Chapter Nine
Marguerite and Daphne talked artichokes for the entire time it took them to walk to the food trucks. Naturally, Marguerite, who made her living off the organic produce they grew, including the peas, was less than thrilled with Jack’s latest brainstorm. Daphne explained that if planning an artichoke garden helped their dad to heal, then she wasn’t going to stop him. But she promised to try and distract him, which was usually easy to do. Though, of course, that would result in some other wacky idea.
Even though they’d decided to eat at Alexei’s, she wanted them to walk around the entire pod of trucks for the fun of looking at all the different stalls selling everything from bubble tea to fish and chips.
They wandered the loose square of trucks and trailers. There was shawarma, kebabs, tacos, churros, Thai, Vietnamese, hot dogs, hamburgers, and Greek. Alexei’s was decorated in blue and yellow, the lettering in that font that screamed Greek. He’d gone all-out with the Greek theme. Posters of the Parthenon, a few plastic Greek statues, decorator plates and twinkly lights surrounded the opening. It was still early so there wasn’t much business. A lone customer stood talking at the window when they approached.
He turned as they grew closer and she felt her stomach go into free fall when she recognized the sexiest surgeon who’d ever held a scalpel. Matt was not here by coincidence, she was certain. “Oh, mother, you didn’t!”
“Of course, I invited Matt. I told you I was going to. I want to buy him dinner as a small thank you for saving your father’s life.”
“I really doubt he came down here for a seven buck souvlaki, mom.”
“Really? Then I wonder what he did come down here for?” Daphne said, nudging her.
No doubt she’d been more humiliated in her life. There were all the times her parents had come to school events in their hemp and tie-dye, including the memorable period when Jack had decided to get one of his ears pierced and took to wearing any single earring if Daphne or one of his daughters lost one of a pair. But then, in truth, they’d fit in at her school more than she had, so the humiliation hadn’t been that bad. Nothing like, oh, for instance, what she felt at this very moment, with Matt standing there, pretty much a pity date set up for her by her well-meaning mom. When he caught her gaze she knew he was enjoying every second of her discomfort and had easily read her mind.
Daphne, however, remained clueless. “Matt,” she cried, rushing forward and giving him a hug. A hug! One of the top surgeons in Portland and she was throwing her arms around him as though he were an old friend returned from a Greenpeace expedition.
Matt didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he hugged her back. “I’m glad you could make it,” he said, as though he’d done the inviting instead of Daphne.
“I am so happy to be here and to try your brother’s food. Rose absolutely raved about how good Alexei’s is.”
She and Marguerite had caught up by this time and he turned to the guy in the truck he’d been talking to.
“Alexei, this is Daphne Chance and her daughters. Rose is a colleague of mine. And that’s Marguerite.”
“Pleased to meet you,” he said.
She glanced up at Alexei. She’d seen him before, but never really paid attention. He usually cooked in the back while a pretty young woman served at the front of the truck so she’d never caught a good look at him. She did so now and her jaw would have fallen if she didn’t catch it in time.
The February light was starting to go dusky so he was highlighted by the light within his truck, framed by the twinkle lights. If Matt was a good-looking guy, and he was, his brother was beyond words. Alexei had eyes that were large and almond shaped, with lashes so thick that any woman she knew would kill for them. His jaw was square, his nose classical, his brow thoughtful, and unlike his big brother, he obviously cared enough about his appearance to shave daily and have his hair cut regularly by a professional stylist. There was a statue of Adonis perched on a shelf and she thought Matt’s brother was the spitting image of the mythical hottie.
For a second, all three women stood staring and she knew they were thinking the same thoughts. Matt said, “Alex is the ugly one in the family, but we’re nice to him because he can cook.” Most likely this reaction happened with every woman who ever got near the too-gorgeous-to-be-real Alexei.
Little brother seemed unfazed by their regard, probably because he’d received it all his life.
“Have you considered modeling?” Daphne finally asked.
Alexei shifted uncomfortably, but Matt roared with laughter. “He’s been approached by agents, casting directors and modeling scouts since junior high.”
Alexei shrugged. “I like to cook.” As if that explained everything.
The menu was listed on the side of the shutter thing that would close when the truck did. She drew her mother and sister’s attention to it. “I can personally recommend the souvlaki platter but I bet everything’s good.”
There was almost no seating anywhere, but a small metal table sat on the edge of the sidewalk in front of Alexei’s place. Matt gestured to it. “Any chance you can join us for a few minutes?”
“Yeah, sure. Soon as I’ve cooked your food and Melissa gets back.”
“She your helper?”
“Yep. She’s off on a break.” Rose wondered how Melissa got anything done with the most gorgeous man on earth sharing a truck with her.
Daphne and Marguerite perused the menu and Rose said, “I’m going to go ahead and have the lamb souvlaki platter.”
“Make that two,” Matt said.
“And I will have the lemon chicken with Greek salad,” Daphne decided.
