21
So starting November fourth I’m going to be in Hood River four days a week. I’ll be back for supper club first thing Friday or late Thursday and I’ll leave again Sunday night.”
Daisy looked over from where she’d been hanging a new piece of art to replace the one she sold the day before. “Wow.”
“I told you he asked me to be their personal chef while they worked on their new album.”
“You did. And you said you were trying to figure out the catering gig thing too. What about that?”
Daisy didn’t word it in an accusatory way at all.
“Local jobs are good. I earn plenty at them. But when I have to go to Seattle it costs me more in time and gas, travel, all that stuff. I’ve been looking over my numbers and for most of my jobs, like dinner parties and that sort of thing, I’m only barely making more than even. And with traffic and the ferry and all that, it eats up a lot of time. Plus, you know, I’m sort of sick of people like Kathy Bonebright.”
“I can’t even with that woman. Such a bitch.”
“Yes, but your life now means you have to deal with people like her more often. And you soldier on. Because you love Levi.”
Daisy blushed. “Honestly, with the exception of a few, mostly people have been nice. It’s probably because they’re afraid of Levi’s mom and Jonah. Levi told me Jonah cut this woman who he overheard talking about me to her knees. Not literally of course, he’s way too smooth to need to resort to that. He’s got such a way about him. If you think Levi is an alpha male, you just need to spend a few minutes with Jonah Warner to know the true meaning of alpha male.”
Jonah Warner was indeed one hunky alpha male. That Levi’s older brother had Daisy’s back made Mary happy.
“Anyway, so I spoke with those two folks who had approached me about being their personal chef. I’m going to be doing prepared meals for them. They’ll come pick them up here on Saturdays. I’ll make a week’s worth in advance. I’m holding off on non-Bainbridge catering gigs for now. And trying to stick to weekends only.”
“So do you foresee this personal chef thing as a long-term goal?”
“I don’t know. I love making food. I love the supper club but I don’t know if I’d want to do it every day like with a restaurant, you know? And I like catering, but there’s not a huge margin of profit for me once I deal with staff and all that stuff. Being a personal chef would be interesting, but I don’t know if I’d want it in the long term. But I’m trying it both ways. Down in Hood River with Damien and then up here with the pre-prepared meals. I have the time and the opportunity to try things out. I’m going to take that gift.”
Daisy nodded. “All right, that totally makes sense.”
“And while I’m not working for Damien, I’ll be working on the cookbook.”
Daisy’s eyes lit. “So exciting!”
“We’ll see. I want to do it either way. If my agent can’t sell it, I may do some small print runs and sell it here at Tart and via mail order. I have no idea if it’ll fly. People may not care a bit about my recipes. But I have the time so I’m going for it. When it’s a little more defined I’m going to talk with Gillian about some marketing and logos and stuff.”
Gillian was an amazing graphic designer. She’d done the branding for Tart and Mary loved it. She’d done some stuff for Luxe when Mary had run the truck so it was natural she’d go back for the cookbook.
“And this will give you an idea if this thing with Damien can work. I mean if you’re down there more. Living with Levi is a new challenge. I mean it’s good, don’t get me wrong, but seeing him every day is different now that we’re living in the same place.”
“I get the feeling being around a band while they record an album is stressful. So I’m trying to remember that part. It’s exciting, but I’m scared. What if I’m not enough?”
Daisy came over, taking Mary’s hands. “You’re everything. The more I’m around Damien, the more I like him. The more I can see he’s all about you. Give it a chance. I like how you’re using this as a way to explore lots of new avenues in your life. You’re smart. You’re talented. You’re strong. You’re beautiful, and of course he digs you. How could anyone look at you and not see what an incredible catch you are?”
“Because he’s got access to everything. He’s got money. He’s got women who literally throw themselves at him. I’m bitchy and peculiar and I’m not willing to give up my whole life to be with him, and so many would.”
