A Touch of Romance

by Kimberly Rae Jordan

  “I can meet you here for the tour, but after that, I’m gone,” Tristan said. “They can ask all their questions while they look around.”

  Mitch grinned. “You always were a good one for compromises.”

  “I had to learn early, didn’t I?” Tristan punched his arm. “How else would I have survived around the seven of you. At least I could hold my own when the other two came along. I’d learned by then.”

  “Ready to get out of here?” Mitch asked. “I’ll treat you to supper.”

  Rubbing his flat stomach, Tristan said, “Sounds good to me.”

  “So tell me again how you decided to use this company for the purchase and renovation of the building, beauty,” her mom said as they pulled away from the hotel where they were staying.

  Since the drive from the hotel to the building site was fairly short, Belle decided to give the abbreviated version. “His parents are good friends with the Zavardis. His dad, Steve Callaghan, is the one who started the company.”

  “And you trust him? His company? Have you seen any of their work?”

  “Yes. Their site had pictures of work they’d done, and I visited a couple of those businesses. The clients were very happy with the work of C&M, and the results looked beautiful.”

  “I hope they’re as good as you say they are. We’re paying them a lot of money.”

  Belle sighed as she gripped the steering wheel. “You trust the Zevardis, don’t you? Do you think they’d be friends with someone who ripped people off?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “They’re fine, love.” Patrick O’Neill’s voice with its soft Irish lilt was calming as he spoke to his wife. “I did some checking of my own with Max and called a few o’ the businesses they’d done work for. All said they’d done a right fine job. They met deadlines and came in on budget.”

  “Okay. That makes me feel better.”

  Belle fought the urge to roll her eyes. She’d said basically the same thing to her mom, but it wasn’t until her husband said it that she accepted it. Though her mother would deny it up, down and all around, in truth, Belle was convinced that she was sexist. Which was weird, because, in her own way, her mom was a strong woman and had encouraged them to be strong as well. It was just her outdated thinking that bothered Belle. That she thought she needed a man to complete her life, and that men knew better about buying buildings and renovations—among other things.

  And she viewed her daughters in the same way, frequently asking if they had found a man yet. So far, they were all profound disappointments in that department. None of them had found their Prince Charming, and none of them had any plans to fall into a deep sleep that required a true love’s kiss to wake them.

  “Well, it’s not quite the neighborhood we’ve been in,” her mom said as Belle parked in front of the building. “We’re losing a lot of visibility.”

  “True.” Belle put the car in park and turned off the engine. “But we’re gearing up for a bigger marketing campaign that will include a billboard or two. One for sure on Portage Avenue for visibility. I’ll give you more details as we get closer to the time of moving. That’s when we’re going to launch the billboard.”

  She shoved her door open and got out, waiting as Patrick opened the door for her mom and then joined her in front of the building. “Signs are going up at the store this week informing customers of the relocation, and we’re updating the website and sending out flyers with any purchases made.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it all sorted,” Patrick said with a smile.

  Belle had had her doubts when her mom had first started talking about the rich Irish businessman she’d met at a wedding. At first, Belle had just dismissed the news, but it soon became apparent after they met the man, that he was as smitten with their mom as she was with him. It hadn’t taken long for the two to marry—in a surprisingly small and simple ceremony—and then Belle found herself in charge of a business that she had never planned to take on.

  As they approached the front door, it swung toward them, and Mitch stepped out into the bright sunshine, a broad smile on his face.

  “Nice to see you again, Belle,” he said with a nod of his head.

  “You too,” Belle said, trying to keep her tone distant, so her mom didn’t get any ideas. “This is my mom, Annalisse O’Neill, and her husband, Patrick. Mom, this is Mitch Callaghan. He’ll be the one overseeing the renovations.”

  Mitch shook hands with her mom and Patrick, then motioned for them to go into the building as he held the door. Inside, Belle immediately spotted Tristan and greeted him with a smile and carried out the introductions once again. After that, Mitch explained that because there was no work currently going on and no scaffolding in the area they’d be touring around, they could forgo the hard hats.

  “So this is it, eh?” her mom said as she looked around.

  She didn’t sound overly impressed with it, but then it really wasn’t an impressive space just yet. An expansive space. An expensive space. Yes. But not an impressive one. Belle knew that was going to change. She just hoped that her mom would be impressed by the tour and speaking with Mitch and Tristan.

  “You’ve seen the designs already, right, Mrs. O’Neill?” Mitch asked.

  “Yes. Yes, I have, but it’s hard to picture them when the space looks like this.” Her mom waved her hand around at the empty space.

  “Yes, that’s very true.” Mitch laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Why don’t you explain the layout, Tristan?”

  Before he could start, Belle heard the door to the building open. She turned to see Jasmine and Rory walk in. Though she’d extended the invitation, Belle hadn’t been sure that either would make it.

  “My darlings,” her mother said as she moved to hug each of them. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

  Belle again made the introductions, not missing the look of interest on Mitch and Tristan’s faces as they took in Rory in all her statuesque beauty. The only thing that made men stare more when meeting Rory was if Ariel was there too. The two of them were definitely attention grabbing when they were in public together.

