Authors: Susan Mallery
“Hi,” she said with a smile. “Welcome back.”
Phoebe put down the bowl and hugged her friend. “Hi, yourself. Did I know you were coming by?”
“Not unless you've turned psychic. How was your honeymoon?” Maya held up a hand. “Remember, I'm asking in the most general of terms.”
Phoebe giggled, then returned to pouring the brownie batter into the pan. “Amazing. Fantastic. Wonderful. I highly recommend honeymoons to everyone. Especially with a wonderful man like Zane. We had perfect weather and the food was delicious. I think I gained five pounds and I don't even care.” She sighed blissfully.
Phoebe had always been pretty, Maya thought, but today there was something about her. A glow.
From being in love
, she thought wistfully,
and having that love returned.
A couple of weeks of hot sex probably didn't hurt, either. Wasn't sex supposed to be good for the skin?
“I'm glad you had a good time.”
“Me, too.” Phoebe popped the brownies in the oven, then leaned against the counter. “Can you stay a bit?”
“I can.”
Phoebe pulled a pitcher of iced tea out of the refrigerator and poured them each a glass, then they sat at the table by the island. “What happened while I was gone?” she asked. “Anything exciting?”
Maya thought about the commercial shoot, her upcoming class mostly for Eddie and Gladys, the subtle but inescapable restlessness she didn't want to acknowledge and knew there was a lot from which she could choose. So it made no sense for her to blurt out, “I'm in love with Del.”
Phoebe's mouth dropped open. “You're what? When? I was only gone a couple of weeks. How could I miss that? Start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
“There's not much to tell,” Maya admitted. “It was at the reception.” She hesitated a second, then told her friend what had happened that night. “After that, I just knew.”
“OMG, seriously? You had sex with Del at my wedding?”
“Technically, it was after and we were in my old room, so it wasn't
at
the wedding.”
“But still. You had sex on my wedding night before me!” Phoebe laughed. “You go, girl.” Her humor faded. “Are you okay? Have you told him? What did he say? Are you going to tell him? How do you think he feels about you? Does anyone else know?” She paused. “You can talk now.”
“Gee, thanks.” Maya considered the list of questions. “I don't know how I feel. No, I haven't told him. Yes, I am scared. Very scared. I blew it the first time. Why would Del trust me now?”
“So he doesn't know how you feel?”
“No. I haven't said anything. I don't know what to say.” Maya shifted in her chair. “We have to work together. I don't want things to be awkward. We're in a good place. Saying something would mess that up.”
“Maybe in the best way possible. What if he's in love with you?”
“Then
he
can say something.” Maya drew in a breath. “I dumped him before and I was cruel about it. He has every right to hate me or punish me and he's only been nice. While I appreciate that, I can't help thinking he would never trust me again. It's too soon. It's just...”
“You're scared.”
“More like terrified.”
There it was. The truth. Nothing to be proud of, but real, she thought.
Phoebe's expression was kind. “What do you want?”
“I don't know. Del isn't the type to stick around. I just got back. I'm settled.”
“You don't sound settled.”
“I'm confused. I love being back. The town is fantastic. I have everything I should want.”
“Don't talk to me about
shoulds
,” Phoebe said firmly. “I let them run my life for way too long. What does your heart tell you?”
That she loved Del and wanted to be with him. That seeing the world appealed to her. That she wanted to be a part of a project that meant something more than celebrity gossip and cable access butt contests.
“I don't know,” she lied. Because she was afraid. Afraid of asking and being rejected. But if she didn't ask, didn't she risk losing out altogether? Wasn't it better to put it out there, to go for it?
“Maybe it's time to find out,” her friend told her, speaking more truth than she could possibly know.
* * *
D
EL
PULLED
UP
in front of his parents' house. His mother had texted him, telling him she needed to see him as soon as possible. Normally a request like that wouldn't have bothered him, but he remembered his father's concerns about Elaine, so had hurried right over.
Over the past couple of weeks, he'd stopped by twice. His mom had seemed like her normal self. A little tired, but she'd claimed she wasn't sleeping well. Something about “the change.” A topic he hadn't been comfortable discussing. Now he wondered what was suddenly so urgent.
As soon as he stopped the engine, Sophie bounded out of the house. The beagle ran toward him, her soft ears flopping in the early afternoon. She greeted him with a doggie grin and wagging tail.
“Hey, girl,” Del said, crouching on the ground and petting her. She wiggled close to get as many rubs as she could. He obliged until he saw his mother step onto the wide porch.
Elaine looked pale and tired. There were shadows under her eyes and a slump to her shoulders. Alarmed, he went to her.
“Mom?”
Before he could say anything else, she started to cry.
“I can't do it,” she said, tears spilling down her cheeks. “It's too much. All of it. The party, your father. I just heard from Ronan and Mathias, and they're both coming. Their rooms aren't ready, the house is a mess and I'm so tired. I can't do it.”
