by Robin Kaye
“Oh, it was research all right.” She turned in his arms and pushed against his chest—hard. He didn’t move. “I loved your notes on the chapter about baggage and insecurities. Fascinating stuff. If I were Bianca, you could have sold it to the tabloids.”
“I didn’t know about the deal Bianca had cooked up with KidSports until just before the morning meeting. I didn’t cheat on you. I love you.”
Toni rolled her eyes and gave him another shove. “Oh right, you love me so much that you were in Bianca’s cabin examining her tonsils. Let go of me.” She pushed against him again. He released her and took a step back, looking as if he’d been slapped.
“She kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back, and I certainly didn’t examine any part of her body. The only body I want to examine is yours.”
“Oh, and I believe that. Come on, Bianca’s a supermodel. And I saw you, Hunter. I saw you with her.”
“I know what you saw, but I didn’t instigate it. I want nothing to do with Bianca. No matter what you think, I love you. The idea of not having you by my side for the rest of my life just leaves me hollow and aching.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it. Go—just go.”
The intercom buzzed.
Toni went to the door and pressed the intercom. “What?”
“Delivery for Toni Russo.”
“Fine. Come on up.” She pressed the button and turned to Hunter. “I didn’t order anything.”
“I did. You don’t have any food in the house, and I’m hungry.”
“Well, isn’t that just great? You’re leaving, and I’m gonna be stuck with the bill, which sucks since I just quit my job.”
Hunter seemingly grew another layer of guilt. His shoulders sagged even more than they had before under the weight of it. “You quit?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. It wasn’t because of you and Bianca. It was because of me.”
“Oh.”
Someone knocked on the door, and he shook his head. “That must be the delivery. Don’t worry. I’ve already paid for it.”
“That makes two of us.”
He ignored her comment and answered the door. “I hope you like linguine and clam sauce, because that’s what I’m making.”
“You can put it in a to-go box and be on your way.”
Hunter opened the door.
“What part of ‘get out’ don’t you understand?”
“Nothing. I’m just ignoring it.”
The delivery boy looked at Toni, shifting nervously from foot to foot, and handed Hunter a clipboard to sign.
“Keep sparring, dear.”
“You can ignore me all you want. You’re still leaving.”
“Not until I’ve eaten, I’m not. Aren’t you hungry?”
“No, you’ve made me lose any appetite—for all eternity.”
Hunter tipped the boy and signed for the groceries. He took the box, kicked the door closed, and carried the food to the kitchen with Toni close behind.
“You are not staying long enough to eat.”
Hunter rattled a pan out of the cabinet and filled it with water. “Here, make yourself useful. Where’s the strainer?”
“How should I know? You know I don’t cook.”
“Yet. You’re about to get a lesson.”
“How did we get from ‘get out’ to Cooking 101?”
“Everyone has to start somewhere, and pasta’s easy.” He handed her a mesh bag filled with little neck clams. “Wash these.” Taking the pot he’d filled with water, he dumped a ton of salt in it and put it on to boil.
“How do you wash clams?”
“Just fill the sink with cold water and swish them around. Like you would when you wash your delicates.”
“Like you know how to wash delicates. Hell, like I know how to wash delicates. I just throw them in the machine with everything else and hope for the best.”
“I had to do all the laundry for the whole family, including my mom and sister. Damn straight I know how to wash delicates.” Hunter shot her a cocky grin. “Woolite is my friend. I’ll show you how later.”
“Great, just great. There’s not going to be a later.” She swished the clams around the sink.
He grabbed a cutting board she’d never seen, dug through the box, and came up with garlic and spices.
Toni picked up the scent of roses. Looking over, she saw a bouquet on the bar. “What are those over there?”
“Oh, I brought you flowers. You should put them in water. Do you have a vase?”
“I don’t know.”
“Check over the refrigerator. Everyone I know keeps vases in the cabinet over the fridge.”
She looked up and realized for the first time that there was a cabinet there. Who knew? She opened it. There were two vases. Leave it to Hunter to know where everything was in her kitchen. When she reached for one, he came from behind and plucked it out of the cabinet.
“Here you go.” He handed it to her and went back to chopping green stuff.
She filled the vase and wondered how much water to put in. No one had ever given her flowers before. She took the bouquet and couldn’t help but bury her nose in them for a second—hoping Hunter didn’t notice. She shouldn’t be feeling so pleased. It annoyed her that she did. It didn’t help that when she looked up, she found Hunter grinning like a fool. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
He turned back to his chopping, and she tried her best not to notice how good he looked cooking in her kitchen. “What’s that?”
“Basil. The parsley is next.” He made little piles on the cutting board of each herb before he ripped open a head of garlic. When he slammed his hand down on the knife, she jumped.
“What are you trying to do? Kill it?”
“This is how you get the skins off, and it releases the flavor. I hope you like a lot of garlic.”
“Sure, why not? It’s not as if I’m going to kiss you.”
“We’ll see.”
Toni took the roses out of the wrapper and stuck them in the vase.
