by Kris Bryant
I gave Brook a quick wave and quickly avoided eye contact when I handed her father his order. I also avoided Trina when she brushed up against me while getting the ingredients together for another batch of caramel.
“I see. Are you sure they’re safe to eat then?” she asked. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not.
“A little dirt never hurt anyone.” David slipped a hundred-dollar bill in the tip jar on his way to the next booth. All tips and donations would go back into the school, but the booth with the highest tips got a gift card to one of the Wellington grocery stores. Even I felt competitive with the kettle-corn booth next door. They were getting a lot of business, but autumn in the northeast meant apple everything. Cider, doughnuts, caramel covered, pies, vinegars, sauces, and anything else people could do with apples. Kettle corn was universal. And boring. That didn’t stop me from asking for samples. I gave them samples, too. Like Mr. Wellington said, a little dirt never hurt anyone.
“I think we might have a shot at winning. I never win. Although, to be fair, this is only my third year doing it,” Trina said.
I eyed our tip jar and the kettle corn’s tip jar and figured we were really close to being even. “Are you friends with them?”
“Patricia and Ellie?” she asked. I nodded. “They’re nice, but really obnoxious when they win.”
“Well then, let’s not let them win.” I flagged over some people who were meandering in the little courtyard set up for the festival. “It’s dessert time. Come on over and get some apples before we run out.” It was a hard sell, but I got rid of two bowls, then another two, until we had a line. The kettle-corn girls did, too, but by the end of the afternoon, I swore we were ahead.
“Cassie. Do you have any apples left?” Noah was back at the booth with Brook right behind him.
I took my finger out of my mouth and slowly put the pot of semi-burnt caramel down. This was awkward and embarrassing. “Sorry, buddy. We’re all out.” I looked at Brook and shrugged. “You probably shouldn’t have seen that, but I haven’t eaten a lot today.”
“Are you done here? Or do you have to stay to help clean up? We can take you to dinner if you want,” Brook said. Did she just ask me out? I mean, I knew it was just probably a quick dinner somewhere fast, but it was Saturday, and I had no obligation to them, nor they to me.
“I think I have to stick around and clean up. I helped set up, so I’m sure I’ll have to break it down, too, but thanks for the offer.” I wiped my hands on my apron, trying to figure out how I could do both, but knew I had to stay.
“Go on.” Trina took the caramel pot from my hand. “There’s nothing left to do. Everything here will get carted up to the kitchen. Our job here is basically done.”
“No. I told you I’d help. Plus, I want to know if we beat the librarians,” I whispered so Brook couldn’t hear the conviction in my voice.
“Get out of here. I’ll text you later.”
I turned back to the Wellingtons. “I’m available if the offer still stands.” I took off my apron and handed it to Trina. “Definitely text me later.”
Noah slipped some money into the tip jar while I gathered my things. It was another hundred, and I pretended not to see it.
“Where do you want to go? How about that place that serves burgers and all the fries you can eat?” Noah looked at me like it was my choice.
“It all depends on your mom and where she wants to go.”
He slipped his hand into mine. I couldn’t look at Brook. “Can we go to Happy’s? That’s a fun place.” Noah looked back at Brook, who was a step behind us.
“It’s going to be packed. How about we grab a burger at Ruby’s?” Brook took his other hand and moved up to walk with us.
“But that’s Uncle Anthony’s restaurant. We always go there,” Noah said.
I squeezed his fingers gently. “I’ve never been. Is it good?”
“Yeah. It’s just more for adults.”
“But today was all about kids, right? Maybe tonight should be about the adults,” I said.
He looked at me and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go to Uncle Anthony’s.”
“Do you want to follow us?” Brook stopped at her SUV.
I’d completely forgotten that I drove to the academy. I stopped short of sliding into the passenger seat and quickly opened up the back door for Noah instead. “Sure. I’ll meet you there. The one on Elm Street, right?”