Del wasn't used to seeing his mother as anything but an even-tempered, calm, capable woman. He'd only ever seen her cry a handful of times and that was nearly always over his father. He would have sworn that when it came to easy stuff like throwing a party, she was unflappable.
He walked up onto the porch and drew her into his arms. “Whatever it is, I'm here. We'll deal. You don't have to do this alone.”
She sagged against him. He was shocked by how thin she felt. How frail. He'd dismissed his father's concerns, but now knew he should have listened. Something was going on.
He led her to the bench by the front door and waited until she sat. He settled next to her, then had to make room for Sophie, who jumped between them. The beagle stared at him as if to say
“Finally. I've been worried about Mom.”
“Tell me what's up.” He kept his tone as calm and caring as possible.
She wiped her eyes. “Nothing. I'm tired. I have a virus or something. I haven't been sleeping.” She faked a smile. “I'm fine.”
“Mom, you're not fine. You don't let stuff like this bother you. There has to be something.” He braced himself to hear something that would make him uncomfortable, then forced himself to ask, “Is it Dad?”
“Your father? No. He's exactly as he's always been.” She tried another smile. This one worked a little better. “You should ignore me.”
He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “That's not going to happen. Mom, are you sure there isn't anything wrong?”
“Yes. Like I said, I had a summer virus. It happens. I'm still recovering, but I'm getting my strength back. It's just the party.”
He rose and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. We'll get this thing managed. Then you'll feel better.”
They walked through the house to the big kitchen. There he found a pad of paper. When they were both seated at the stools by the island, he looked at her.
“What's the party going to be like? Big? Small?”
She gave a soft laugh. “It's your father, Del, and he's turning sixty next week.”
Del nodded. “Big, then. Half the town and everyone he's ever met?”
“Pretty much.”
“Great. How much is planned?”
She went over the details. There was already a caterer, along with a bar service. The out-of-town guests had been invited and they all had reservations at various hotels around town. The twins would be driving home in a couple of days.
Ceallach's assistant was handling the various art pieces that would be flown in to be displayed. The press would be there.
“You didn't want to have it somewhere else?” Del asked. “Like the resort or the convention center?”
“Your father wants his party here. We'll have tents in case of bad weather. I just have to get the house cleaned and prepared for the twins. Also, we'll be having a family dinner.” The tremor returned to her voice.
He touched her arm. “Mom, listen. I'll get in a cleaning service to take care of the house. As for the family dinner, let's get it catered. That way you can spend more time with the twins and less time cooking. You know they love the food at Angelo's. I'll order from there and pick it up.”
“I don't know. I should be cooking.”
“No, you shouldn't.”
“Let me think about it.” She seemed to be fighting tears. “I have a guest list in the bedroom. Let me go get that.”
He waited until she'd left, Sophie at her heels, then pulled out his cell and dialed.
“Hey,” he said when Maya answered. “Are you free? Something's going on with my mom and I need your help.”
He couldn't deny the relief he felt at the sound of her voice when she said, “I'll be right there.”
“Y
OU
SHOULD
HAVE
called me,” Maya said firmly from the chair by Elaine's bed. “I told you I want to be here for you.”
“I know. I would have. I just kind of lost it and turned to Del. I have no idea why.”
Because he was back in town, Maya thought. Because he'd always been there for his mom, taking care of things when she couldn't. Looking after his brothers, the family business. Being responsible.
Elaine relaxed on the bed, Sophie stretched out next to her. She stroked the beagle and looked at Maya.
“I didn't mean to worry anyone.”
“I think Del was more freaked than worried.” Maya had come as soon as she'd gotten his call. Together she and Elaine had reassured him that his mother would be fine after a nap.
Now she drew in a breath. “Elaine, you
have
to tell them. This isn't right. I don't like keeping this secret. I mean it. I love you, but this is wrong.”
Tears filled Elaine's eyes. “Maya, please. I can't. Not a week before Ceallach's birthday. Don't make me. After the party, we'll talk. I promise.”
Meaning she and Elaine would talk. Not that Elaine would tell her family. Maya didn't understand. Ceallach and her sons loved her. Sure the news would be upsetting, but they would rally around her. Give her support. That was a good thing. Being fussed over had a way of raising a person's spirits.
“Has it occurred to you that part of the reason you're feeling so overwhelmed is how much you're having to do on your own?” she asked. “Not just the party, but Elaine, you're dealing with breast cancer. You're getting radiation. You have to tell them.”
“I will. Later. Help me get through the party. You have to understand why that's important.”
Honest to God, she didn't understand, but there was no point in going there. “I love you,” she told her friend. “How can I help?”
* * *
A
N
HOUR
LATER
, Maya and Del went over the to-do list.