“No, no. You have to cut the stems at an angle. They’ll last longer that way.”
“What makes you the rose expert? What do you do, buy them for all the women you’ve cheated on?”
“I’ve never cheated on anyone, not even you. My mother likes roses. I buy them for her birthday. Karma too.”
Well, wasn’t that just the berries.
Hunter dug through a lower cabinet as she ogled his butt. He sure had a nice one.
He grabbed a pot, poured olive oil into it, and raised his eyebrows when the doorbell rang. “Expecting company?”
“No, but then I wasn’t expecting you either. It looks like this is the day for unwanted guests.”
Toni left him in the kitchen doing whatever it was that he was doing and went to the door. She looked through the peephole, blinked, and took a second look. “Hunter, did you call my mother?”
“How’d you know?”
“Because she’s standing outside my door.”
Hunter wiped his hands on a towel she didn’t know she owned and threw it over his shoulder. “Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“No.”
She plopped herself down on the couch and ignored the incessant doorbell.
“Fine. I’ll get it.”
“Don’t you dare.” Too late. Hunter opened the door.
“Hunter?”
“Clarissa?”
A knowing smile passed between them. Toni knew she’d been hoodwinked.
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
“I just thought I’d come and see my only child. After I spoke to Hunter this morning, I was worried.”
“More like curious.”
“I wanted
to make sure you were okay.”
“Well, now you’ve seen me. You can leave.”
Her mother ignored her, batting her fake lashes at Hunter. “Something sure smells good. I’m famished. Do you know what they feed you on planes these days? Peanuts, nothing but peanuts. Hunter, do you have any wine open?”
“No, but I have some chilling.”
Toni turned to him. “You do?”
“I found it in the liquor cabinet. I needed to make sure you had Chablis or vermouth for the sauce. You had both.”
“Lucky me.”
Clarissa went to the bar. “Great. I’ll get the wine glasses. I didn’t know my daughter knew how to cook.”
Toni got off the couch. “I don’t.”
“She doesn’t.” Hunter opened the wine. “I’m teaching her.”
Clarissa laughed. “This should be interesting.”
“Hey, I’m not stupid. I washed the clams.”
As usual, her mother looked like she just stepped out of Neiman Marcus in her perfectly tailored linen suit, which didn’t even show a wrinkle. What did she do? Fly standing up? No, wait. Did brooms have seat belts?
The doorbell rang as Hunter poured the wine. He looked at Toni, and she shrugged. “Everyone I know is already here.”
Clarissa breezed to the door and opened it with her usual flourish. “Well, hello there.”
“Howdy, ma’am.”
Hunter heard his grandfather’s voice. “Son of a bitch.”
Toni stomped into the kitchen. “If anyone else comes through that door, they’re going to have to bring their own chair. Tell me. Did you invite him too?”
“No.” He grimaced. “Gramps, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I’m just makin’ sure you don’t screw things up, boy.”
Gramps walked in and gave Toni a hug. “There’s my girl. How are you, darlin’? You sure looked better when you were in Idaho. I think the clean air agreed with you.”
Toni didn’t look too happy to have everyone there, but maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. She hadn’t asked him to leave since Clarissa had arrived. That was something.
Gramps set two bottles of champagne on the counter. “I brought fortification. You better put these in the icebox. Do we have anything to celebrate yet?”
Toni looked from Hunter to Gramps. “What does he mean by that?”
Hunter smashed some more garlic, picturing his grandfather’s head. Leave it to the old man to jump the gun.
“I know you’re avoiding my question.” Toni hissed by his side.
“I’m not avoiding it. I just don’t know the answer yet.”
She rolled her eyes. “When you figure it out, let me know.”
Hunter turned and pulled her into his arms. “Believe me, babe. You’ll be the first to know.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips, released her, and tossed the garlic into the saucepan.
“Toni, do me a favor and get the baguettes out for garlic bread. Gramps, make yourself at home while Toni and I finish up dinner.” He leered at his grandfather and mumbled. “You usually do anyway.”
Toni held the bread like light sabers. “What am I supposed to do with these?”
“Take a bread knife and cut them in half lengthwise.”
“What’s a bread knife look like?”
“It’s the long one with a serrated edge.”
“Like that means anything to me. Speak English, please.”
Hunter reached around her and pulled one out of the knife block. “Here. There’s another cutting board in that cabinet next to the stove.”
He glanced into the living room. Gramps and Clarissa had their heads together as if they were conspiring. He wasn’t sure if he should be thankful or nervous. With Gramps, he never knew.
Toni sawed at the bread with a heavy hand. “What else needs to be done so we can get these people out of here?”
Hunter poured the wine and clam juice into the sautéing garlic and tossed the herbs in behind it. The water boiled, so he threw in the pasta and thanked God she hadn’t included him as one of these people. “Set the table. I’ll do the bread. Dinner should be ready in ten minutes.”
“Can’t we just nuke it? I know how to use the microwave.” She pulled plates out of the cabinet. At least he didn’t have to tell her where those were.
