But that was no excuse for starting to believe they could have a future. She knew better. He was as happy in White Hills as a cat in sunlight, when she couldnt possibly stay here. Yet now she realized how long this ghastly problem had been going on. Every time she thought of him, shed been doing goofy things. Singing out loud. Walking with a little rock and roll in her hips. Thinking of jokes to tell him. Thinking of giving him something important. Laughing for any excuse. Finding something gorgeous in a gray February day that no one could love.
She had to get a grip.
Oh, God. What are you making now? Harry always showed up at the café before sunrise, made coffee and then promptly disappeared into a booth with his paper-but he usually paid no attention to anything she was doing.
She grinned at his suspicious expression. Im making bitoque with the ground round, cher. I told you. I just put a couple new things on the lunch menu. I promise theyll fly.
I know everybody loves the pastries. But nobody around here wants fancy food.
Now, Harry, how many people showed up here for lunch yesterday? She didnt waste time waiting for him to answer. Jason thought it was a great idea.
He said so? Harry asked, obviously taking his brothers okay as reassurance.
He sure did. Actually, Jason had just said, Whatever. Neither of them had ever varied the lunch menu from brats in a decade, but then, Jason wasnt the most inventive short-order cook on the planet. Ill tell you a secret, Harry. Bitoque is just hamburger, French style. Same old hamburger. Just with a little bit of sour cream, a little bit of consommé, a little bit of secrets. Just enough to make it special.
All right, but then whats this other thing? Harry pushed in his stomach so he could find the space to ease in next to her, still looking suspicious.
Just chicken.
That isnt just chicken. Chicken is a coupla legs, a coupla breasts, then throw it on the grill.
Jason is going to throw this on the grill. Its just going to chill until lunch in this little marinade. Everyone will love it, I promise. Try not to worry. She pulled out two long sheets of plastic wrap to seal the bowls, then impatiently motioned her boss aside so she could put them in the fridge. When she stood back up, he was standing in the narrow opening with that gruff, exasperated look that had everyone else fooled.
I am worried. About you. Youre young. Youre beautiful. Youre dressed- he motioned to her Versace silk blouse and navy slacks -like a million dollars. Yet youre cooking in my café. I dont get whats going on here.
But I told you whats going on, Harry. Ive been cooking for you because I love to. Its always been a hobby, and I havent had a chance to do it in years, and what fun would it be to cook for myself?
Yeah, yeah, I heard all your malarkey. A phone rang from the back office. Harry cocked his head toward the sound. Go. I know its for you.
The chance of the call being for her was one in a zillion, but Daisy swiftly wiped the flour off her hands with a linen towel and hustled. Its not that Teague had never called her here, but he generally used her cell phone. Harry just liked her to answer the phone because she played bodyguard for his unwanted calls-particularly from his ex-wife.
The closest phone was in his office-which hadnt seen a dust rag or vacuum in this century, possibly longer. She grabbed the receiver and started to say Marble Bridge Café, but her sister never waited to hear her voice.
Oh, Daisy. Its me. I was going to wait to call you until a reasonable hour, but I couldnt sleep anyway and I had to tell you. I had an ultrasound. Its a girl.
Oh, baby. Shed talked to her mom and Camille over the past couple weeks, but shed only been able to catch Violet when both of them were on the run. Just hearing her sisters voice brought a smile. Clamping the receiver to her ear, she wandered back to the kitchen. She couldnt cook one-handed, but there were always dishes to rinse, bowls to put away. Im so thrilled for you. Are you still feeling good?
Better than good. Im fat as a slug, but I dont care. Im just so happy. Its scary.
Dont be scared. You deserve happiness. She could hear Violet sniffing, and though it was crazy, she almost started sniffing herself. Margaux and Violet were the emotional ones in the family. Shed taken after Dad, could hide her feelings like a pro, but damn. For years Violet had believed she was infertile. She and Cameron talked about the coming baby as if it were a priceless treasure-which, of course, it was. Youre taking good care of yourself?
Hey, this is me. You know I eat right. Hows the cooking going?
Fabulous. Im having a ball. Ive been using your lavender right and left. Made every recipe Mom ever taught us. Hey, you, we have to schedule a baby shower-
Oh, yeah, Im all about it. But not quite yet. And in the meantime Violet cleared her throat. Now Daisy-
Uh-oh. Nothing good ever follows now, Daisy.