“She has most of the party organized,” he said. “I've got a cleaning service coming in tomorrow. How did you get her to agree to have the family dinner catered?”
Maya thought back to conversation with Elaine and the other woman's stubborn refusal to share something as important as her diagnosis and treatment with her family. “She owes me.”
“I'm glad.” Del made a few more notes. “Dellina has confirmed everything else. The tents, the food. The twins will be here in a few days and then we'll be in party mode.”
Maya flipped through the guest list. Excluding those coming locally, most were names she didn't recognize. Notes after some of them helped.
Minister of Culture, France,
had a way of clarifying who someone was.
“Your dad's a big deal,” she murmured, noting a former United States vice president on the list and a couple of big-time actors.
Not Jonny Blaze
, she thought with a smile. Madeline would be disappointed.
“Always has been.”
She looked at Del. “What?”
“I didn't know how big the party was. There are five hundred people on the guest list. Mom shouldn't have tried to handle this on her own.”
“Dellina helped.” Although she knew that wasn't what he meant.
“She never said anything. I know he didn't lift a finger. It's always been like that. She takes care of them. That's the marriage they have.”
She put her hand on his arm. “She loves him. There's no regret. It might not be what you'd want or what I'd want, but it works for them.”
“I can't figure out why.” He turned to her. “I used to ask her why she stayed.”
“She told you it was because he was her world.”
“How'd you know?”
“She's my friend and her love for her husband isn't a big secret. You look at your dad and you see how he disappointed you. How cruel he's been. She doesn't see that. Not in the same way. It works for them.”
“I guess.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Did I ask you to the family dinner?”
“No. It's for family.”
“I want you with me. Is that okay?”
“Sure.”
The evening would be highly charged and difficult, but she didn't care. Time with Del was precious. Summer was drawing to a close. The changing leaves coloring the mountains moved a little lower every week. Soon fall would arrive. Del had said he was staying for the summer. With his father's party over, there wouldn't be anything to hold him here. Certainly not her.
“I'm going to change the subject,” she said.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Want to tell me how much you want me?”
“With every breath, but this is about your project.”
He straightened. “Shoot.”
“You could get some feedback. School started this week. Talk to the local drama teacher at the high school about speaking with his or her class. You could show them one of the videos and then get their thoughts. What worked, what didn't and why. I'm sure the teacher would be pleased for them to see real-world application of the arts and you'd get information.”
He stared at her. “Damn, you're good.”
She smiled. “So I've been told.”
“Seriously good. That's brilliant.”
She shrugged. “I'm a good team player.”
“The best.”
He kissed her again, then slid off the stool. “I'm going to go find out who the instructor is and contact the school right now.”
He was out of the room before he finished talking. Maya appreciated his enthusiasm, even as she wished he wanted to talk about that team thing a little more. As in the two of them working together. Permanently.
* * *
N
EARLY
A
WEEK
LATER
, Maya watched the Mitchell family men standing together. There was no doubt Ceallach was the father of his five children, she thought humorously. Talk about a powerful gene pool.
All five sons were tall, with dark hair and eyes. Del and Aidan looked a little more like Elaine, while the younger three favored their father. Each of them was strong, muscled and annoyingly handsome. Not a loser in the bunch. She might be a little biased, but she was confident that Del was the best looking of them.
Elaine joined the family. She looked so much more delicate than her boys. Maya refused to think about the illness she was battling on her own. This was a night to enjoy good company. Not to worry about her friend.
Sophie was in doggie heaven, going from brother to brother to get pats and treats. In addition to ordering dinner, Del had instructed Angelo's to send over appetizers. There were trays of bruschetta, a couple of dips with crispy focaccia bread, stuffed mushrooms and mini mozzarella with tomatoes and basil on a toothpick. Wine flowed freely and Maya noticed that by the third bottle, conversation was a lot louder.
“Do you like it there?” Elaine asked, sounding doubtful.
Mathias and Ronan stood by their mother. “Happily, Inc. is a great town. A little like Fool's Gold, but with a different vibe.”
“You're still working in glass?” Ceallach demanded. “You must work in glass. The rest of it, any idiot can draw or paint. A three-year-old can paint. But to create something from fire, that's talent.”
The twins exchanged a look. “Dad, we saw that article about you in
Time
magazine,” Mathias said. “Nice coverage.”
“The reporter mostly got it right,” the older man admitted grudgingly. “They don't always.”
“That must be frustrating,” Nick said. “Remember the guy from the
New York Times
a few years ago?”
“Idiot,” Ceallach bellowed, then proceeded to list every way the reporter had failed him.
Del moved next to her. “You're seeing it, too,” he murmured directly in her ear.
The feel of his breath against her skin made it difficult to concentrate, but she did her best to focus and process the words. “That they're deflecting him every time he asks what they're doing? Yeah, I noticed. Nick's part of it.” She studied the middle brother. “Do you think it's a plan?”