“Just leave the plates here, put out the silverware, and see if you can scrounge up some napkins. Look in the cabinet next to the dining room table. Your mom’s probably got some in there.”
“It’s my apartment.”
“Yes, but do you know what’s in that cabinet?”
“Good point.” Toni left to look for napkins. “Maybe there’s silverware in there too.”
It was Hunter’s turn to roll his eyes. He put the finishing touches on the bread, popped it under the broiler, threw together a quick salad, and dropped the clams into the sauce.
Toni came back in. “You have thirty minutes before things start getting ugly.”
“Why’s that?”
“You don’t know my mother. She’s already on glass number three, and we’re going to have to get a crowbar to separate her from your grandfather. By the way, she’s in-between husbands.”
“Don’t worry. Gramps can take care of himself. He’s met a lot of Clarissas in his day.”
***
By the time dinner was on the table, Gramps had poured Clarissa a fourth glass of wine. He smiled like a Cheshire cat at Hunter. “This sure looks good, boy. Just don’t tell your mama what you fixed me for dinner.”
“I didn’t fix you dinner. I fixed Toni dinner. You just horned in.”
“No boy, I just came to make sure you didn’t screw this up.”
Clarissa took a sip of her wine. “My, this is awkward.”
Toni looked from Gramps to Hunter. “Screw what up?”
Grampa Joe shoved a piece of bread in his mouth as Hunter glared at him and spun his linguine around the fork. “We’ll talk about it later, Toni. When we’re alone. Okay?”
Clarissa dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “Well, I can’t remember when I’ve had a more beautiful meal. You sure know how to cook.”
“My grandson worked as a chef for years before he bought the ski lodge and started his River Runners Camp for kids. He likes to take care of everyone. No one goes hungry when he’s cookin’, that’s for damn sure.
“That reminds me. Trapper called to say he got a lawyer for Emilio. He’s all set for the bond hearing on Monday. The lawyer thinks she can get him off. The drugs they found on him were his mother’s, and he didn’t know if she had a prescription for them, so he kept his mouth shut. He was just trying to protect his mama. Can’t fault him for that.”
Toni dropped her fork. “Who’s Emilio?”
Hunter swallowed. “He’s one of the kids from my camp. He lives with his mother and brother in a shelter in LA. I found out he’d been picked up by the police for drugs just after you left. Trapper stepped in and found him a lawyer, since I couldn’t be in two places at once. I promised I’d be there for the bond hearing on Monday.”
Toni’s face fell. “Why did you come here?”
Hunter placed his hand over hers. “Because you’re more important. Everything that could be done for Emilio is being done, but you were all alone.”
Toni opened her mouth and closed it. Her eyes got suspiciously glassy, and her hand shook as she picked up her wine.
Clarissa nodded. “What you’re doing for that young man is commendable, but I don’t see why you have to be there for his hearing. It sounds as if he’s in good hands.”
Hunter cleared his throat. “I promised. And I always keep my promises.” He looked at Toni, who stared at her mother as if she’d just sprouted horns.
“Mother, nothing is as important to Hunter as his kids.”
Clarissa’s eyes snapped to Toni. “That’s not true. He’s here with you, isn’t he?”
Grampa Joe smiled. “I think that’s our cue to leave. Clarissa, what do you say we go find us some coffee and something sweet? That way, my boy can’t rat me out to his mama about what I’m fixin’ to eat for dessert.”
Hunter watched as Clarissa giggled. “That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”
“My limo is waiting right downstairs.”
Toni rolled her eyes as she rose and gave Gramps a hug. “You better watch Clarissa, Grampa Warbucks, she’s on the prowl.”
He smiled. “Don’t you worry about me, girly. I know how to keep the she-wolves at bay.”
Toni gathered her mother’s purse. “Are you staying here or with Lilly?”
“With Lilly, of course. I wouldn’t think to intrude on your privacy.”
“Right. Just behave yourself, Clarissa.”
“I could say the same thing, but I’d really prefer you didn’t.”
Gramps went around the table to where Hunter stood. “You need any advice before I leave?”
“No, I think you’ve done enough damage for one night. Thanks anyway.”
“Just get ’er done, boy. Make me proud.”
“Yes sir. Don’t wait up.”
Gramps laughed. “I was gonna tell you the same thing.”
***
Hunter saw that Toni was dead on her feet. “Why don’t you go sit and relax? I’ll take care of the dishes.”
“No, I can help.”
Taking her hand, he walked her to the couch. “Please. You look like you’re about to fall over.”
“Fine.” She sat and curled her feet under her. “I probably shouldn’t have had the wine. Wine always makes me sleepy.”
Hunter cleared the table and kept one eye on Toni. She was asleep in under five minutes. Good. That took some of the pressure off. He cleaned and tried to figure out a way to make things right. At least she’d stopped insisting that he leave. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. He still had no idea how she’d feel when she woke up.
By the time he’d put the food away and done the dishes, he was dog tired too. He and Toni still had to talk, but it would have to wait until morning. There was no way he was going to propose to her with her half asleep.
