Nicole moaned with pleasure as she bit into the delectable broccoli and cheese omelet that Chef Roland had cooked for her. He was Red’s personal chef, and he was on call 24/7, ready to come to the house at a moment’s notice to prepare anything Red or his guests desired.
“You like?” Red asked, as he sipped at his coffee.
“I like. Very much.” She took another bite and shook her head, completely awestruck by the amazing taste of this simple food. The eggs and cheese practically melted in her mouth.
They were sitting in the veranda located off the kitchen. Nicole liked sitting out there because it was very open and spacious, but there was still a roof overhead and some protection from the elements.
Inside, she could see Chef Roland bustling to and fro in the kitchen. He was a middle-aged man with red hair and bright blue eyes, and he and Red seemed to be friends. They had a quick, easy rapport.
“Isn’t it kind of strange to just have a man in your kitchen, fixing you meals like that?” she asked Red, as he kicked back in his chair and enjoyed his coffee.
“Maybe at first. I’m used to it now.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.”
He shrugged. “We can let him go if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“You mean fire him?”
Red smiled. “Chef Roland has plenty of opportunities in the culinary world. If you don’t like having him around, he won’t be here.”
Nicole took yet another bite of the scrumptious breakfast and closed her eyes. “Come to think of it, I might get used to this life.”
Red laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
She opened her eyes, put her fork down, and studied her fiancé’s expression. He was sipping his coffee and seemed to be content, but just a few minutes ago he’d glanced at the Wall Street Journal and something had upset him. She’d seen the tension in his eyes and the way his jaw tightened as he quickly scanned the paper.
At the time, she’d let it go. Work was work, and she was still really nothing but a glorified intern.
But as she watched Red now, trying to look at ease, trying to remain playful and happy—yet somehow not being totally convincing—Nicole sensed that whatever was going on might be serious enough for her to ask about it.
“I noticed you reading the paper earlier,” she said carefully, trying to sound curious instead of suspicious.
“Me? Never. I only read blogs and only when they’re about me.” He grinned and sipped his coffee.
He was being coy and she wasn’t sure she liked it. “Was there something in The Wall Street Journal that bugged you?”
He frowned briefly and sighed. “Nothing worth thinking about or talking about.”
“But you are. You are thinking about it.”
He smiled at her. “Aren’t you the clever psychologist all of a sudden?”
“I just want to make sure you’re okay. If something’s bothering you, I want to know what it is.”
Red licked his lips. “I’m going to tell you a secret, babe.” He leaned forward in his seat. “When it comes to business, something’s always bothering me.”
“I’m a good listener.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Don’t patronize me, Red.”
“I’m not.” He put his coffee cup down on the table. “I just want us to enjoy this beautiful morning together and—“
Suddenly, his phone was buzzing. With a frustrated exhalation, Red glanced at it, and then his eyes widened. “Shit. It’s my mother.”
Nicole felt a rolling, sickening sensation in her stomach—like she’d was on an elevator dropping twenty floors. “Are you going to answer it?”
He stared at the phone hesitantly. She’d never seen Red look that way before—nervous and unsure. Finally he answered, standing up and walking a few paces away from the table, turning his back to her.
“Mother,” he said, a statement. Then he listened for a time. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself,” he said. “I meant to but things have been busy for me.” Another long silence while he apparently listened.
Nicole wondered if his mother was haranguing him, insulting him like she’d done when he was a child. She couldn’t imagine Red putting up with that sort of thing now, though.
“You are?” he said, his voice getting slightly louder. “When were you planning to arrive?” His shoulders tensed and hunched as the conversation went on. “Of course…what about Jeb? Is he coming with you?”
Nicole pushed her plate of eggs away. She suddenly she’d lost her appetite.
“I’ll see you soon,” Red said, after another long pause. And then he ended the call, staring down at his phone as if had betrayed him. He came back to the table and sat, his face drawn and no trace of the earlier good humor remaining. “That was interesting,” he said with sarcasm.
“What’s going on?”
“My mother’s apparently been reading the tabloids. She was upset that I hadn’t told her about our engagement, and so now she’s decided to drop in and meet you in person.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes.” He wiped a hand across his face. “She’s flying in from Chicago and will be here first thing in the morning.”