing against the confines of the old lies she’d internalized, the ones that said she couldn’t be anyone’s everything.

  “Do you understand now?” he asked. “New York is nothing compared to you. Nothing.”

  “Oh, Terrance,” she whispered, pressing her face into his chest, hanging on as wave after wave of emotion rolled through her.

  Reaching for his face, she raised on her tiptoes to press her mouth to his. He yanked her to him and ravaged her mouth, pouring out all his anger and frustration. She welcomed it, soothing him with soft kisses while his fingers dug into her waist, as if searching for an anchor.

  He swung her up finally into his arms and jogged the short distance to the front door. After she managed to unlock it, he kicked it shut and carried her to the bedroom. Setting her down by the bed, he tore off her shirt, sending buttons flying in every direction.

  “I can’t wait,” he told her in a hoarse voice, all finesse gone.

  She didn’t answer. Only undid the lone button on his jacket and helped him shrug it off and then his shirt. He peeled off the rest of her shirt too and then swept away her black skirt, hose, and heels in one pass. Kicking them free, she reached for his belt, and soon they were both naked.

  Falling back onto the mattress, she gazed up at him and opened her legs. His hot stare sent shivers across her body. When he slid over her, covering her, she stroked his face.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, dammit, and don’t forget it.”

  Her hands clenched his backside, any mention of his Cuss Fund forgotten now, and he pressed deep into her with one thrust. She was more than ready for him, and even though he’d been swept away by emotion earlier, he found his tenderness as he started stroking into her.

  “You destroy me,” he uttered in a hoarse voice.

  She understood. She felt the same way. As she rose to meet his thrusts, she could only try and communicate through her body what he most needed to know.

  That he was her perfect ingredient too.

  His hands grabbed hers, and together they rode out the storm. When they found their release—panting, skin flushed with sweat, their bodies pulsing—he rolled onto his back with her on top, staying inside her.

  “Will you come to New York with me now?” he asked her in the quiet aftermath.

  She loved him. If going to the city meant running into Vince, then she would meet her demon face to face. Terrance didn’t have to know anything unless Vince made the wrong move.

  If he did, she would tell Terrance everything.

  Chapter 35

  Girls’ Night was Natalie’s favorite part of her week. As she let herself out of her building to walk to the Irish pub she and her sisters loved for its peppy music, she felt a piercing sadness. Her sisters were over the moon about her new job, but they all knew what it meant. There would be no more nights like tonight or lunches or impromptu hangouts.

  She loved her brothers, but Matt and Andy weren’t girls.

  Talking to them was just different.

  Of course, there were upsides. She would be able to spend more time with her brothers and her mom and Danny, of course. Oh, and the rest of the Hale clan. Jill couldn’t wait to work with her at The Grand.

  Plus her ongoing bumper sticker war with Matt would be so much easier. Since he’d already won the primary and it looked like he was going to run uncontested, she was planning to slap a new one on his SUV the next time she saw him: Honk If You Like Hotties. That would put his boxers in a knot, all right.

  Maybe she could start a Girls’ Night in Dare with Jill, Meredith, Jane, and Elizabeth. Oh, and they could invite Peggy and Abbie, whom she didn’t know well, but already liked.

  Nothing said she couldn’t have fun with other people. She just wouldn’t be able to see Moira and Caroline during the week.

  Turning her maudlin thoughts down to low, she lifted her face to the sky. The spring weather was glorious, and the warm breeze ruffled her silk jersey dress in cobalt blue. She’d wanted to go bold tonight. A new job awaited her, and her spirits were high. Mostly.

  A dog barked behind her in rapid bursts, and she turned to look when it kept on barking.

  Her heart dropped in her chest.

  Touchdown was racing toward her on the sidewalk, his brown eyes alight with joy at seeing his best friend again.

  Blake.

  Damn him.

  She knelt down as the six-year-old Beagle reached her. He licked off the makeup she’d just reapplied, but she didn’t care. She’d missed this little fella. Leaving him behind had been so hard. Blake had offered to share the dog with her, but Touchdown had been his before she and Blake met.

  Besides, she couldn’t be in the same room with Blake—something he clearly didn’t understand.