Brook gave me the single nod and slipped into the driver’s seat. As much as I loved her in her power suits, she looked even better in fashionable form-fitting pants and an oversized sweater. With her hair up in a messy bun, she was a mix between sexy and flirty. I couldn’t have felt frumpier in my jeans and flannel shirt if I tried.
At the first stop light, I dug around in my console for any makeup or a hairbrush, knowing full well I kept my new car clean. I pulled out a pack of gum, a wheel lock, an air freshener the dealership had thrown in it, and a hair tie. Damn it. I flipped down the visor to check out what ten hours on my feet looked like. How long had the speck of caramel been on my cheek? Was that a piece of apple in my hair? At least my cheeks had some color. I smoothed down my hair and threw it back in the hair tie. Then let it down again. I didn’t want to look like a teenager. I took a deep breath and waited for the light to change. Noah turned around and waved. I smiled and waved back.
Chapter Nine
“How was the festival? Did you hook up with the teacher?” Lacy’s voice was loud through the speakers. I quickly turned down the volume.
“No, but guess what I’m doing right now?”
“Noah’s teacher?” She laughed.
“Shut up. I’m going out to dinner with Brook and Noah.” I leaned back in the seat as if she was in front of me and I’d just dropped the mic.
“Are they in the car with you?” Her whisper was low, but the concern was unmistakable.
“No. I’m following them to the restaurant. Brook’s brother owns Ruby’s.”
“You’re taking a kid to that place? It’s kind of not really kid friendly. I think I applied there when they first opened.”
“Get this. I’m wearing flannel. And jeans. And muddy hiking boots. I’m basically a hot mess who can’t tell her boss no.”
“Well, what’s she wearing? Flannel, too? No. She’s too classy.”
“Oh, thanks a lot. But you’re right. She’s wearing tight pants and a big sweater, and she looks so relaxed and adorable with her Daenerys hair and big blue eyes.”
“Oh my God. You work for the mother of dragons. By the way, I’m so far behind on that show. Don’t tell me what happens. But do tell me what happens tonight after your date.”
“It’s not a date, but I’ll text you later and let you know all about it. And the kid will be with us.” I shook my head. “Okay. I’m parking now. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” I dragged out bye in an annoying way.
“I really hate that.” She hung up during my laugh.
Noah greeted me at my car door.
I rolled down the window. “Can I help you, sir?”
He giggled. “Come on. I’m hungry.”
“Are you placing your order, sir? Is that for a cheeseburger and fries?”
“Come on, Cassie.” He opened my door and reached for my hand.
“Wait, wait. I need to roll the window back up.” I locked the car and looked at Brook for the first time. She gave me a tight smile. Everything inside me fluttered. I gave her a half smile back. “So, this is your brother’s place?”
“He got tired of the family business, so he got to do what he wanted.” She held the door open for the both of us.
“Thank you,” I said. Brook was completely in my personal space, closer than she’d ever been before, and I felt self-conscious. She was so close I heard her smile when a man approached us and hugged Noah.
“Hey, big guy. I just got your message. I’m glad you made it.”
I assumed this man who leaned very close to me to reach Brook was her brother. Br
ook’s arm brushed my shoulder, and I moved to the side to give her more room. I wasn’t prepared to feel her hand lightly touch my waist as she leaned past me to kiss his cheek. “Hello, Anthony.”
She was formal with him, though not as casual as she was with her father. I definitely detected love, but it was more restrained.
“Hey, big sis.”
“Big sister by what? A year?” I said.
“Sixteen months. Wow, our mother couldn’t wait,” he said.
“Um, hello? We have guests here.” Brook held her hands over Noah’s ears and gave her brother the best older-sister look, which even made me shrink back.
“Hi. I’m Anthony.” He stretched out his hand to shake mine. It was a firm yet friendly handshake.
“I’m Cassie. I’m with Noah.”
“I’ve heard about you. All good things.”
“I was going to say don’t believe everything you hear, but in this case, do.”