“He could have had those women but he wants you. Don’t underestimate yourself. My god. Baby, you’re spectacular. Not just to look at, but everything about you. He doesn’t want any of that other stuff. He’s all about you. Accept that.”
That was it really. She needed to really accept it. She was deep in super-duper like with him. She thought about him all the time. He’d never done anything to her but be kind and giving. She had to believe it.
“I’m trying. It’s odd, thinking about being away half the week. I’m going to miss this.”
Daisy hugged her. “We’ve all spent time with our dudes, falling in love and all that jazz. It’s your turn. And that’s good too. I’ll still see you three days a week. And that’s pretty damned good.”
* * *
She arrived two days early and set about her work. Damien was busy enough preparing for recording that he didn’t have too much time to obsess over her being there in his kitchen. But it made him unbelievably f*cking happy every time he came into the house and took a deep breath.
Her cooking smelled so ridiculously good. Garlic and onion, savory and sweet, whatever she made filled the air and made his stomach growl. He’d cruise through, she’d hand him something to taste and he’d oblige.
It was so damned good. Not just the food, but the way it made him feel to have this with her. To know he’d see her every single week. Days of every single week.
He usually went into recording with a lot of stress, but this time was different. That first day when he cruised in to the barn at eleven, he was relaxed from a nearly two-hour-long sex fest with his woman. He’d left her rumpled and sleepy in his bed. He knew her scent would be on his sheets like it was on his hands.
“Someone got some this morning.” Paddy looked up from his spot on the floor. He’d been placing his pedals in his own way. His guitar was on his lap as he tested the sound.
“I don’t kiss and tell.” He pulled his hair back and into a ponytail before wrapping several drumsticks.
Ezra was doing double duty in the booth and would also be doing backup guitar on the tracks. He had a phone to his ear even as he spoke to their producer and sound tech while they fiddled around with the board.
Vaughan strolled in, tipping his chin. “Where’s the food? I really only came for that.”
“She’ll be up in two hours but she wanted me to remind you all there are snacks in the kitchen. She even made juice and withheld her frown when she saw how many sodas I’ve already had today.” Damien grinned as he tested his sound through his headphones.
“You need to lock that shit in and marry her. Otherwise it’s back to Doritos and stuff.”
“Don’t say that around her. She’s nervous enough. You go talking marriage and you’ll scare her away.”
“Don’t f*ck it up like I did.” Vaughan tuned his bass.
“Let’s get this show on the road, losers.” Paddy stood, ready to go.
“Let’s make a record.”
She came in quietly through the door to the kitchen. She didn’t want to interrupt their work. More than that, she was in her own head space from cooking.
She loved his kitchen so much. It was a total joy to work in that space. It was large and bright, there was more than enough counterspace, double ovens, convection oven, six-burner stove, separate grill.
It was like Disneyland in there.
Smiling, she set up their lunch. Today she was starting them off with a taco bar of sorts. Spiced and marinated tofu and veggies for Paddy; shrimp, whitefish and steak for the others with a variety of toppings.
For dessert she’d made a quick and easy strawberry kiwi granita. Not high in sugar, but would give them something sweet and full of energy for the afternoon.
Once she set up she left as quietly as she’d come in. She’d set up on a schedule and they’d smell it. If they wanted her to break in and tell them, Damien would let her know. She’d come back in an hour to clean up.
The freedom of this new schedule was pretty awesome, she had to admit. She had plans to work on a curry recipe that afternoon. She’d been fiddling with it for the last few days and was very close to being finished.
Sharon had asked her to come up to the main house anytime she wanted. And she would, but for the next few days it would be nice to just settle in to this new routine.
And she couldn’t deny how wonderful it had been to reunite with Damien. He’d been in New York on some publicity stuff. Originally it was supposed to be just Paddy but their manager had talked them all into going.
But he’d sent her texts and pictures and had called. It hadn’t been too different from when he was in Hood River and she’d been in Bainbridge, but he’d shown her a hearty welcome when he’d picked her up two days before.
