Trey looked over at her as he continued to speak into the phone. “I’m going to pay out the remainder of the lease, but I won’t be coming back to Houston,” he said. “Thanks for everything.” He ended the call and slipped the phone into his front pocket. “So much for my surprise.”
“You’re not going back to Houston?” Kiera asked.
“I was planning to tell you over dinner tonight.” He smiled down at her. “I’ve decided to relocate to Maplesville, permanently. That way I can be close to both you and my kids.”
“What about your business?”
“I can run my business from anywhere. There’s no reason I have to live in Houston, but there’s every reason for me to move back home to Maplesville.”
Kiera’s chest filled with such joy she was certain it would burst.
“Trey, I love you so much. I love you so much it hurts.”
“I know the feeling, baby,” he said before gliding his tongue into her mouth. Kiera drank in the sweetness of his kiss, delight rippling through her as Trey masterfully stroked the inside of her mouth.
“Hmm,” Kiera said, licking his flavor from her lips. “Do you think we have time to properly celebrate before the health inspector gets here?” she asked, tightening her arms around him and leaning forward, her sights set once again on his delicious mouth.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Trey said. He gestured with his chin toward another car that had just pulled up. “Maybe we can have a really nice celebration after the truck passes the health inspection.”
“I like the way you think,” Kiera said.
They broke apart and walked over to greet the health inspector. Trey stood silently by while Kiera conducted the walk-thru. She guided the inspector around the truck, pointing out the safety features, including some steps they’d taken that were beyond what was required to pass the inspection.
“This is a great idea,” the inspector said as he studied the three-part compartmentalized cutting board Trey had designed for preventing cross-contamination. “We should require all food prep areas to have one of these.”
She looked over at Trey. “Looks as if you may have a new business venture.”
“You made this?” the inspector asked him.
Trey nodded, but didn’t elaborate.
At first Kiera didn’t know what to make of his modesty, but then she remembered something he’d said in bed last night. He’d told her the rest of this week was her time to shine. He didn’t want to take the spotlight off of her.
God, she loved that man.
“Everything looks good, Ms. Coleman,” the inspector said. “Give me just a few minutes and I’ll issue you your health inspection report.”
“Now?”
“Oh yeah.” He nodded. “Everything is high-tech these days. I’ve got the computer and printer in the van. Just give me a minute to input everything and I'll print out your certificate. The results of your inspection will go straight into our computer system.”
As soon as she and Trey were alone in the truck, she let out an excited squeal. Holding up her index finger, she said, “One down, one to go. As soon as I have that certificate I can go to the Bureau of Revenue office and get my operating permit.”
“It’s what you’ve been working for,” Trey said. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Savor it.”
“Ms. Coleman,” the inspector called. “Can I see you for a minute?”
Kiera descended the steps and walked over to the back of the inspector’s minivan. She tried to ignore the pinprick of panic that struck the back of her neck when she noticed his frown.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
He pointed to the mounted computer screen. “According to this, you still need to obtain a fire permit. It’s separate from the general health and safety inspection.”
“Yes, I know. The fire inspection was completed two days ago. Their computers were down so they couldn’t issue me the physical permit, but I was assured that it would be filed with the city.”
The health inspector shook his head. “It wasn’t.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Kiera ran both hands through her hair. She let out a ragged sigh. “I guess I can stop by the Fire Prevention Division on my way to City Hall later today.”
The frown that deepened the lines on the man’s forehead caused the dread already filling her belly to multiply.
“I hate to have to tell you this, but it sounds as if whoever performed the inspection fed you some false information. If it’s not on file, it’s likely they’ll have to perform another fire safety check.”
“No way,” Kiera said. “I don’t have time for that. I have to have everything filed with the state by the end of the day.”
“Unless you have some inside connections that can expedite the process, you’re out of luck,” he said. “Get that fire permit faxed to the Health Department as soon as possible. Our offices are more up-to-date. We can get things done over email and fax. I’m sorry about this,” he said before closing the back of the van.
Kiera just stood there as the health inspector slid behind the wheel and backed away. Disappointment and disbelief rendered her motionless.
“I can’t believe this,” she murmured over and over again. “I just can’t believe this.”
Trey walked up behind her, captured her shoulders and gave them a firm squeeze. “Don’t start thinking the worst, Slim. You can still get this done in time.”
“Only if I pull off a miracle. The first thing I need to do is call the Fire Department and tell them about the glitch. Maybe it’ll be an easy fix.” She blew out another frustrated breath. “What am I talking about? Nothing about this truck has been easy.”
“And that’s why it’s going to be that much more awesome when it’s finally on the road,” he said.
She pointed to his watch. “I have three hours before the Bureau of Revenue closes. How am I going to get all of this done in time?”
“You heard what the inspector said.” Trey hesitated a moment, then, shaking his head, said, “You need help from someone with connections. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I think you need to call a certain someone and have him call in a favor.”
