Toronto Collection Volume 1 (Toronto Series #1-5)

by Heather Wardell

  By Monday mid-morning we had everything ready for the wedding. Kegan suggested I take the rest of the day off to relax before the festivities, but I reminded him of the interviews.

  "I can do them for you."

  I shook my head. "It's my job to find the right person."

  "I know, but you could use a break."

  When I still refused, he said, "Well, what if I sit in? You can run the interviews but I'll be able to give you my perspective afterward."

  I wasn't sure, since he might well steamroller me, but I decided that two heads were indeed better than one, especially one filled with wedding thoughts, although I did add, "I want to be in charge."

  He kissed me. "No question."

  That was in fact how it went down: Kegan sat next to me in the office as I interviewed the six people who'd seemed like the best of the applicants. He introduced himself and me but then let me take over and run each interview.

  By the fourth interview, I was feeling frustrated, and by the sixth I barely managed to wait until the candidate had left before erupting.

  "They're so clueless! What rock are these people crawling out from under?"

  He shook his head. "One where they know nothing of kitchens, apparently. None of them is good enough."

  "Not even close." I sighed. "I'll have to go through the applications again and find someone better. There must be someone."

  "For sure. But not now. We need to get ready for the wedding."

  *****

  We sat in a semi-circle in the candlelit Magma with Tess and Forrest and their officiant standing in front of us.

  When I'd asked Tess what she was going to wear, she'd given me a dreamy smile and said, "We decided to go with what we wore the first time we went out for dinner. It wasn't supposed to be a date, but in hindsight..." With a laugh, she'd added, "We actually went to Steel. First time I met Kegan."

  She'd told me her mother was horrified she'd be wearing a black dress to her own wedding, but the soft pink shawl she wore over her shoulders, a perfect match to the roses in her bouquet, brightened it up. It was her expression, though, that really made the outfit. I could barely look away from her. Her love for Forrest shone from her, and I knew she'd have married him any time, anywhere, in old dirty jeans if she had to.

  Forrest looked much the same. He'd been touchingly nervous, and cute in a dark suit and deep blue shirt, while waiting with Magnus for Tess and her bridesmaids Jen and Pam to arrive, but when his bride walked into the dining room he'd lit up in a way that was hard for me to look at. Charles had never looked at me like that, like I was his whole world. Nobody had.

  They moved through their vows, and Kegan held my hand resting on his knee, releasing me only when I needed to wipe my eyes as Forrest repeated, "I, Forrest, take you, Tess" with almost unbearable emotion in his voice. I reached for my purse beneath my chair, but Kegan held out a tissue from his pocket before I could get to it.

  I turned to look at him with a watery smile, and he smiled back.

  Then both our smiles faded and we held each other's gazes, and for the first time in my life I felt that unbreakable connection I could see between Tess and Forrest.

  Kegan and I hadn't talked about our relationship's future, but we said a million words looking into each other's eyes in the seconds before Forrest said, "As long as we both shall live."

  Without breaking our eye contact, Kegan wrapped his arm around me and drew me against his side, and the warmth and tenderness in his touch and his eyes swelled my heart until I couldn't hold back my tears any more.

  He brushed one from my cheek, then tightened his arm around me and faced forward again to watch our friends get married.

  I rested my head on his shoulder and dabbed at my eyes, overwhelmed by the sudden bond between us. Nothing had ever felt like that before, sacred and joyful and awe-inspiring, and I knew for certain that we were right for each other, felt the truth of it ringing through every part of me. We had to make it work somehow.

  Kegan had told me Tess and Forrest's history, how he had lost a fiancée to a car accident before meeting Tess and how great they'd been for each other. They were so much stronger together than they could ever have been apart, and I now knew I wanted that for Kegan and me. I wanted us to be each other's best supporters, best friends, best everything.