She smiled at the sight of Violet trotting toward her.
“Oh, wee baby piggy.” She knelt and gave Violet love. “You’re such an escape artist. Let’s get you back home before the doggies see you.”
Not that the dogs would hurt her. Most of them were afraid of the demon pig. But Loopy adored her and got so excited every time he saw her, and it got the other dogs all worked up too.
“We can hang out later. I’m going for a bike ride. I bet you’d fit in the basket.”
Violet did a little dance and it made her laugh. “But for now, back home.” Dutifully, Violet followed and went back into the enclosure she shared with Mr. Big, Ezra’s other pig.
Big gave her a snorty hello before going back to his nap. Violet trotted over and lay herself against him.
She walked back to Damien’s house, checking her e-mail. There were several from friends and one from an address she didn’t recognize that had an attachment she couldn’t open on her phone.
She had also brought her laptop though, so when she got back she fired it up to see what it was.
The name sounded familiar and she realized it was that shithead reporter who’d been taking pictures of Gillian, the one who’d been the cause of Gillian and Adrian nearly breaking up over a year before.
Lip curled, she opened the attachment. A picture of Damien and his brothers at some red carpet thing they’d attended in New York. She leaned closer as she broke into a sweat. Dread crawled through her gut as she blinked.
The woman on his arm was someone Mary recognized. An old fling of his who also happened to be a lingerie model. He leaned in very close to her, a laugh on his features. She held on to him tightly, her lips nearly on his.
There were others attached and she opened them, knowing on some level that she shouldn’t. Knowing she was going to see something that would break her heart, and yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
Another of her hugging him, her hand on his ass. On. His. Ass. Another with her head on his shoulder and a last one, clearly taken after the event, in the lobby of a hotel.
She stood up, sick. Sick at heart. Sick to her stomach. She was so cold. But not cold enough that she wasn’t feeling the pain.
Never, ever in her whole life had she felt like this. Felt this horrible shame. This dread and humiliation. Her chest ached and she heard a sound, a rusty sort of laugh, and she realized she was the one who made it as her heart broke.
Why would he do this? How could he do this to her when she’d finally accepted that he wanted to be with her for real?
Damien was a stranger to her. How could the man she’d fallen in love with be so cruel? Surely he must have known he’d be photographed with this woman. And that she would see it. Or maybe he’d been so cocky that when she’d said she avoided celebrity news he thought he’d be safe.
She wanted to go confront him. Wanted to walk into that studio and throw her laptop in his face, and while he was on the ground clutching his perfect nose she wanted to kick him in the junk.
But the thought of his brothers knowing . . . and they must have since they were there. They all knew and no one stopped him. No one told her.
She slammed the laptop shut, grabbing it and heading upstairs.
* * *
He found it odd that she hadn’t shown up, but they’d been really busy working on the first two songs so he hadn’t really noticed until he’d gotten very hungry and realized it was two hours past dinner.
They’d wandered into the kitchen only to find the stuff from lunch still there. Which he found totally odd.
“Weird. She’s not the type to blow this off.”
“You said she was working on her cookbook. Maybe she forgot because she was super into it. There’s still a huge amount of food from the snack she left earlier.” Paddy grabbed two sandwiches and some fruit.
He frowned, but maybe.
But when she still hadn’t shown up for the late meal, he knew something was wrong. It was nearly midnight. There’s no way she would have just not shown up.
“Go check on her.” Ezra tipped his chin.
“Yeah. Be back.”
“Let’s call it a night anyway. It’s late and we had a good day. No one drew blood. Win.” Paddy stood and stretched.
“Okay.”
“Let us know if there’s a problem,” Vaughan called out as he left.
The house was quiet, though the lights were on in the kitchen. “Mary?” he called out.
Her laptop wasn’t on the table though. Maybe she’d taken it upstairs to work and had fallen asleep.
