He'd alternated between driving me wild with his fingers and mouth and driving himself into me in every position I'd ever tried and a few new but amazing ones, and I'd loved every moment.
I understood what his exes had meant; I didn't think 'kinky' was the right word but he had an adventurous nature in bed that I'd never experienced before, always changing things up and switching positions. But he'd awakened a corresponding side of me I hadn't known existed and by the end I'd been asking for even more variety.
He'd provided it beyond my wildest dreams, satisfied me completely, but just thinking about it made me want him all over again. "I saw the Falls already. Doubt they've changed. And they say third time's the charm."
He grinned. "I'm just a man, Mary. I have limits." But he pulled me close and kissed me and I felt him growing hard against me, and the third time was indeed the charm.
And the fourth wasn't bad either.
Chapter Twenty-One
Roller coasters have fewer ups and downs than my relationship with Kegan the week of Steel's opening.
We had sex a few more times in Niagara but did manage to get our clothes on too, and savored another amazing restaurant dinner, wonderful chats about nothing in particular, and the excitement of winning fifty bucks from a slot machine. Every moment with him felt better than the one before.
On the way home he seemed quiet, and I was about to ask why when he sighed and said, "I wish we didn't have to leave."
I did too. "But then we wouldn't see Steel open."
"True. But I don't want to see us bickering over it."
I rubbed his hand on the steering wheel. "We won't. We're all relaxed now so everything'll be fine."
He smiled at me before returning his attention to the road. "I do feel pretty mellow, I must admit, so you might be right."
On Monday, it looked like I was right. Back at work we still had our newfound bond, and though we didn't agree on every aspect of the final details for Steel's opening we weren't far off and we didn't argue.
Tuesday, though, tempers began to flare all over the restaurant as Wednesday's final inspection neared, and Kegan and I weren't immune. We'd worked until nearly midnight on Monday, barely finding time for a few short kisses never mind anything more. I'd never seen him like this, attacking a deadline, and I understood better why others had called him impossible and a hard-ass. Even remembering his sculpted rear end didn't make it easier to deal with his barked orders, although he reserved most of those for the other staff.
Wednesday morning was pandemonium from seven o'clock until the inspector's arrival at eleven. Kegan even snapped at me once, although he quickly apologized, and he ordered me and the others around constantly as his stress built.
Once the inspector, obviously reluctantly, had admitted we'd fixed everything he'd noted the previous visit and approved Steel to open, Kegan's relief was so great that he hugged me even before the inspector left and then bought lunch for the entire staff to celebrate.
I was delighted for him, of course, and also thrilled to see him relax over his pizza, but when the food was gone his relaxation vanished too. The inspector might have been satisfied but Kegan wasn't. He wanted perfection, and he was going to get it regardless of what it did to his staff. Or his girlfriend.
"Crystal's telling everyone it's exactly like when Steel opened the first time," Dorothy muttered to me after I'd walked away from yet another confrontation Wednesday afternoon, this one over how far apart to place the mini quiches on their platters. "He'll be better by Friday night."
"I might have murdered him by then."
She grinned. "No, you won't. One of us might have, but not you."
I had to laugh. "Okay, fine. But I'll have wanted to."
"Oh, no doubt. Crystal says it'll be amazing. Once the first guests arrive, he'll be a different man."
Back to the one I'd fallen for, with any luck.
Crystal hadn't said any of this to me: we hadn't spoken since she informed me I wouldn't be good enough in bed for Kegan. She'd looked furious on Monday, though, no doubt recognizing the new intimacy between us, and since then she'd avoided me. Instead, unfortunately, she'd been taking out her frustration on Dorothy, criticizing everything she did in that oh-so-sweet tone. I'd tried to stay near so she'd control herself, but I felt sure she was slinging even ruder comments at Dorothy whenever she could. "You doing okay?"
"Oh, sure."
I raised my eyebrows, and she said, "I'm used to it."
"Doesn't mean it's okay."