  Tess said her vows, making me cry even more, and I wasn't the only one unable to hold back tears. They were gorgeous together, and we all seemed to know we were in the presence of something real and important. When the officiant said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife," and Forrest took Tess's face in both hands and looked deep into her tear-filled eyes before moving in to give her a sweet and gentle kiss, nobody cheered like at most other weddings I'd been to. The moment felt too special for that.

  We did cheer, though, when they raised their clasped hands into the air, grinning so hard their faces must have hurt, and from then on they were buried in hugs and congratulations until Forrest called for attention.

  "Everyone needs to be introduced, okay? You're all here because you're our favorite people." He laughed and nudged an older man. "Or because you pay our salaries."

  The man roared with laughter, and Forrest said, "You probably all know the Hogs' general manager, Filmore. I assume he has a first name but I don't know it."

  As we all clapped, Filmore said, "Boss, to you," then slapped Forrest on the back.

  The introductions continued, with Kegan and me at the end.

  "This strange man, Kegan, is the owner of this gorgeous place, and Steel too." Forrest joined the others in clapping for him. I clapped so hard my hands hurt and Kegan winked at me.

  "And the wonderful lady with him, who for some reason puts up with him," Tess said, giggling as she avoided a mock swing from Kegan, "is Mary, and she's the one who put together the amazing food we're about to eat."

  I got a huge round of applause too, which made me blush. Kegan kept clapping after the others were done, until I caught his hands to make him quit. We grinned at each other, then I headed to the kitchen to supervise the last-second preparations while Kegan encouraged everyone to find their spot at one of the four tables.

  There were no final preparations: Dorothy and two Steel staffers had been holding down the fort in my absence, and every last job was done to perfection. I looked around then said, "Well, clearly I'm not needed here so I'll just leave."

  They all laughed. I had noticed, since Crystal's departure, that everyone was far more relaxed. I hadn't truly realized how much strain she was putting on the staff. Things would be better now that she was gone, and probably better for Kegan and me too.

  Dorothy said, "Oh, come on, we need you. You did all the planning and lots of the prep work."

  "We're a great team. Now you keep working while I go have fun."

  They laughed again and I left. Kegan met me at the door and escorted me to our table. We were sitting with Pam and Magnus and Jen and her fiancé Don, both of whom I'd met at Steel's open house when they showed up later in the evening. Kegan had taken her aside there, and had told me afterwards he'd apologized for his behavior and she'd accepted it. I'd been so impressed and touched that he'd do that, and now I was especially glad because it meant there was no awkwardness between them. She was hilarious, and Don was a great straight man for her jokes.

  Once the salads had been eaten and the main course was arriving, Tess and Forrest went around to each table to say hello and thank us for coming.

  "Show me that ring." At Jen's command, Tess held out her left hand, now adorned with a sleek platinum band matching her emerald engagement ring. "Awesome. I love platinum."

  "The emerald's lovely too," I said, and Tess tilted her hand so I could get a better look. "I love non-traditional engagement rings."

  "Did you have one?"

  I grimaced. "I wanted an opal, but he said you're not engaged without a diamond, so that's what I got." I'd left it, and the wedding band which was also totally not my style, behind when I
walked out.

  "Opals are stunning." Pam nudged Magnus. "Are you listening? I said they're stunning."

  He chuckled. "I'll remember."

  The rest of the wedding dinner went by in a flash of laughter and fun. Everyone was so clearly delighted for Tess and Forrest, and most people knew at least a few other people, so conversation was lively and entertaining, often spanning multiple tables. Eventually, though, Filmore said, "Well, some of us have to fly to New York tonight. Forrest, do not miss your plane tomorrow morning, got it? We need you tomorrow night."

  "I'll be there," Forrest said, and they gave each other a rough hug.

  Filmore gave Tess a much gentler one and said, "Sorry I can't give him more than a night off."

  She laughed. "When you marry a hockey player you know what you're getting into. Besides, don't you remember how grouchy he gets when he can't play? I don't want him taking time off."

  Filmore's departure began the party's breakup. I received tons of compliments on the food, which had in fact worked out beautifully, and Kegan went to the kitchen to supervise the staff so I could stay out front and receive those compliments.