He knew when he got upstairs that there was a problem. His heart thudded in his chest and he was terrified he’d find her passed out or hurt in some way. And when he got into his room he noted her things were gone. He’d given her space in his closet where bare hangers hung now. He rushed into the bathroom, and the counter where she’d left her stuff was empty; her hair stuff wasn’t in the shower.
“Mary?” His earlier casual call had turned into a louder demand for her presence, laced with fear as he rushed from room to room. “Damn it, this isn’t funny. Where are you?”
His car wasn’t in the garage though. He checked his phone and saw a message from a number in town.
“This is Quickie Rental. We’re calling to let you know your car is waiting here to be picked up. We close at ten tonight but we’ll be open in the morning at six.” They left a number.
“What the f*ck?”
He ran to Ezra’s, pounding on the door. His brother answered moments after.
“What? Is she all right?”
“She’s gone. She’s . . . I got a call from the rental car agency in town that my car is there. They left it at a little after one. Her stuff is gone. There’s no note.”
“Did you call her?”
Shit. “No. I’m sure there’s an explanation.” He dialed her up and was told by a not so cheerful recording that his number had been blocked.
“She blocked me. What the hell?”
“What did you do, Damien?”
“Nothing! I haven’t done anything! I swear.”
“Woman like Mary doesn’t just leave without word and block your number for no reason. Call her house.”
“Good idea.” She still had a landline.
She’d blocked him on that too.
“Let’s go up to Mom and Dad’s place. Did you check your e-mail?”
“I looked but there was nothing from her. A shit-ton of other stuff, but there always is.”
They got in Ezra’s truck and headed to their parents house. His mother came to the door.
“What? Is everyone all right?” The sleep went away, going into crisis-mom mode at the sight of them.
He told her and she yanked him into the house. “What did you do to her? I just saw her this morning. She was fine. She made us enchilada casserole. Your dad and I ate it for dinner. I invited her to lunch tomorrow before she headed back home and she accepted.”
“We were together. Right before I went up to the barn to work. Everything was fine. Better than fine.” He paced, shoving a hand through his hair. “She brought the snacks and then lunch. She had to have left sometime after that.”
“Maybe something happened to a family member?” Ezra’s voice attempted to soothe.
“She would have said. She wouldn’t have blocked my damned number. She thinks I did something. Someone told her something. Damn.”
“Did you do something? Now’s the time to come clean. You might be able to salvage it if you just come clean.”
“Mom! No. I love her. I wouldn’t do that to her. She should know better.”
“She does. So that means whatever she heard or saw was pretty convincing. Call Adrian. He might know from his wife. They’re close right?”
“It’s after midnight. She’s pregnant with a kid in school. I can’t call him this late.”
“All right, why don’t you e-mail her and then you can check in tomorrow morning? There’s nothing you can do right now.”
“I can go to her house right now.”
“No, you can’t. You’ve been drinking with your brothers and you’re tired out. I don’t want you driving or flying up there in the dark. It’s not safe.”
“Mom, I can’t not go. What if she’s upset?”
“She’s upset. Of course she is! But she’s going to have to deal with it until it’s daylight and you can get to her safely.”
He left the house and Ezra came after him. “She’s right, you know.”
“I know she is. This is killing me, Ezra. She thinks I’ve done something and she’s hurting and I can’t stop it.”
“I expect you’re hurting too. Never been in love before and now you are, and now you know what it means.” He paused. “Is there anything? Maybe something that could have been misinterpreted? Let’s go in and check the Internet. You e-mail her and I’ll search to see what’s out there. All right?”
“I can’t lose her. She’s everything to me. My god. I’ve never felt so helpless. Not even when . . .” He looked away from his brother. “I’m sorry.”
Ezra blew out a breath. “Don’t be sorry. You helped me then. I’ll help you now. Come on. If I can kick heroin, you can get your woman back.”