her.
“You know,” she said angrily.
“I think you’re using your dad as an excuse.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he said, taking a bite of brownie.
“What difference does it make?” she asked heatedly.
“What if I’m not working for him anymore?”
She felt herself choke on a sip of lemonade. “That’s your dream job.”
“I just said what if.”
“What if – you do, end of story.”
“I think you’re afraid of losing control.”
“Control of what?” she gasped.
“Your emotions,” he said looking at her straight on.
“You’re impossible,” she said. “What gives you the right?”
He leaned forward cupping her face in his, bringing her lips up to his. She could feel her heart beginning to explode. His lips explored hers firmly, yet gently.
Her lips opened. His tongue gently touched hers, tentatively, exploring, dancing. A small moan escaped from her lips.
Dimly she was aware of Mary standing above them. “I’ll take some of that,” she was saying lightly.
They broke apart slowly. Brad grinned at Mary. “Sorry, it’s not on the menu.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to reschedule. Another time. OK.”
The kiss left her shaken and trembling. What did he mean by that? Was it just her dad? Of course it was! That and business. She’d made it clear from the beginning that that was all she was interested in. At least until Elena’s was up and running. And then?
It didn’t matter. He did work for her dad. In his dream job. End of story.
She looked up to see Mary watching and blushed to the tip of her toes. “I’m sorry Mary. I’m afraid we messed up the tasting.”
“I don’t know. Looked pretty good to me,” Mary said pulling up a chair and a cup of coffee.
“Mary!”
“Don’t Oh Mary me! I’ve been in love too you know.”
“I’m not in love,” she said alarmed.
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s not love,” she insisted. “It’s, it’s – I don’t know! He’s being impossible.”
“Uh-huh. In the meantime, what about the menu?”
“Oh Mary, everything you’ve done is wonderful. I trust you.”
“Meaning you’re on your own girl.”
“That’s not it at all. I never meant this to happen.” She gave Mary a rueful smile. “We could try for another time.”
“I don’t think so,” Mary said, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t get upset with me if there’s a lumberman’s special on the menu.”
“A – what?”
“You heard me.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Elena said.
“So what are you going to do about Brad?”
“He knows it’s just business.”
“I think he’s changing the rules,” Mary said laughing.
“Well, he can’t,” Elena said firmly. “At least not until Elena’s is up and running.”
“Have you talked to Grant lately?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“In case you haven’t noticed you’re not that far from opening.”
“July,” Elena said. “Wait a minute. It’s June 10 th now,” she said wonderingly. “I think I’ll go talk to Brad and see how construction’s going. Two weeks. I’ve got a million things to do.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be back here cleaning up.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got some free time anyway,” Mary said wryly.
Elena gave Grant a quick call. “Hi Grant, I’m just on my way over to see how it’s going. Can I bring some coffee? Brownies? These are honestly the best
“You know,” she said angrily.
“I think you’re using your dad as an excuse.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he said, taking a bite of brownie.
“What difference does it make?” she asked heatedly.
“What if I’m not working for him anymore?”
She felt herself choke on a sip of lemonade. “That’s your dream job.”
“I just said what if.”
“What if – you do, end of story.”
“I think you’re afraid of losing control.”
“Control of what?” she gasped.
“Your emotions,” he said looking at her straight on.
“You’re impossible,” she said. “What gives you the right?”
He leaned forward cupping her face in his, bringing her lips up to his. She could feel her heart beginning to explode. His lips explored hers firmly, yet gently.
Her lips opened. His tongue gently touched hers, tentatively, exploring, dancing. A small moan escaped from her lips.
Dimly she was aware of Mary standing above them. “I’ll take some of that,” she was saying lightly.
They broke apart slowly. Brad grinned at Mary. “Sorry, it’s not on the menu.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to reschedule. Another time. OK.”
The kiss left her shaken and trembling. What did he mean by that? Was it just her dad? Of course it was! That and business. She’d made it clear from the beginning that that was all she was interested in. At least until Elena’s was up and running. And then?
It didn’t matter. He did work for her dad. In his dream job. End of story.
She looked up to see Mary watching and blushed to the tip of her toes. “I’m sorry Mary. I’m afraid we messed up the tasting.”
“I don’t know. Looked pretty good to me,” Mary said pulling up a chair and a cup of coffee.
“Mary!”
“Don’t Oh Mary me! I’ve been in love too you know.”
“I’m not in love,” she said alarmed.
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s not love,” she insisted. “It’s, it’s – I don’t know! He’s being impossible.”
“Uh-huh. In the meantime, what about the menu?”
“Oh Mary, everything you’ve done is wonderful. I trust you.”
“Meaning you’re on your own girl.”
“That’s not it at all. I never meant this to happen.” She gave Mary a rueful smile. “We could try for another time.”
“I don’t think so,” Mary said, rolling her eyes. “Just don’t get upset with me if there’s a lumberman’s special on the menu.”
“A – what?”
“You heard me.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Elena said.
“So what are you going to do about Brad?”
“He knows it’s just business.”
“I think he’s changing the rules,” Mary said laughing.
“Well, he can’t,” Elena said firmly. “At least not until Elena’s is up and running.”
“Have you talked to Grant lately?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“In case you haven’t noticed you’re not that far from opening.”
“July,” Elena said. “Wait a minute. It’s June 10 th now,” she said wonderingly. “I think I’ll go talk to Brad and see how construction’s going. Two weeks. I’ve got a million things to do.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be back here cleaning up.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got some free time anyway,” Mary said wryly.
Elena gave Grant a quick call. “Hi Grant, I’m just on my way over to see how it’s going. Can I bring some coffee? Brownies? These are honestly the best
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