  Forrest and Tess were the last to leave, and Tess hugged me so hard I felt my ribs creaking. "Thank you so much. It was perfect."

  I squeezed her tight. "I'm so glad. It was great working with you."

  She released me then snapped her fingers at Forrest. "Hand it over."

  He laughed, reaching into his pocket. "And it begins. No more niceness, huh?"

  "I don't have to be nice to you any more, we're married," she said, then grinned at me and gave him a quick hug and kiss before taking the envelope he'd found in his pocket and handing it to me. "Thank you so much, Mary. I'm free all day Thursday if that works."

  I blinked, confused, and she laughed. "Open the envelope once I'm gone. You'll get it."

  Kegan came out from the kitchen. "Well, congrats. I hope it was everything you wanted."

  She smiled up at him. "Couldn't have been better."

  "Did you..." He trailed off and glanced at me.

  She nodded and he smiled, confusing me further.

  Forrest gave me a hug while Tess hugged Kegan, then exchanged a back-slapping one with Kegan while Tess hugged me again, then the newlyweds left holding hands.

  I tore open the envelope to find a note from Tess thanking me again and offering a two-hour massage as further thanks. "You knew about this?" I said to Kegan.

  He nodded. "She asked if you'd like it and I said I thought you would. Thursday was my idea, so you'd be relaxed before we went to Niagara Falls."

  I hugged him. "You're a sweetheart."

  He held me close, one hand tangling itself in my hair, which I'd left down for the occasion. His lips against the top of my head, he said, "Takes one to know one."

  I laughed, remembering his discussion with Lola on that topic, and he squeezed me tighter then said, "Let's help clear up so we can all get out of here."

  His cell phone rang as he finished the sentence. He checked the screen. "Steel." He answered. "Hey. No, it's fine. Calm down, Angie, and tell me what's wrong. What? Who said that?" He rolled his eyes at me. "Yeah, I'm not surprised. Hold on one second, okay?" He covered the phone. "It's that old guy with the ridiculous toupee who complains about everything. He made her cry."

  "Jerk."

  "I have to talk to her. I'll help clean up as soon as I can, okay?"

  I smiled at him. "Of course."

  He squeezed my shoulder and headed outside, grabbing his coat on the way. "Angie, it's okay. No, really. Listen, here's what you say..."

  I helped the wait staff tidy the dining room and made sure the things we'd borrowed from Steel didn't get mixed into Magma's supplies, but I stayed out of the kitchen since I figured Dorothy would let me know if she needed help and it might be a good way to see if she could handle being promoted.

  Once the cleanup was done and the staff began to leave, Dorothy came out of the kitchen and headed for me with a huge grin.

  I smiled at her. "You look happy. Things went well in there without Crystal, I guess?"

  She hugged me hard. "Thank you so much. I know it was at least partly your idea, and it's so sweet. I'll do my best, I promise."

  "Of course you will, you always do," I said, bewildered. "At what?"

  She stumbled back, her eyes huge. "He didn't... he said he would... that you..."

  "That I what?"

  Kegan returned as I spoke, and Dorothy shot him a panicked look. He rubbed his forehead. "I didn't have a chance to tell her, Dorothy."

  "Tell me what?"

  He turned to face me. "I decided to promote Dorothy instead of doing more interviews."

  I stared at him, shocked to the core. "You decided?"

  The last of the wait staff made for the door at light speed. Dorothy followed and I realized how she must be feeling. "Dorothy, wait. Promoting you is a good decision. I'm not upset about that part at all. It's just, it was supposed to be my decision, not his."

  She ducked her head, all her happiness gone, and kept walking.

  I went after her and gave her a hug. "Seriously, I am thrilled for you and I'd have made the same decision myself. You're great. I guess you're my sous-chef now, right?"

  She smiled, still looking upset at what she'd accidentally done but with some of her joy returning. "Can't wait."

  She left, and I stood staring at the door. What could I possibly say to Kegan?