  Where Belle was blonde, and Jasmine had light brown hair, the twins had dark chocolate brown hair with striking light gray eyes. That, added to their height and figures, made them striking in appearance. Their dad had been Armenian—or at least that’s what their mother had said he was. She’d called him a gypsy at other times. All Belle knew was that he wasn’t around by the time the twins were born and hadn’t been seen since.

  “Nice to meet you,” Mitch said as he shook hands with Rory, then turned to Jasmine. “And nice to see you again, Jasmine.”

  Once the introductions were made, her mom asked Tristan to explain the plans he’d designed.

  “The best part of the plan, the one thing that will make the building a showplace, is the floor to ceiling windows we plan to put in on the wall facing the river.” Tristan led her mother over to the small windows that were still in place. “They will let in a ton of natural light down here and also in the conference room on the second floor. Belle will even have some nice sunlight in her office.”

  Belle fell behind the group as they made their way around the main floor, then toured the basement and the upper floor. She was happy to see that her mom seemed to be warming up to the design. Tristan patiently answered all her questions. More patiently than Belle would have. She was glad that Mitch had brought him along.

  “So will you join us for dinner, Tristan?” her mom asked when they all stood at the front door after the tour.

  “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m sorry I can’t accept,” Tristan said, his tone polite even as he refused.

  Her mom nodded then turned to Mitch. “How about you?”

  “Sure. I’ll be happy to join you for a bit.”

  “Great. We’ll meet you there,” her mom said.

  After Belle gave Mitch the address of the steakhouse they’d chosen, she left with her mom, Patrick and her sister
s while Mitch and Tristan locked up. Rory and Jasmine went in Rory’s car to the restaurant that wasn’t too far from downtown.

  Given how well the time at the building had gone, Belle hoped that interactions would continue to be congenial over dinner. It would be Mitch’s turn in the hot-seat with a ton of questions asked about his workers, the budget, the materials he’d be using and anything else her mom could think of with regards to the renovation side of things.

  Once they’d all arrived at the restaurant and been shown to a table, Belle found herself seated between Mitch and Jasmine while Rory, her mom, and Patrick sat across from them. For the first little while, their conversation circled around the menu and what looked good. After their orders were taken, the conversation once again turned to the building, and as Belle had suspected, her mother still had a hundred and one questions.

  When the food came, it only briefly interrupted the conversation as Patrick said grace for the meal. Belle was grateful that when her mom had finally found her “Prince Charming,” he’d also been a man of strong faith. She’d been certain that when push came to shove, her mother would abandon her faith if the man hadn’t believed the same way she did about God. In the end, it hadn’t been an issue, for which Belle was thankful.

  As soon as Patrick had finished saying grace, her mom started in on Mitch again. Belle admired how he took all the questions in stride, answering them in ways they could all understand even though none of them were in the construction business. Patrick had a few questions along the way as well, but mostly, the man just ate his meal and let his wife do the talking. It appeared he’d learned well in the four years they’d been together.

  “So do you have a girlfriend or lovely wife, Mitch?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  The question grabbed Belle’s attention from her dinner, and she fought the urge to groan. It appeared her mother had finished part one of the inquisition and had moved on to part two. Business first. Personal second. Oh, joy…

  She glanced over in time to see Mitch smile at her mom. Jasmine gave her ankle a kick and nodded at Rory, who was obviously trying to keep from laughing. Belle had no clue why her sister was grinning like a lunatic. If their mom was determined to set Mitch up with one of her daughters, she would likely work from the oldest down which meant Rory would be up first.

  Except…the idea of Mitch and Rory together…

  It bothered her.

  Why, she had no idea. But it did. She should actually be happy for her sister. Rory deserved a nice guy, and it appeared that Mitch certainly was a nice guy. So why did the thought of them together make her feel sick to her stomach? It wasn’t like she was going to have anything to do with him on a personal level.

  “No. I’m not married, and I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment.”

  Her mom gave a shake of her head. “What is it with all you young people these days? Waiting until you’re middle-aged before you get married and have children.”

  “You were middle-aged when you got married, Mama,” Rory pointed out.

  “It was not for lack of trying, Aurora. Not that I’m recommending you girls follow my example, but I did birth all five of you well before I was middle-aged.” Her mom turned and looked at Patrick with a loving smile. “As it turned out, my Prince Charming needed me to wait.”

  “That, I did, love.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and returned her look.

  Her gaze swung back to Mitch. “Well, if you’re available, I happen to have a few daughters that could use a boyfriend.”

  “Mother…” Rory said as she rolled her eyes. “Your few daughters are fully capable of finding their own boyfriends. Thank you very much.”

  “I have to wonder about that, darling. After all, when was the last time you were out on a date?”

  “Not as long ago as you might think. There’s no way I would tell you if I was going on a date for the first time. You’d be phoning up all your contacts to arrange for save the date cards and invitations. You’d be reserving banquet halls and arranging for dress fittings. All before the second date.” Rory gave a rueful smile. “So I think you can understand why we don’t let you know about anything less than an engagement.”

