I squeezed Lee’s shoulder. He was in a suit at eight in the morning, and I was sure he’d traveled a good portion of the night, but you’d never know it. He looked as put together as always, his black hair shining, his smooth, tan skin glowing. Lee was ageless in a way that fascinated me. He was older than me by about fifteen years, and while my face and body had aged considerably in the years since we’d first been brought together, Lee hadn’t changed one bit.
He tweaked his glasses before standing and taking a turn at shaking Tristan’s hand. “Lee. Should I be apologizing for this nuisance?” he asked, waving his head at me.
I laughed.
“I hardly think she’ll need an apology after?”
Tristan’s hand on my mouth halted me, and I grinned behind it. I wouldn’t have said anything in front of my mother or Hannah that would’ve been too bad—only a little innuendo to toss back at my manager’s words.
She wasn’t upset with me, though. Her face was lit up with a brilliant smile.
I turned to Cassidy and the turkey bacon she was draining on a towel-covered plate. She had two pie dishes set on the counter, with quiche in them. It looked like she’d been up for hours.
I stepped up next to her, stealing a piece of the bacon. I lowered my voice and said, “I’m sorry you’re doing all this. Can I help?”
She shook her head, smiling up at me and saying quietly, “This is good practice.”
She looked happy. No. Not just happy, really excited, and my chest tightened again. So much damn pleasure filled me this morning. I promised myself if I couldn’t make things happen with Kincaid’s, we’d find somewhere else in town to start her restaurant. Cassidy deserved this chance.
Soon, we were all seated around the dining room table, which hadn’t been used in months because we normally ate in the kitchen. The noise was a soft buzz filling me with a strange sense of completeness. The people I cared about most were surrounding it. Marco and Trevor and the gang deserved some food as well, and as if reading my mind, Cassidy said, “I’m going to take some of this out to the security team.”
“Let me help,” I said, jumping up.
I felt my mom’s eyes on me, and when I looked over, she was actually still smiling. I didn’t know what to make of it. She’d smiled through the afternoon yesterday as well. Maybe, for once in my damn life, I wasn’t going to let her down.
When we got back, Tristan joined us in the kitchen.
“I’d like to go home so Hannah and I can change and see Molly. Is there any way that can happen?” she asked.
“Absolutely. Maybe we can bring Alice and Lee with us? They’d like to look at the plans for the festival and see what we might be able to do to increase the revenue.”
Tristan stared at me like I had five heads, and I realized I’d never told her about the conversation with Lee or our idea about Alice. I’d invaded in on something that was essentially hers, no matter if I’d thrown down a bunch of money into an account for the city to use as a retainer.
I flicked my bands. “Sorry. I— Well, I should have asked you first.”
Worry crossed her face. “It isn’t that I don’t appreciate it, Brady. I just…I can’t afford it all.”
“Alice and Lee work for me, regardless. It isn’t like their salaries are going to change because they’re taking a look at the festival arrangements. It’s just two more heads. Alice is really good at planning events.”
Tristan snorted. “I don’t have any doubt about it if she plans your tours for you.”
I smiled. “She’s kind of the backbone of my entire stage presence. She coordinates with the dancers and choreographers and set designers. She’s pretty much a rock star all on her own.”
Alice came into the room as the last of my words left my mouth. “Are you talking about me again? You keep blowing up my ego, and I’m going to think I’m worth even more money.”
I winced because it was the money Tristan was worried about. Alice saw it and frowned. Our light banter had never been uncomfortable for either of us, but she held her tongue.
Alice’s phone rang, and she stepped away to answer it.
I turned back to Tristan and smiled. “I pushed. I’m pushy. But it’s usually when I’m at my best…wouldn’t you say?”
The innuendo made Tristan flush a little, and I couldn’t help myself from bending to kiss her lightly on the lips. Her mouth parted, and the innocent kiss went up a thousand degrees in a nanosecond. My dad’s loud laugh burst through the air, bringing us back to the crowded house.
Tristan stepped back with her lips curling up at the corners and her eyes crinkling as joy radiated from her. “Don’t think that wicked smile will always give you a free pass, but I’ll let it slide today.”
My smile widened. “Wicked, huh? I could get used to being called wicked.”
My voice was deep and throaty, and if the house were empty, I probably would have thrown her down on the kitchen floor and finished what we’d started the night before.