  "Mary."

  I turned. "I can't believe this."

  He grimaced. "It happened kind of fast. I flipped through the other applications and—"

  "And you were not supposed to because I was going to do that. But carry on."

  "I was trying to help."

  Frustration filled me. "But I didn't ask for any help. And 'helping' and 'promoting someone without talking to me' are hardly the same thing. So, basically you checked the applications, figured the people were useless, and decided to promote Dorothy."

  He dropped into a chair, and I realized he was probably even more tired than I was. He'd kept Steel going all weekend without me. I was too angry to want to sympathize, though, and I got even angrier when he said, "I did. And you said you'd do the same thing, so it's fine."

  I took a seat across the table from him and shook my head. "It is not fine. You gave me the responsibility and then took it away. Without even telling me! What if I'd contacted some other people for interviews or something? I'd have looked like an idiot."

  "That didn't happen, though. We made the same decision, we just didn't make it at the same time. We agree on the outcome, so what's the problem?"

  When the angry words left his mouth, his expression made it clear he regretted them, but I didn't care. "The problem is that I've had enough of men pretending they care what I think. You're as bad as Charles, acting like you want to listen to me but then just doing whatever you want to do anyhow. So much for all that talk about wanting to change yourself."

  My turn to regret words. I so hadn't needed to add the last sentence.

  His face turned cold but his eyes blazed with rage, and he pushed back his chair and stalked toward the door.

  My own fury battled with my sudden realization that if he left I might lose him forever, and it lost. I couldn't let that happen.

  Just as I stood and took a step to go after him, he stopped, a few steps from leaving, and slowly turned to face me. "I do want to change. You're right, I shouldn't have promoted her." He swallowed hard. "I was wrong. I did mean to help but I should have known better. Mary, I apologize. Can you forgive me?"

  His obvious sincerity and the pain on his face and in his eyes made me go to him with my arms open.

  He drew me in and wrapped his arms firmly around me, and I wound mine around his waist and said, "I forgive you. I don't like what you did, but I do like you." I pressed my face to his chest. "I like you a lot. And I know you're trying to change. I should never have said that. I didn't even mean it. I'm so sorry."
<
br />   He kissed my hair. "I said some stupid stuff myself, so I can't judge. And I like you too. A lot."

  We held each other in silence for a long moment before he said, "The wedding was beautiful, wasn't it?"

  I looked up at him, and my heart skipped a beat when our eyes met. That bone-deep connection again, like during the ceremony. "It was. I've never seen anything like it."

  He stroked my cheek. "I haven't either."

  Were we talking about the wedding or about what had happened between us?

  He kissed me then, with amazing sweetness and tenderness, and we stood in the place we'd created together and bonded on a level I'd never imagined existed.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I nearly cancelled my massage at least three times. I could barely find time to go to the bathroom with Magma opening in less than a week; taking an afternoon off for a massage seemed far too decadent.

  Kegan persuaded me, though. "You need to relax, and Tess really wants to do it. You'd hurt her feelings if you said no."

  I didn't want to do that, and I was definitely tense enough to need a massage what with Magma and Steel and the unsettledness of my relationship with Kegan. We hadn't discussed what had happened between us during the wedding, but I thought about it constantly and felt sure he did too. Our embraces and kisses felt different, somehow more emotional and more distant at once. Were we trying to protect ourselves from getting hurt if everything fell apart?

  I knew that might well happen. I liked him so much, but I couldn't stand him sometimes. Even knowing how badly he was trying not to push me around didn't help much any more. But I couldn't imagine not being with him either.

  In the end, I left my work and my issues, and my suitcase for the Niagara Falls trip, at Steel and headed out for the massage, and when I arrived at Tess and Forrest's apartment she gave me a huge hug. "I'm so glad you're letting me do this. I can't thank you enough for the wedding but at least this is something."

  I laughed. "A massage from a pro hockey team's therapist? More than just something. And it's so sweet of you to do this on your time off."