“You said something about stuff from your room here?” Lucas reminded her.
Mia and Scarlet stood outside the kitchen and waved as Lucas drove away bright an early Monday morning. Setting Scarlet up went quickly, her smock on, recipes ready and she was prepared for the day.
It was almost five when Lucas stormed into the kitchen. Mia looked up from the oven, her hands rearranging things on the counter. She opened her mouth to greet him and it went downhill from there.
“Where’s Scarlet?” Lucas went right to her office, his gaze sweeping the kitchen with a scowl.
“Good evening,” Mia said, her palm gesturing to the outer door. “Mac has her with him in the…”
“Mac? I left her with you, Mia,” Lucas vaguely heard a voice inside him telling him to shut up now.
“I asked Mac to watch her while I finished the…”
“Pawning Scarlet off on Mac…”
“Pawn…I did not…”
“If you don’t have time for her, Mia, just say so. I can call the agency and find another sitter,” he shook his head.
Mia felt the verbal slap and was stunned. “Lucas, I have a restaurant to prepare and students to…”
“So you shove her off…”
“I did not…occasionally I must…it was a short time only and I…”
“No problem. I understand about priorities. I’ll go get her. Thanks.”
Mia stood in the kitchen with her mouth opening and closing. She held onto the counter, closed her eyes and counted.
Lucas slammed the door to the SUV and brought his palm down hard on the fender. He knew better than to take his bad day out on another person, especially Mia.
Mac looked up from the console, his grin crooked as he watched Scarlet prowl around like a little tiger, the motion capture mimicking her movements and turning them into a video of an animated tiger. He gestured to the seat next to him when he saw Lucas. Something was seriously off.
“I told Mia I’d have her back in a few,” Mac remarked, his comment met with silence.
“She…looks like she’s having fun,” Lucas said dully.
“We like having her here,” Mac returned, turning and kicking back in his chair.
“Mia was supposed to keep her.”
“Mia knows how to share…and ask for help when she needs it. What do you think the mission statement is for this place, Lucas?” Mac asked casually. “It’s not official,” he added with a shrug. “But we do have one.”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Believe it or not…it has a lot to do with it. You might not have started out as part of it, but when you hooked up with Mia, you and Scarlet became part of it,” Mac explained carefully, watching Lucas closely.
“Look, I know you mean well…”
“Hey, this is coming from a guy who almost seriously screwed up and lost the most important part of me,” Mac admitted simply. “You came in here in a mood. You were telegraphing it. Bad day?”
“I got some serious groveling to do,” Lucas admitted flatly.
“Because Scarlet is here?” Mac asked in disbelief.
“I asked Mia to keep her. I did not ask her to…to impose…”
“Ever heard the saying – it takes a village? Scarlet isn’t an imposition, she’s a delightful break from a nutty day,” Mac said with a laugh, his hands shut down the console, his gaze up and watching the little girl look up. She took off at a run, launching herself at Lucas. “How was the jungle?”
“Fun!” She announced gleefully. “Hi, Daddy…where’s Mia?” She looked around with a curious little frown.
“In her kitchen. Ready to go home?”
“Scarlet,” Mac met her look. “What’s Cassidy teaching you?”
“ ‘oga,” she answered immediately.
Lucas closed one eye. “Yoga?”
“Yep….it’s fun but I got short legs,” she said with a slight frown.
“What’d you learn from Uncle Cade?” Mac continued.
“Oh!” She scrambled off her father’s lap and dug into one of the many pockets on her little cargo pants. She came out with a multi-colored palm sized calculator. “See! It’s so I can watch my money. Uncle Cade is gonna teach me to be a boss,” she announced proudly.
Lucas laughed despite himself. “A boss, huh?”
“Abby found that for her when they were shopping the other day,” Mac looked at the slowly dawning lesson.
“Hey, you know what, Daddy?” Scarlet put her calculator into her pocket, her expression serious. “Cassidy is Mac’s girlfriend ‘cause he gave her a ring. She has it on a chain. And Cassidy lives with Mac. You gave Mia a ring, so that makes her your girlfriend. When is Mia going to live with us?”
Mac burst out laughing, ruffling the blond curls. “Logic progression. Give me five years and I’ll have her creating game code.”
Lucas stood up, slowly walking with Mac toward the main entrance, Scarlet happily skipping along, humming to herself.
“Huh,” was all Lucas murmured.
“You getting it yet?” Mac pushed the door wide. “Do you remember the questions that seemed to make no sense in the vetting process to work for the resort?
Lucas nodded slowly. “Let me guess…you helped devise them?”
“When we started brainstorming principles and beliefs for the resort,” Mac began. “One of the things we wanted prevalent, was no excess in our private lives. We have to be willing to live what we want to spread. No mansions. No…insanity as far as money went.”
“The questions about what kind of future did I see for myself,” Lucas recalled quietly.
“If you – or anyone – are in this for the prestige or profit, we didn’t want them associated with the resort. We want people who enjoy their chosen field and want to continue in it until they chose to move on to something different. But we were and are not looking for people bent on killing our employees or our mission statement of forming a micro-world of our own for all. Not the chosen few. We want it to be of the people and for the people, including the village it takes to raise the kids involved in it, too.”