“I know you’re appreciated. My sister’s pushed to her limits. Come on. Let’s get you a table in the kitchen so I can show you how awesome I am.”
I liked Anthony. He treated Noah like a kid and knew how to talk to him. I wondered how often he saw his nephew. Today was the first day I’d met anyone from Brook’s family. Both her father and her brother seemed good-natured and relaxed.
I sat opposite Brook with my back to the wall so I could see everything. I watched as she reviewed the menu with Noah, allowing him time to read it first before explaining things. Lacy was right. This was not a kid-friendly place. Quail? Quince? Quiche? I checked to see if there were any foods that started with the letter z.
“Are you looking for anything in particular? I’m sure my brother can whip up whatever you want,” Brook said.
Her eyes were so piercing. And her lips. I couldn’t tell if she was wearing lipstick. They were full and not too red but had just enough of a tint that made me question whether she toned it down with a neutral color or if that was just her natural look. Her makeup was light, with a tiny bit of eyeliner, a touch of mascara, and a hint of blush. Were her eyelashes as light as her hair? Her eyebrows were darker, but that was normal for blondes.
“Cassie? Hello?”
I gave her my best impression of a deer in headlights. Holy shit, she’d caught me staring. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Is there anything you want?”
Yes, your body next to mine. Your lips on mine, kissing me everywhere, your hands with your painted nails on my back. “Everything looks delicious.” I shrugged and found something very interesting to look at on the wine list.
“I’m having a cheeseburger and fries,” Noah said.
“Hi, Noah. Hi, Brook. Nice to see you again.”
A waitress swooped in and took our drink orders and placed a basket of bread and butter on the table. Noah reached for a piece immediately.
“Only one piece. I don’t want it to spoil your dinner.”
“Mom, can I have your phone?”
She unlocked her phone and hit the app he wanted. And then it was just the two of us. I took a sip of water for lack of conversation while she rummaged through her purse.
“Tell me about school.” Brook focused her attention back on me, interlocked her fingers, and placed her hands on the table. At least she was making the effort.
“It’s definitely keeping me busy.”
“More than you expected?”
“Not more, just different. See, before I had to worry only about school. Now I have school and a job. I didn’t have to be concerned about money before.” I took another sip of water. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk about it. I just wasn’t over my anger at my parents, and I didn’t want to come across as bitchy or ungrateful. I was both, but I didn’t want Brook to know.
She nodded more than once. “I get it. Anthony was kind of in the same situation. Our father wanted one thing, and he wanted another. He got this restaurant all on his own, much to my father’s amazement and chagrin.”
I cocked my head and pursed my lips as though I didn’t believe her. The man I’d met today was kind and nice. He didn’t seem the type to cut off his own family. Plus, after hearing Lacy’s horror stories for years, I knew how hard it was to run a restaurant.
“You don’t believe me. Yes, he has the Wellington name, and not too many people are going to tell him no, but the money is all his own. I’m proud of him for that.” She took a bite of warm bread and licked the crumbs from her lips. In response to watching her, I licked my lips, then quickly took another sip of water.
“It’s not that I don’t believe you. I mean, all families have their histories. Your dad seemed like a cool guy, and your brother is obviously chill. I just thought everything was perfect in your world. You seem like a really close family.”
“Oh, we are. It just took a lot of time to get there. So, even though you’re dealing with issues of your own, there’s hope.” A smile. A genuine smile popped up on her face, and I melted. I’d believe anything she said right now.
“It’ll take a bit. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’m still trying to figure out if I’m going with Nana to my parents’ or if I’ll hang out with Lacy. Her family always has a good turnout. I’ll blend in there.” My heart stopped when Brook placed her fingers gently on mine. It was completely out of character for her, at least the Brook I knew.
“You are more than welcome to come to Thanksgiving dinner with my family. You’ve met my father and my brother. That’s half the battle right there. My mother’s easy to get to know, and my sister, well, she’s very protective.”