“No.” Kiera shook her head. “I’m not calling Mason.”
“Slim, if there was ever a time not to be stubborn, this would be the time. I’m the last person who would encourage you to ask him for anything, but Mason is a well-connected attorney. Hell, just the other day he said he was meeting with Senator Gauthier. Have him call in a favor.”
“No,” she reiterated.
Mason’s favorite pastime was bailing her out of messes, but she refused to run to him like some helpless baby sister who needed her big brother to fix things once again. Especially after the way he’d thrown that loan in her face. But the loan was only a part of it. After learning the part her brother had played in her break up with Trey all those years ago, putting it in Trey’s mind that Kiera was in some way ashamed of him, she wasn’t sure she could handle seeing Mason without knocking him upside the head.
This was her problem. She would take care of it.
She dislodged herself from Trey’s hold. “I need to go.”
“Call your brother.”
She looked up at him and shook her head again. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Kiera—” He reached for her, but she sidestepped him.
“Please, Trey.” She held her hands up. “Let me handle this. It’s my problem, I’ll figure out a way to solve it.”
With that Kiera took off for her car, hoping against hope that she really could pull off a miracle.
***
Trey spotted Mason standing next to a gleaming black Mercedes-Benz parked in one of the slanted spots across from City Hall in downtown New Orleans. He pulled in next to it and had to fight the urge not to open his door a little too wide and scrap the side of the car.
You’re better than that, Trey reminded himself. He wouldn’t allow his last r
un-in with Mason to turn him back into the reckless hothead he used to be. He’d been trying too hard over this past month to convince Kiera that he was a different man—a better man.
And right now he needed Mason Coleman.
Actually, his sister needed him, but for some reason she’d decided to toss her hat in the ring for the title of World’s Most Stubborn Woman. Trey couldn’t allow her stubbornness to get in the way of everything she’d worked so hard for leading up to this weekend’s festival, so he’d swallowed every bitter drop of his pride and called Mason himself.
Trey got out of his truck and walked over to Mason, who was talking on his cellphone.
“Do you have everything?” Trey asked him.
Mason held up a finger—one that happened not to be his middle finger. Maybe they were making progress.
“Yeah, I’ll be back in the office in a half hour, hopefully sooner,” he said to the person on the other end of the line. He ended the call and lifted his briefcase. “The Health Department faxed over the inspection certificate ten minutes ago. I got here as quickly as I could.”
“Good,” Trey said. He glanced at his watch as they climbed the set of stone steps leading to the entrance. “We have less than ten minutes to get the paperwork filed. You sure your buddy is going to be able to do it even without Kiera’s signature?”
“I told him she’ll be here to sign it first thing in the morning. He’s going to have his personal assistant input everything into the computer system so they can get the process started. Kiera should still get the permit by Friday.”
“Thank God,” Trey breathed, opening the door so Mason could enter ahead of him.
He walked into the building and stopped dead in his tracks.
Amid the throng of people hustling around the spacious lobby, there stood Kiera, her gaze traveling back and forth between him and Mason.
“What are you two doing here?” Her eyes narrowed, her brow furrowing as realization dawned. “You called Mason?”
“I thought you needed him, Kiera,” Trey said.
“The question is why didn’t you call me?” Mason asked. “You knew I could take care of this with a couple of phone calls.”
“Because I didn’t want you involved! Dammit, Trey!” she said loud enough to draw stares.
Trey reached for her, but she yanked her arm away and stormed out of the door they’d just entered. He took off after her, catching her before she could reach the steps.
“Would you let me explain?” he asked, tugging her out of the flow of foot traffic. He was relieved when she let him lead her over to one of the stone flowerpots ornamenting the dais that surrounded the building. “I called Mason—”
“After I specifically told you I didn’t want to,” she said. “Aren’t you the one who keeps telling me I should stop relying on Mason because all he wants to do is control me?”
“You said that about me?” Mason asked as he joined them. “Now do you see why I don’t like you? Asshole.”
“Shut up, Mason,” Kiera shot at her brother.
Trey held both hands up. “Look, Slim, you can yell at me all you want, but can’t it wait until after you get everything straight for your operator’s permit?”
She held up a sheaf of papers. “Why do you think I’m here?”
Trey stared at the documents. “How’d you get that done?”
“Because the glitch was in the health inspector’s computer system, not the fire department’s. My fire permit was on file just like they told me it would be.”
“Shit, Kiera, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I told you I was handling it.”
“So, is everything okay here?” Mason asked as he typed away on his phone. “Because I’ve got a meeting I need to get back to.”
“No one asked you to come.”
“He asked me.” He nudged his head toward Trey. “I still don’t like your ass, but thanks for looking out for her.”
“Whatever,” Trey said.
“Asshole,” they both said under their breath.
Mason kissed Kiera’s cheek and then started for his car. Kiera’s expression remained hostile as she watched her brother walk away. Trey didn’t say anything. He figured the longer she had to cool off, the better for him.