She patted my arm. "Just keep your eyes open." She scanned the room, clearly checking that Crystal and her pack of followers weren't near. "They stop talking to each other when I'm around. I think they're up to something."
If they did anything to sabotage the opening, it would devastate Kegan, and even though he was making me crazy I wouldn't be able to bear that. "If you hear anything definitive..."
She nodded. "For sure."
Kegan shouted, "Mary! Where the hell are you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Probably wants me to add a molecule of something. Or take one out."
"Hope he wants you to add it, that's easier," she said, smiling, and I returned to the kitchen feeling outraged at his interference and not bothering to hide it any more.
We dealt with that oh-so-vital issue, whether the basil leaves garnishing the garlic-cheese toasts should be stem in or stem out, and what seemed like a hundred even more pathetic ones over the rest of that day and into Thursday. On several occasions he locked himself in the office for a bit, returning calmer, but the peace didn't last more than a few minutes and I started to wish he'd stop trying. His swinging between rationality and ridiculousness was more annoying than just dealing with his obsession would have been.
Thursday night, we had to skip underwater hockey. I suggested he play to relax himself while I finished the preparations but he looked surprised and said, "I can't make you do all the work."
I insisted I wouldn't mind, and for probably the first time in my life that I'd said, "Oh, I don't mind" I truly didn't mind, but he stayed and drove me and Dorothy and the rest of the staff except Crystal insane. Crystal had left right on time, claiming a friend's father had died and she had to attend the funeral. I had my doubts, but I didn't mind much because the restaurant felt calmer without her. Even her circle of cronies seemed more relaxed.
Everyone else left at eleven, but Kegan and I stayed, working through the endless list of tiny last-minute details. At least, I did; he fiddled with the napkins and silverware and tablecloths until I finally said, "For the love of God, go home. I'll finish up."
When he turned to me, the fear and pain in his eyes shocked away my irritation. "What's wrong?"
He swallowed hard. "My parents are coming tomorrow. They haven't seen Steel since a week after it opened. Couldn't be bothered. It has to be perfect."
My throat tightened. I hadn't invited my parents, since I knew they wouldn't want to make the three-hour drive each way. But his lived right in Toronto and never came to Steel? I went to him and wrapped my arms around him, not sure what to say.
He held me close and pressed his cheek against mine. "I know I'm being an ass, and I hate it. But I can't help it. I'm trying, swear to God I am, but it just happens. I'm so sorry."
I squeezed him tighter. "The opening will be all right. Better than that. It'll be amazing."
"If it is, it's because of you."
"It will be, and it's because of all of us. Especially you."
He pulled me even closer. "It's you. I couldn't do it without you. Not like this."
"You'd have another chef," I began, but he shook his head.
"You were right at the beginning, we're meant to work together. You don't deserve any of how I'm acting, and I know it. I hate how I am and I want to be better. For you."
I reached up and took his face in my hands, my heart melting at the determination in his eyes. "You are already incredible. And I know you're working on the ordering me around thi
ng. We'll get there."
He smiled, then kissed me deep and sweet and slow as we hadn't had time to for days.
I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back, instantly hungry for him.
After a delicious while, he murmured against my mouth, "Your place or mine?"
I shivered and pulled him closer. "How about here? Our office?"
"I like the way you think. Still have that condom in your purse?"
He'd stuffed one in there as we packed up before leaving the hotel, joking that it was good to be prepared. "I do. Want to go make sure?"
We stumbled back to the office, kissing all the way, and wiped out the stress and frustration of the week in glorious work-inappropriate behavior on his desk.
Chapter Twenty-Two
But wiping out our stress and frustration permanently wasn't in the cards. Though we both went home relaxed and satisfied, by the next afternoon his tension had risen to dizzying heights again and mine wasn't far behind.
He wanted everything perfect, of course, but so did I. This was my chance to impress all of his patrons and friends. The success of Steel's grand re-opening was to a significant degree on my shoulders and I wanted it to be spectacular.