Lucas nodded slowly. “She’ll have an amazing collection of intelligence and compassion to learn from.”
“Piece of male advice…you got a built in secret weapon,” he commented with a glance at Scarlet. “Given the brains and talents of the women we fall for, I wouldn’t be above using it if I were you.”
“She doesn’t have aunts or uncles…it’s just me,” Lucas said quietly, glancing over at the canopies and the employees working there.
“In a village environment, she’d be exposed to and will learn all types of things. She’d never be alone for that same reason,” Mac said carefully. “You’ll always be daddy…and she’ll always come to you. I don’t know what happened with Mia…”
“Careers,” Lucas said simply.
“Ahh…a woman with a passion as strong as your own is tough to cope with,” Mac agreed. “I’ve seen so many guys mess up in that line…everything in your line of passion is vital, but when the girl’s passion gets in the way of their personal life, it’s all just wrong…some girls buckle to it…some walk.”
“You’re like an old budda trapped in a kid’s body, aren’t you?” Lucas looked at him oddly.
“Naw…I just got this baby face and I grew up quiet and watching and listening to everything. And I’ve been exposed to this unique breed of female,” Mac noted with a wink. “Got three sisters just like them. I watched them walk away because they refused to give up a part of them that was as important as water to a fish. Just because it’s always been that way in society, doesn’t mean it can’t change.”
“Hey!” Scarlet looked up at her father. “Where’s my pack?”
“I saw it in Mia’s kitchen,” Lucas told her, lifting her to the car seat and working the buckles. “Thanks, Mac…see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Mac!” Scarlet waved as they drove around the large complex to the back of the building.
Lucas exhaled sharply when he rounded the corner and saw her car gone and Scarlet’s bag hanging on the hook outside. He retrieved it, dropping it to the seat next to her in the back.
“Where’s Mia?” Came the innocent question.
“I don’t know…we’ll try calling her later, okay?” Lucas drove quietly, half listening to the little girl singing to her music behind him. When he swung her to the ground outside their house, he was still thinking.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Scarlet didn’t know any relatives, with the exception of Miranda Felstone.
With the exception of himself and a string of sitters, she had no social life.
In just over a week, he’d watched her open up. There were new words in her vocabulary, new gestures in her behaviors and a fascinating tilt to her head when he watched her learn something new from Mia. If what Mac said were true, she was learning constantly during the day. And here he had some smart idea that keeping her to himself was best. Shielding her.
Lucas was still pondering all this when he went to her room to see what she felt like for dinner. He didn’t have much of an appetite at the moment. Mia wouldn’t answer her phone. He was about to speak when he noticed she had food spread over her little table, munching happily and chatting with her dolls. Strips of baked chicken, carrots and small rounds of what looked like baked bread. Mia had taken care of her already. He went back to his desk, staring for a long time into their backyard.
Lucas saw her come out of her room a short time later and pushed his laptop back, patiently waiting. She leaned against his thigh, one shoed toe leaning on the other and her little face set in serious thought.
“Hi,” he decided he might have to start this one.
“Hi,” she looked up at him quizzically. “Are you busy?”
That was new, he realized. Wondering how much she was picking up just from watching people.
“I will never be too busy for you, Scarlet. And you always remind me of that, okay? You’re my girl, remember?”
“Deal,” she said with a nod, unaware of the laughter behind her father’s eyes. “Is Mia your girl, too?”
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his palms out and lifting her to sit on the edge of his desk. “Well…” He let the innocent question float for a long minute. “I don’t know. I haven’t asked her.”
“Why? Don’t you like her?”
Lucas met the innocent, curious gaze with a long puff of air. “I think I might like her a lot…is that okay?”
Scarlet nodded, her little lips pursed thoughtfully. “I think I like her a lot, too. Can I call her on the phone?”
Mac’s words came back to him with a brilliant jolt. A secret weapon. She was refusing to answer his calls. However…he lifted his phone and opened the keyboard, his thumbs moving over them quickly.
“Let’s see if she’s home,” he said, sending his note and not feeling at all guilty. “Mia, Scarlet would like to talk to you and tell you good night.”
“Is she home?” Scarlet peered at the little screen, watching her father’s movements.
“Don’t know…let’s wait and…” He stopped when the phone chimed. Her return text almost instant. “She’s home…and she’ll call you at eight, after you get ready for bed. How’s that?”
“Good. What time is it?”
“Almost bedtime,” Lucas said with a laugh, quickly lifting her to the floor when she looked like she would just jump down. He watched her disappear down the hall to her room, and followed a little slower, his phone in his pocket. He watched as she worked to straighten up her toys and kick her shoes towards the closet. He’d seen that move before, frowning but letting it go. She brought her summer pajamas to him and held them up expectantly. His hands moved from practice, tossing clothes into the basket and redressing her in the bright little top and shorts.
“Okay…I’m ready now,” she informed him, pulling the blankets over her toes and making certain her doll was comfortable.
Lucas leaned against the door, one palm up and rubbing his neck. He pulled out the phone and hit the speed dial for Mia, his fingers crossed. He listened to the soft, French voice greet him.