His reprieve didn’t last long.
She turned her attention back to him. “I can’t believe you,” she said.
Trey held his hands up again. “I was only trying to help, Kiera. I didn’t want anything coming between you and the success you’ve been banking on at this weekend’s festival. I knew with all his connections Mason would be able to grease the skids if necessary.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you know how many times Mason offered to fly someone in to work on the truck, or to hire someone to drive it to any of a number of custom renovation companies throughout the country? He even ordered a fully outfitted truck; paid nearly $90,000 for it. If it weren’t for Jada tipping me off to what he’d done in time for me to cancel the order, it would have been delivered months ago.
“This food truck does mean a lot to me, Trey. And, yes, I’m hoping this coming weekend will be a huge success, but it won’t mean anything if I’m not the reason it’s a success. I’ve spent my entire life counting on other people to do things for me. I wanted to do this on my own. For you, of all people, to be the one to drag Mason into this.”
The disappointment and hurt he saw in her dark brown eyes was like a punch to the gut.
“Kiera, I never wanted to take anything away from you. I swear I was only trying to help.”
“Is that what you called yourself doing when you lied to me about just how much the materials for the flooring cost?” Trey’s head reared back. “I found the receipt in your truck the other night,” she said. “And I supposed you were only helping me when you started making plans for my truck with Timothy Ryan?”
“I knew money was an issue and I didn’t want you stopping the renovation because you couldn’t afford the new flooring,” he said. “And I contacted Tim because joining that consortium is a golden opportunity. If you don’t want to join it, why did you tell Tim you would?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to join it. I would be a fool not to, but dammit, Trey, don’t you think you should have at least asked me? You accuse me of allowing Mason to make my decisions for me, and then you go ahead and do the exact same thing.”
Her words slapped him in the face.
Son of a bitch.
She was right. He’d criticized her brother for trying to control her life, yet here he was teaming up with Mason so they could both take care of her.
“Dammit,” Trey said in a harsh whisper. How had he not seen this?
Kiera slapped her hand to her chest. “This is mine, Trey. It’s my turn. I need to be the reason for my own success.”
The quaver in her voice completely gutted him.
“You are. Make no mistake about it; you made this happen, Kiera. Not me. Not Mason. You.” He took a chance and reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have contacted Mason behind your back. I shouldn’t have contacted Tim Ryan without talking to you about it first.”
The fear that he’d messed things up with her caused Trey’s chest to tighten with panic. Using the words she’d said to him as they’d made love at Decker’s garage, Trey whispered, “Tell me that you forgive me. Even if you can’t do it yet, I need to know that you’ll eventually forgive me.”
She looked up at him. After some of the tensest seconds of his life passed, she finally said, “I guess it’s only fair. You did, after all, give me the last of your root beer float.”
The relief that crashed through him made his knees go weak. Trey pulled her against him, crushing her to his chest.
“Thank you,” he whispered against the top of her head. “Thank you, Kiera.”
“Just promise me that you won’t do anything like this again.”
“I swear it,” he said.
“Go
od,” she whispered against his chest. “Trey?”
“Hmm?” he murmured.
“I need you to make me another promise.”
“Anything.”
She looked up at him. “Don’t leave me again. Ever.”
“That’s the easiest promise you could ever ask me to make. I’m not going anywhere, Slim. I’m here for you, always.”
Epilogue
Displaying her ribbon, Kiera took a couple of steps to the right, huddling in with the first and second place winners of the shrimp cook-off. Once the photographer indicated he had what he needed, she hurried from the stage and down the steps to the entourage waiting for her. Jada and Callie gathered her in a group hug.
“Congratulations, honey!” Callie said, kissing her cheek. “I still think you should have won first place, but competition was stiff.”
“Maybe second place,” Kiera said. “Even I have to admit that the Szechuan-Honey Shrimp deserved the top prize.”
“As far as I can tell, coming in third isn’t hurting business over at Kiera’s Kickin’ Kajun,” Jada pointed out. “That line has been at least twenty-people long for the last two hours.”
“I know!” Kiera said. “I’ve been keeping an eye on it. Macy and the crew must be exhausted, but I am loving it!”
Mason walked over to them with an ice cream cone in one hand and a stuffed teddy bear in the other. “Look what I won you, baby. Cute, huh?” he said, handing the stuffed animal to Jada.
She took the peace offering, but not before sending him a menacing frown.
Mason blew out an agitated breath. “Even Kiera has forgiven me, Jada.”
“She’s nicer than I am,” his fiancée answered.
He rolled his eyes, then wrapped Kiera up in a hug. “Congratulations. I’m proud of you.”
“I would have liked to have won the big prize,” she said, returning his hug. “But third place isn’t so bad.”
“Third place is awesome, and you know I’m not only talking about this contest when I say I’m proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished here. And in case I haven’t said it enough, I’m sorry.”
Just A Little Taste Page 12