At last, it was time. Kegan had decided to make the night an open house rather than a seated meal to allow more people to attend, so we had buffet tables laden with a huge variety of nibbles from both restaurants' menus. Champagne glasses and bottles stood ready, with lots more champagne chilling in the wine room, and every table bore a white rose and a lit candle. Steel glowed in the candlelight, the refinished golden hardwood and freshly painted teal walls bouncing the light around the dining room, and my heart glowed too as I looked at Kegan.
About ten minutes before we opened, he'd changed into a suit and the dark blue shirt and tie he'd worn in Niagara Falls, and he'd laughed when I came out of the bathroom in black pants and the top I'd bought for our trip. "Great minds think alike," he said, and his grin told me he remembered my saying that to him about the condoms we'd both brought to the hotel.
"Indeed they do."
We smiled at each other and stole a quick but hungry kiss, and he said softly, "See you in the office afterward? I brought the condom this time."
I kissed him again in response, and we'd headed off to handle the last-minute details, but now I stood near the front door watching Kegan once again briefing the wait staff and tried to put aside my nerves and relax into joy and delight that Steel had come together for him.
Tess and Forrest were the first guests to arrive, and their obvious happiness for Kegan made tears fill my eyes.
"Looks great." Forrest slapped Kegan on the back. "You done good, man."
Tess hugged the grinning Kegan. "He's right, you did. You and Mary." She turned to look for me, then hugged me too. "Congrats," she whispered to me, and I squeezed her tight.
When we released each other, she said to Kegan, "Jen wanted to come but I wasn't sure..." She glanced at me and back at him. "Would you rather she didn't?"
I knew the story of Jen now, knew about the immediate attraction between her and Kegan and what he termed his insanity in treating her like someone he could control. I also knew he saw her as almost a symbol of the other women he'd pushed around. He'd told me more than once he wished he could apologize to her.
Kegan's eyes met mine, and I winked.
He winked back, then said to Tess, "I'd be happy to see her."
She grinned and pulled out her phone, then stepped to the side of the entranceway as at least ten people walked in. "I'll let her know. Carry on, good sir."
He did just that. I'd seen him chatting with people at the tastings and been impressed with his easy relaxed style, but here at Steel he was utterly in his element and many a politician couldn't have pretended more friendliness.
Kegan wasn't pretending, though; he was clearly honestly delighted to see each guest. Past patrons and his friends congratulated him and he beamed as he accepted their kind words. The ecstatic Mildred hugged us both at once, nearly crushing us, while Tanisha stood laughing. Other restaurant owners and various food reviewers came in looking coolly professional but soon mellowed as Kegan spoke with them. Everyone got at least a few words from him, and he left them all smiling.
He'd asked me to stay in the dining room as much as I could so people could chat with me about the food, and I gradually became more comfortable going up to strangers and asking how they were connected to Steel. Most raved about the food and the renovations and how excited they were that Steel was open again, so I enjoyed talking to them, but I didn't expect the older man who said, without looking up from the platter of food he was inspecting, "My son owns the place."
His brusque manner, so unlike Kegan, startled me. "Oh! You're Kegan's dad?" I hadn't seen Kegan speaking to him yet. The man, and a woman I'd lost track of in the crowd, had slipped in while he was busy at the other side of the room. "I'll go get him for you."
He raised his silvered head. Kegan's deep blue eyes in a stiff cold face. "That's all right. He doesn't have time."
"Of course he does," I said, surprised yet again. "He's been so excited that you were coming." Well, terrified, but I couldn't imagine saying that would do Kegan any favors.
"He has?"
I turned to see the woman giving me a shy smile. "Definitely," I said firmly. "I'm Mary, his new chef here and for Magma. May I get you some champagne and show you around?"
Her smile widened a fraction. "Mary. My grandchildren mentioned you. Apparently you gave Lola a dancing game? It was all she talked about for days."
I smiled back. "I'm glad it made her happy." I hailed a passing waiter and got them each a glass of champagne.