She pulled her hand back, and I was so tense I swore I heard my heartbeat. I casually put my hands on my armrests and squeezed out the excess energy her touch suddenly gave me. It was the first time she’d treated me like a friend, not an employee. Looking at her under the dim lights, relaxed and comfortable, it was hard to think of her as my millionaire boss. Come to think of it, I didn’t know what Brook actually did.
“Tell me about your job. What do you do for Wellington Enterprises?”
“Ah, deflection. I know it well.” She winked at me. Winked!
I smiled sheepishly. “I honestly don’t know. I mean, I know Wellington does import and export things, and you have grocery stores, but what’s your actual job? You run it all, don’t you?”
She took a sip of wine. “We have a board that technically runs it. I’m the COO. My father is still CEO. I report to him when I need to, but he leaves a lot of the decisions up to me. He’d rather travel and vacation with Mom than deal with company issues.”
“Do you travel?”
She shook her head. “With Noah in school, I won’t even try. I can’t do that to him.”
“With an import and export business, wouldn’t you have to travel? Or do you have a team that does that?”
“My father and his number one usually close all overseas business deals. I just maintain them. This can’t possibly be exciting to you.”
I was leaning forward so much, I had to reach back for my wine. I slowly sat back. “You’d be surprised what fascinates me.” Well, that was laced with more sexual innuendo than I wanted.
She lifted her eyebrow at me and saved us from several awkward moments of silence by continuing to question me. “Tell me why you’re studying environmental sciences. And why did you leave med school?”
Her voice held only interest, no judgment. It was a relief to talk to somebody who wanted to know why. Most of my friends and colleagues thought I was stupid for dropping out of med school, especially after completing the first year.
“Both my parents are doctors. They pushed me down that path, and I let them. When it got down to it, I didn’t want to. I dreaded school, yet I love learning. So, I broke the news to them, they cut me off, and here I am.” I was proud that I kept my voice even and emotionless.
The food arrived just as I was getting ready to launch into my new educational path. I desperately wanted a cheeseburger and fries like No
ah, but settled on chicken and asparagus. That was an adult enough meal. Brook went with a filet mignon and new potatoes.
“Look at that. You’re not going to be able to eat it all.” I pointed to the stacked burger that was half the size of Noah’s face.
“Whoa. Look at this, Mom,” he said.
“I see that. Are you hungry enough?”
Brook and I both knew he would eat maybe a third of it.
“I’m going to help you with your fries, okay?” I said.
He carefully picked out one and handed it to me. I wouldn’t have cared if his hands were covered in mud. I was going to eat it.
“Yum. Thank you.” I looked at Brook, who smiled at me. A cheesy grin slid onto my face, and I couldn’t stop it. I glanced at my plate. “This looks really good, too.”
“My brother’s a pretty good cook. Even better than Patrick. Just don’t tell him that because I don’t want him to get a bigger head than he already has,” she said.
There was a moment of companionable silence as the three of us dug into our food. The chicken was juicy and tender, with just enough char on it. I had to slow down to stop myself from eating it like a caveman.
“This chicken is probably the best I’ve ever had. I almost want to cry at how good it is.”
“Can you say that again, please? And speak into my phone. I’m going to share this with Patrick,” Brook said.
I stared at her for a solid three seconds before I realized she was joking. Then I choked on the bite already in my mouth. My eyes watered, and I discreetly tried to swallow before I made a complete ass of myself.
“Are you okay?” Brook’s beautiful eyes were huge as she leaned forward to check on me.
I nodded, even though my eyes watered, and I was trying to breathe through my nose while I coughed to dislodge the chicken.
“Cassie, are you choking?” Noah looked just as concerned as his mother.
I held my finger up to them and drank some water. That helped. I sighed when I finally swallowed the piece. “I’m okay, I’m okay.”
“Was it my joke?”
I nodded. “Completely unexpected and hilarious. I’m sorry I worried everyone.”