Im just saying. I havent always been rolling in it, but I am now. I know, I know, you told everyone you got out of the divorce okay, but just in case you need some help, just say. Mom and Dad will never know. No one will ever know, I promise-
Oh, yeah, Im all about it. But not quite yet. And in the meantime Violet cleared her throat. Now Daisy-
Uh-oh. Nothing good ever follows now, Daisy.
Im just saying. I havent always been rolling in it, but I am now. I know, I know, you told everyone you got out of the divorce okay, but just in case you need some help, just say. Mom and Dad will never know. No one will ever know, I promise-
I dont need a thing, sweetie. But youre a love to ask. Whats the babys name going to be?
Well, Cameron and I are still fighting about that. Because we three girls got stuck with Camille, Violet and Daisy, youd better believe there isnt a chance Im naming this kid after a flower. But Cam, hes got his heart set-he thinks-on Rose. In the meantime, hey, any men on the horizon?
Daisys heart instantly leaped to Teague, and in a millisecond flat, her pulse wanted to sing arias. She dropped a dish towel. Then her favorite wooden spoon. Id have to be nuts to get involved with anyone until my lifes more settled, dont you think?
Well, yeah. But I hate to think of you alone.
Im not afraid to be alone. At least that was the whole truth. You can be lonelier with the wrong person than being by yourself.
Youve sure got that right. Been there, done that, didnt like it.
What Ive been doing In the process of fumbling with the phone, she somehow knocked the napkin holder on the floor. Is writing up a résumé. Getting going with my life. Figuring out something serious to do for a career.
That sounds good. So what kind of job are you thinking about?
Daisy knelt down to pick up the scattered bunch of napkins. The truth was, she hadnt thought about sending out résumés, hadnt made any moves to leave White Hills. She hadnt made a single plan since making love with Teague-except for stockpiling every dime she could. Now, though, her throat felt as thick as pea soup, not because she was telling her sister lies, but because they shouldnt have been lies.
Ive been happy to be home for a while, she admitted to Violet. To be honest, I kind of felt crushed when I got here. Its been good, being back in White Hills, getting back on my feet, but in the long runyou know how restless I am. I was thinking about a job in the travel industry. Cruise director, something like that. Maybe I could be a courier for a jeweler. Or work in insurance in the estates area. There has to be something that a woman whos been spoiled rotten is uniquely qualified to do.
Her sister laughed.
When Daisy hung up the phone, she found Harry still sitting in his favorite booth-on the same page of the newspaper hed been before. He shook it, though, as if turning to the next page. Sheesh, he muttered with a short glance at her, whoever you were talking to, dont talk to them again.
Why?
Because you look like you lost your best friend.
No, no. In fact, the call was from my sister. Nothing but great news. Shes expecting a baby- Daisy motioned to the newspaper. When youre done with that, would you mind saving me the classified section?
You dont have enough work between me and these projects youre doing with Larson?
Im not looking for jobs, Harry! I just want the lost and found section.
Whatd you lose?
Her entire mind, she thought darkly. By one oclock, though, as she drove Teagues car to his current work site-a den he was paneling in tongue-and-groove redwood for some absentee owners-shed pepped up.
She found exactly the present she wanted for Teague in the newspaper-although she wouldnt have the chance to see it in person for several days yet. Finding that, though, knowing how badly she wanted to give him this particular gift, forced her to soul search her feelings about Teague.
She was afraid of loving him. She was afraid to trust her own judgment. And she had reasons for those fears, considering her past history with falling for men who inspired her hormones but never had a chance of working out.
She was mighty afraid a relationship couldnt work out with Teague, either. With reason. But as she found the address and pulled his sacred Golf into the driveway, Daisy told herself that she was armed with several fresh coats of caution. Shed been honest with herself this time. And more than that, so much more than that, Teague was different from any man shed ever known. This feeling of love was too new, too different, too wonderful to run away from it. She couldnt give it up. She just couldnt. Surely it had a chance to work out if she were just more careful. More smart. More certain that she wasnt repeating past mistakes.
Buoyed with resolve, she hiked up the snowy walk and rapped on the door. There was no decorating to do on this job. Teague just said hed pay her for helping him finish the wood, because together they could get it done in half the time, and his work schedule was jammed.
Almost before shed finished knocking on the door, she turned the knob and yelled out an exuberant Yoo-hoo! Teague bounded from a far room to greet her.
That fast, she forgot all her nettling fears. Forgot about being cautious. Forgot all the hard-won lessons shed learned from picking men who werent for her.