“Hello, Lucas,” Mia felt her stomach twist into a knot. “May I speak to Scarlet, please?”
“Will you talk to me afterwards, Mia?”
“Is that the condition?”
He swore softly and handed the phone to Scarlet, striding to his desk and listening to the soft little voice in the other room.
“Hi, Mia…I miss you,” Scarlet said with a little sigh.
“I miss you, too, little girl,” Mia swiped at the tear, squeezing her eyes shut tight. "Did you find the dinner I packed for you?”
“Yes…I shared with my dolls but they weren’t very hungry. Are you mad at us?”
“Mad…no, oh no, Scarlet…”
“Can I come stay with you tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. I need my sous-chef,” Mia assured her firmly. She heard the little girl sigh with relief.
“Okay…I love you…I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“I love you, too, Scarlet…sleep well,” Mia stopped trying to keep the tears from falling, her head back on the bed and lashes shut against the stinging.
“Okay…g’night!” Scarlet closed the little phone and called out. “Daddy!”
Lucas pushed hard against the arms of his desk chair, plastering a smile on his face as he went to her bedside, dropping the phone in his pocket and tucking his daughter in.
“Mia said I can come be with her tomorrow,” Scarlet put her palms around his neck in a tight hug. “She says she’s not mad at us. G’night…I love you, daddy.”
“You are a really neat kid,” he whispered into her hug, settling her down next to her doll. “I love you, too, Scarlet…good night.”
Lucas stared at the readout on his phone for a long time, his thumb hovering over the button but never coming down. He closed it with a snap and went to shower. He’d never been a quitter and he wasn’t about to start now.
****
Mia groaned when the knocking began on her door. She’d lain awake half the night, waffling between anger and a broken heart. Two palms rubbed tiredly over her face as she stepped back and pulled the door wide, watching the happy little bop to Scarlet’s step before she looked up. Dark lashes half drowsy with sleep flew wide.
Lucas didn’t ask permission.
He didn’t wait for his presence to register.
He brought his hands up and framed her face, tipped it back and settled his mouth hungrily over hers. The grey cloud that had been looming over him seemed to melt away when her palms snaked between them and circled his neck, her lips parting and his kiss eagerly returned.
“Lucas…” Mia felt his name whisper from her lips when she breathlessly pulled her mouth from his.
“I was wrong. I was…flat out stupid and wrong, Mia,” Lucas had worked on an elaborate speech that vanished when he stared down into the dark, shining eyes. “I was pi…angry because of some idiots who can’t follow orders and you were convenient. I’m sorry,” he pushed the words out quickly, not wanting to give her time to protest.
“Lucas…”
“No, please…let me finish,” he dropped his forehead against hers when she nodded, his voice low, only for her. “I spent half an hour with Mac when I picked up Scarlet last night. I never realized…we don’t have any relatives. Not here. She’s always just been mine. Or the sitters…now suddenly, she’s meeting all these people and learning all these things…I never realized how selfish I was…how wrong it had been to isolate myself just because I’m her father. To keep her from learning to be with other people. Mac’s a pretty smart guy….he explained about the village mentality…about how…how they need Scarlet as much as she needs them. As much as I need you. I was wrong, Mia….and I’m sorry.”
“I was so hurt…” she whispered.
“You wouldn’t answer your phone,” he said softly.
“I was angry
…then I spoke to Scarlet…she thought I was mad at her,” Mia whispered, her head shaking. “Explaining that her father is…was…I needed to think, Lucas.”
“Am I forgiven? I’m prepared to talk for another hour if that’s what it’ll take,” he told her, relieved when she smiled.
“I will think it over,” she murmured, not protesting when he bent slightly and lifted her against him, her arms on his shoulders. “Lucas!”
“Well?” Scarlet asked impatiently.
Both adults looked down at the small girl staring up at them expectantly.
“Did you ask her?”
Mia looked from Scarlet to Lucas. “Put me down, Lucas.” She straightened her top. “Ask me what?”
“He wants you to be his girlfriend,” Scarlet announced casually.
“I…”
“Scarlet, I think I can manage this part on my own,” Lucas felt the heat in his cheeks when Mia stared at him, her fingers on her lips to keep the laughter inside.
Mia dropped to her heels, taking Scarlet’s hands in hers. “Do you think he can handle both you and me? Two girls…might be too much for him.”
“It’s okay ‘cause I’m only little,” Scarlet explained with a serious nod.
“Then I will think it over,” Mia told her with a matching somber expression.
“Okay. Bye, daddy,” Scarlet went back to her pack and rummaged for her pencils and paper, laying down on the bed and scribbling and coloring in the pages of her book.
“Thinking it over?” Lucas leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I have to get to work. Tonight?”
“Tonight,” Mia agreed, kissing him farewell before closing the door and leaning against it with a long sigh. “Wow…we got lots of work to do, Scarlet.”
“Lots of cooking stuff?” Scarlet simply sat up and began putting her things into her pack, waiting patiently for Mia to change clothes.
WindSwept Narrows: #2 Cassidy, Abby & Mia Page 27