“Absolutely.”
She turned back to Del and found him standing deliciously close. If they'd been alone, she would have leaned in to press her mouth to his. Only they weren't. Worse, they were surrounded by his family.
“Why do you think they don't want to talk about what they're doing?” she asked, then sighed. “Never mind. I know the answer.” Ceallach. He had a way of sucking the joy out of a room.
She wondered if it was really because he was brilliant or was he simply taking advantage of everyone around him. She knew Nick had a lot of talent, yet he managed to be a pretty decent guy. The twins were rumored to be just as brilliant as their dad, and although she didn't know them well, they seemed okay. Maybe it was a generational thing.
“After dinner we'll all go to the studio,” Ceallach was saying. “You can see what I've been doing.”
“We'd love that, Dad,” Mathias said. “There's no one like you.”
Ceallach puffed out his chest in pride. “This I know.”
* * *
S
OMETIME
AFTER
ELEVEN
, Del stepped out onto the porch. The night was clear and cool and he could smell smoke from the fireplace.
Maya had ducked out an hour before. He couldn't blame her for leaving. He would have done the same if he could have. Talk had turned to art and stayed there for much of the meal. Now Mom had gone to bed while Ceallach, Nick and the twins argued style, technique or whatever it was they could talk about for days.
He sat on the bench and stretched out his legs in front of him. A few minutes later, Aidan joined him.
“Tired of hearing about process?” he asked.
His brother grimaced. “That and being ignored.” Aidan sat in one of the chairs. “They give me a pain in my ass sometimes. It's as if nothing else matters.”
“Nothing else does. To them, anyway. You know that.”
Aidan stared up at the sky. “They'll be at it for hours.”
“Luckily we both have somewhere else to sleep.” Del knew he should head home, and he would. But for now, this was good. “How's business?” he asked.
“Busy. Labor Day freaks people out. They realize summer's nearly over, so we get a lot of last-minute bookings for weekend tours. Some people deliberately take time off in September because it's less crowded and the weather is usually still good. So we're slammed.”
“Does it ever slow down?”
“Some. October and November have less going on. Once it starts to snow, we're running ski weekends, back country trips, that kind of thing.”
Del nodded. “Makes sense. You've really grown the company. You should be proud of yourself.”
Aidan looked at him. “I am. Thanks. It was difficult at first. I didn't know what the hell I was doing. But I've made it my own. There's nothing I'd rather be doing.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
“I'll bet you do. Now you don't have to feel guilty.”
“It's going to give me a lot of free time.”
Aidan grinned. “I'm not sure that's a good thing.”
“At least I spend my days off pursuing something worthwhile.”
Aidan's grin turned into a chuckle. “So do I. Just with a different outcome.”
“All your outcomes are the same.”
“Jealous?”
“Nope.” Del thought about all the women he'd seen his brother with. What they had in common was they were female. Otherwise, Aidan didn't seem to have a type. “Don't you ever want more than variety?”
“Hell, no. Why would I? Every time, it's a new day. A new woman. I have my fun and we all move on. Why complicate life with a relationship?”
“Because it's nice to have someone who has your back. It's nice to belong.”
“So speaks the man who travels the world. Where do you belong?”
An interesting question. He thought of Maya, wanting to say he belonged with her. Only he didn't. Working together wasn't the same as being romantically involved. He wanted to be with her in the most intimate ways possible. But that was different. It had to be. Trusting her again wasn't possible.
“I'm still figuring that out,” he admitted. “Which is a great way to try to distract me from what we were talking about.”
“Saying it didn't work?” Aidan asked with a chuckle. “I'll try harder next time.” His humor faded. “I'm okay. I like how I live my life. I keep all my risks related to work. There's nothing dangerous about what I do with women. It's never serious and I never get stuck.”
“Sometimes being stuck isn't a bad thing.”
“Believe that if you want. I won't.”
“Don't you worry that going from woman to woman means never connecting with any of them? What if one of them falls for you? Unlikely, but it could happen.”
Aidan grinned. “I'm clear with the rules. They know going in it's just for the weekend or the week. Nothing long-term. I don't want more. Don't need it, don't have time for it. If they push, we're done.”
“Doesn't that make you an asshole?”
“Maybe, but a lucky one.”
“One day it's all going to crash in on you,” Del said, knowing his brother wouldn't heed his warning.
“Never gonna happen.” Aidan sounded confident. “I know exactly what I'm doing.”
Del hoped he was being honest with himself. Because if he wasn't, things could go bad, and fast.
* * *
D
EL
STAYED
ANOTHER
half hour, but his father and brothers didn't seem inclined to discuss anything but art. When he called out that he was leaving, they barely paused from their heated conversation about blending colors in nontraditional mediums. Whatever that meant. Aidan had gone home fifteen minutes before, so Del left them and made his way to his truck.