"Won't you join us?"
I shook my head. "Thank you, but I'm working."
Kegan's father took a deep drink then set his glass aside. "Good quality, at least. We raised him to always want the best. That's why I don't understand why he decided to—"
"Gregory, please. Not now."
"You feel the same."
Kegan's mother took a deep breath. "I said not now."
Her voice shook even with the extra air, and the shock in his eyes suggested she never stood up to him. He turned his back on us both to study a painting on the wall.
She gave me a tremulous smile. "I'm sorry, Mary. We just had big dreams for our son."
I didn't know what to say. Wasn't all he'd accomplished good enough?
Apparently not; she leaned closer and said, "He was supposed to be a lawyer. Even went to law school. But then he opens this place instead, and his dad's never quite been the same."
I was all too afraid he was the same, still as controlling and diminishing as he'd been throughout the lives of Kegan and Nora and their younger brother Thomas.
I knew full well that Kegan hadn't wanted to be a lawyer, and I also knew he'd repeatedly told his parents the same thing. But he'd ended up in law school anyhow, unable to escape the pressure any other way. Nora had 'escaped' via a series of increasingly disastrous relationships, Thomas by playing professional hockey in Germany. From what Kegan had told me, the other two had become passive, particularly in their personal lives; Kegan alone had taken on his dad's worst traits, which he was now struggling to leave behind.
"I think Kegan's doing an amazing job," I said firmly. "This place is wonderful, and Magma will be incredible, and it's all thanks to him."
I felt a hand on my shoulder and Kegan said, "Thanks to you too, of course. Mom, this is Mary, my chef and—"
His father turned to us. "She introduced herself already." He cleared his throat. "Good champagne."
Their eyes met, and I hoped Kegan heard the attempt at support in his dad's voice.
He seemed to; he said, "Thank you. I learned to pick it from you."
They shared an awkward smile, then Kegan added, "And as for Mary's introduction, unless she told you she's also my girlfriend it wasn't quite complete."
His mother smiled at me again. "You did
n't mention that part. You're managing to put up with him all right?"
I looked into Kegan's eyes. "He's not that bad."
He winked at me and gave his mother a hug, and we chatted for a minute or two about the restaurant and the food. His mother at least seemed to be willing to tolerate Kegan's career choice though she clearly didn't like it. His father stood silent throughout, not even nodding or smiling. It was like having a rain cloud hovering at the edge of your picnic, not yet ruining your fun but promising to do so at any moment.
Nora came up to us with her kids and a tall blond man, who she introduced as a friend from work named Jack. Once we'd all shaken hands, Lola and Rudy demanded and got hugs from Kegan and me and then from their grandparents. Kegan's dad lightened up somewhat in the face of the kids' excitement at being out at night, but I was still glad when Dorothy sent me a text message to call me to the kitchen and I could make my excuses and head back.
Fortunately, nothing was wrong except a brief panic about where I'd stored the spare basil leaves, so I stayed there a few minutes to keep an eye on things and then returned to the dining room.
All of Kegan's relatives seemed to have left, and I hoped his dad hadn't upset him. I couldn't see Kegan at first amidst all the people but then spotted him walking over to two women and a tense-looking man hovering near the front door.
Before he reached them, he turned back and scanned the crowd, and when our eyes met he beckoned me over. He didn't move until I joined him, then took my hand and led me to the newcomers without a word. I could feel his stress, though, pouring into me through his tight grip on my hand, and I grew more nervous with every step.
When we reached the group, the man and the blonde woman moved closer to their companion, a pretty woman about my age with short dark highlighted hair who appeared to be about six months pregnant, as if protecting her. She stepped forward though, ignoring them. She glanced down, apparently noting Kegan's hand holding mine, then she looked up at him and said, "I'm so sorry about the fire."
"Thank you." He held her gaze for a long moment. "And thank you for coming tonight."
Toronto Collection Volume 1 (Toronto Series #1-5) Page 93