  While giving Touchdown kisses—yes, he’d named his dog Touchdown—she glanced up at Blake. He was walking along the sidewalk with the leash in hand in total disregard for the city ordinance.

  Like usual, he made her belly grip with lust. He was enjoying the warmer weather too, wearing only a fitted T-shirt and navy and black shorts showcasing his fabulous legs.

  Anyone who said women had better legs than men hadn’t seen Blake’s. He had more defined muscles than should be legal. Her mouth watered, and she wanted to lick her way up his calves.

  Her libido was an idiot. Always had been around him.

  “You’re not playing fair,” she told him when he towered over her, his scent like hot sex and spice washing over her.

  He knew how much she loved his legs, so he undoubtedly knew she was enjoying the view.

  “Babe, I told you I’m done playing fair. Besides, nothing says Touchdown and I can’t go for a run by your place.”

  “You’re not running,” she replied with some sauce in her voice, still petting Touchdown, who had rolled onto his back for more loving.

  “We were. We just slowed down as we came to your building. We come by here every once in a while.”

  Her head darted back. “You what? But you live thirty minutes away.”

  That was the whole reason she’d picked this area.

  He shrugged. “What can I say? We miss you.”

  She stood up this time, forcing her eyes not to take a happy stroll up his body. “Stop this. I mean it, Blake. We’re divorced. It’s over. Please leave me alone.”

  Those brown eyes flickered down, then met hers with a fiery punch that rocked her back on her toes.

  “I love you, and it doesn’t matter if we’re divorced. It’s been two years since you left me, but I still feel the same way.”

  He hadn’t said those three little words to her since she left him.

  “Why are you so surprised, Nat? Do you think it’s easy to keep taking all the hits you dish out? If my heart could get a concussion, I would have so many I’d be forced to retire. Hell, I’d be a vegetable.”

  For a moment, she felt guilty. “Then stop coming around and pushing me.”

  “I told you. I can’t.” He shrugged again, ducking his head to his shoulder like he was embarrassed. “I love you too much. And I’m worried about you. The fact that you’re living in this place only makes me worried.” He gestured to the brown brick three-story building. “This place isn’t you. I thought it the minute you moved in.”

  No, it wasn’t. She’d chosen a place without any charm or color—a reminder that all could be lost in an instant.

  “God knows you wouldn�
�t let me give you any money in the divorce, which pissed me off plenty, but you make good money with your business. You could afford something better.”

  Her family had said the same thing. “Maybe I like the neighborhood.”

  “Maybe you’re full of shit.”

  That was Blake for you. He would always call her on things, just as she had with him from the beginning.

  Touchdown nuzzled her fingers, and she stroked his soft fur. “This isn’t fair to him, you know.”

  His brown eyes turned all business, like he was about ready to make a big play on third and long. She braced herself.

  “No, it’s not fair. He misses you.” The breeze caught his sandy brown hair. “You probably think you packed up all your clothes, but I had one of your T-shirts in my dresser as a keepsake. The one you wore the night I proposed to you.”

  The yellow one. It had always reminded her of sunshine. He’d never told her, not even when she thought she’d lost it somewhere.

  “When I…took it out…Jesus…to remind myself of how you smelled, Touchdown snapped it out of my hands and claimed it for his bed. Something I was going to do.”

  Oh, God.

  “But I couldn’t fight my own dog like that, so it’s his blanket now.”

  Her mouth grew dry.

  “Take him for part of the week, Nat. You know he’s lonely when I’m on the road during the season. He’ll keep you company. I know you’re not happy, babe.”

  Her happiness or the lack of it wasn’t something they were going to discuss. “I can’t share Touchdown, Blake. I’m moving back to Dare Valley.”

  His face contorted with shock. “You’re what? But your sisters are here. Your business is here.”

  “My business is expanding, and I can see my sisters on the weekends.” No surprise Blake would list them first. He knew what they meant to her.

  His hands latched onto her shoulders. “But you can’t leave. I’m here.”

  She had to steel herself not to feel any of the emotion in his voice. “I told you to let me go, Blake. Now you don’t have a choice.”

  He blew air out of his nostrils like a bull, something he did when he was about ready to rush up the middle of the field against a three hundred pound lineman who wanted to kill him.