  Their mother’s spine went ramrod straight. “While you might be right that I’d go a little overboard, I’d at least wait until the fifth date.”

  Jasmine snickered at that, and soon they were all laughing, even their mother and Patrick.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Mitch said. “My mom was bemoaning the fact that none of us kids were getting married and boom! My siblings have been dropping like flies. There are eight of us of marriageable age, and five are now either married or well on their way to marrying. Romance will happen when it happens. That’s what us single ones tell her, as we point out how well marriage has worked out for the others.”

  “You seem like a nice young man. And your brother as well. Your mother must be proud.”

  “I hope that she is. We try to respect the way we were raised.”

  “To be good and honorable men?” her mom asked.

  “I’d like to think so,” Mitch said, his expression sobering. “It’s important to me to treat a woman the way my dad has always treated my mom. Well, she’s my step-mom, but she’s always been like a mother to me.”

  “That’s nice that you’ve not only had a good example but that you’ve chosen to follow it. I can’t say that’s how all young men are these days. Even with great role models in their parents, many think they know better and ignore what they’ve been shown.”

  “Yes, my dad did set a great example as a husband, and also as a man of faith. He encouraged us all to model ourselves after the example given to us of Christ in the Bible.”

  Her mom gave him a searching look. “Are you sure you don’t need help finding a girlfriend? You seem just about perfect.”

  At that, Mitch laughed. “I’m sure any of my siblings would be happy to inform you just how unperfect I am, but I try to be the best man that I can be.”

  “You know, you should be aiming for groom instead of best man.” Her mom said it with a serious look on her face that rapidly disappeared as what she’d said sank in with the others around the table.

  Once again, they were laughing, and Belle found herself relaxing for the first time since picking up her mom and Patrick from the hotel. It appeared that Mitch could well and truly hold his own with Annalisse O’Neill. That impressed Belle, even though it was entirely possible that most guys could do the same. She just hadn’t brought many guys around her mother—she’d learned her lesson early on—and she didn’t think her sisters had brought many around either. Maybe it was a coincidence that the two guys she’d introduced to her mom had called things off soon afterward.

  That had been back when Belle had thought she still wanted a relationship despite what had happened with Andre. She supposed that she had her mother and those guys to thank for helping her come to the realization quite quickly that she didn’t, in fact, want to get into a relationship again.

  Maybe the reason that Mitch was so able to handle her mom’s questions was because he really had no interest in any of the women around the table. That would make more sense.

  “I just need all my girls to realize that there is more to life than a career. Than working long hours. Than devoting all their energy to something that won’t keep them warm at night. Won’t give them children.”

  “My work might not keep me warm at night, but I do go to sleep knowing that I’ve helped families,” Rory said, her tone mild, but Belle could hear the defensiveness in her voice. “That I’ve worked with parents to do what’s best for their children.”

  “What do you do, Aurora?” Mitch asked.

  “Please, call me Rory. I work as a mediation lawyer with families going through separation and divorce.”

  “Really? We have a family friend who do something similar. He and his partner work with divorcing parents, to help them reach an amicable arrangement that is the least dam
aging for their children.”

  “Interesting. Would your friend happen to be James Dawson?” Rory asked.

  Mitch straightened and smiled. “Yes. Do you know him?”

  “I do. In fact, I’ve worked with him several times.”

  “Well, it’s a small world. He’s a great guy.”

  Belle listened as they talked, absorbing bits and pieces of their conversation and wondering, not for the first time, how her exotic sisters had ended up in such opposite careers. Rory with her career as a lawyer while Ariel was off walking runways in places like New York and Paris, while also posing for glamor magazines.

  And then there was her and Jasmine…selling bridal dresses and planning weddings. Sure, the television shows on TLC had made the dress selling side of things seem glamorous, but the reality was, it was just hard work. Trying to satisfy demanding brides and their equally—if not more so—demanding mothers, was no picnic. And there was a certain stress that came with trying to help a bride find that perfect dress.

  There was also the considerable stress attached to carrying out a bride’s plans for her wedding since no one wanted to be responsible for messing up someone’s big day by dropping the ball. She didn’t necessarily want a glamorous career, but a slightly less stressful one might be nice for a change. But the bridal business was all she knew. It had been all she’d done since she’d been old enough to work as a teen.

  A touch on her arm drew her attention back to the conversation, and she looked over at Jasmine, lifting a brow as she did. Jasmine tilted her head in their mom’s direction.

  Belle turned to face her. “Sorry, Mama. What did you say?”

  “I asked how you planned to handle the move to the new building.”

  “Oh. Uh…” Belle pulled her thoughts back to the business side of things. It didn’t take her long to lay out the plan she and Jasmine had come up with to get the business moved with the least amount of disruption.

  “You sound very organized as usual,” her mom said.

  Belle searched for approval in her mom’s voice, but if it was there, she couldn’t hear it. Or maybe she just didn’t know what it sounded like. Not that her mother didn’t voice it, but maybe Belle was deaf to it.