Better Than Chocolate (8 page)
She put her hands to her head. “I’ve got a headache already.”
“So you have crazy parents, so what?”
“So what? My dad spends his life building things, my mom spends her life buying things. They bring the D to dysfunctional.”
Brad shrugged. “So long as they’re happy.”
“But they’re not,” she almost screeched at him.
“Then let them work it out,” he said calmly.
She was never, ever going to understand him she thought in despair as they drove onto the ferry. How could he NOT understand just how important this was?
“Just because you have Leave It to Beaver parents.”
He just looked at her as if she was from another planet. “OK, this isn’t even worth talking about.”
“Fine.” He was right. After all he was her business consultant, not her boyfriend. She lapsed into silence.
“Have you decided which deal you’re going to accept?”
Oh right. She hadn’t even been thinking about that. Some business woman she was going to make. That was all going to change now. She’d stick straight to business and forget the personal.
“I’m going with Hans.”
“Good choice. Any reason why?”
“Karen really wants me to franchise and I’m not sure that’s the direction I want to go in. At least not yet.”
“You can still franchise with Hans. But he does have more of an arts background.”
She smiled at him. “Then you think I’m making the right decision?”
“I already told you. They’re both good. It’s just deciding which is best for you.”
“And you’re not going to give me any other advice.”
“On that? No,” he said.
She lapsed into silence again. She was lucky to have Brad as her business consultant. If only… she sighed. It was no good thinking about that. She was better off single. “Friends?”
“Friends,” he said. But the look he gave her as he said goodbye at Mary’s was anything but friendly. It was hot, smouldering and it made her want to drop her pants right there.
“So,” Mary said handing her a cup of coffee.
“I have financing. I have to phone tonight but it’s good.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What?” she said innocently.
“Brad! He’s gorgeous. And the way he looks at you…”
Friends, strictly friends,” she said firmly.
“Friends don’t chase after you the way Brad does. You literally led him from one end of the island to the other.”
“It’s just business,” Elena said firmly with a great deal more conviction than she felt. “It’s a mistake to mix the two.”
“Oh come on. I can think of famous couples who met working together. Look at all the movie stars. Everyone from Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman – OK, bad example, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.”
“Look how many end up divorced. I’m not making that mistake. When I marry it’s going to be for life.”
“Oh, Ok,” Mary gave a slight sigh. “Maybe just an affair.”
“Mary!”
“He’s gorgeous! And he’s likes you. You know he does.”
“I don’t. I don’t want to!” Elena said firmly. “Besides we made an agreement.”
“Aha,” Mary said triumphantly. “I knew there was something!”
“We agreed that as long as we were getting Elena’s off the ground it was strictly business.”
“Oh,” Mary looked disappointed. “So is he going to be over tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“I’m counting on his input to decide what we’re going to serve.”
“Oh. Well, if he’s here he can help but I’m sure we can decide without him too.”
“I need him.”
She looked at Mary suspiciously.
“He’s got good taste.”
“And I don’t?”
“Of course you do. But I gave him a plate of brownies and he picked out the best without even trying. Besides I need a man’s input.”
“OK, OK. If he doesn’t come over we can set up a time for tasting with him.”
But she couldn’t get hold of Brad the next day. Or the day after. She left messages on the answering machine expecting him to call shortly. It left her feeling vaguely uneasy, even worried. Even though she knew she didn’t have any right to expect him to call. It was just so unlike him. And she had things she wanted to talk to him about.
She wanted him to come over for the tasting, she wanted to talk to him about the construction and see if he thought it was going the way it should be. She wanted to talk to him about the web page. She wanted to … talk to him.
She was about as independent as a flower is to the sun or water is to the rain. She wanted to hear his voice, listen to him laugh. She wanted to watch him, watch the way his eyes crinkled or he threw back his head with laughter.
Most of all she wanted to know he was all right. Which was ridiculous she told herself crossly. It wasn’t as if he’d been in an accident or there’d been a huge natural disaster nearby. He just hadn’t called her back for two days. Actually a day and a half. It wasn’t exactly the crime of the century. He was probably just too busy. At what?
She stopped by Elena’s. Two weeks into the project everything had been gutted. Workmen were busy putting up drywall. The buzz of a saw cut through the air as Grant waved an acknowledgement and continued to talk on the cell phone. The floors were down to bare concrete and her loft was non-existent.
“Hi,” Grant snapped the cell phone shut and turned his attention to her. “We’re on track for the construction. We do have a problem with the flooring. I was planning on laying it down in two days and it still hasn’t arrived.”
“But it will right?”
“Actually no. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s stuck in Thailand apparently and Super Builders is saying it probably won’t be in for another two weeks.”
“Two weeks,” she said weakly.
“Not to worry. I’m calling around – I’ve got leads. There’s some balsam that sounds good and Super Builders has some cork flooring I think you’d like.”
“Balsam, cork?” Wasn’t that what toy airplanes and coasters were made out of?
Grant laughed a warm and earthy sounding laugh. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. The balsam is a natural wood and it has a finish on it that protects it. Cork is natural, has a nice, cushioning feel to it and is long lasting. They’re both about the same in price as the bamboo.”
She could feel her heart beating again. “I’ve got a couple of houses I’ve used cork and balsam in. I can take you over and show you if you’d like.”
She nodded mutely.
“OK, I’ll just let the guys know and make a few calls.”
She stepped over an extension cord which snaked across the floor. “I’ll wait outside for a few minutes.” She sat at a small picnic table overlooking the docks. In mid-June the day was warm and sunny but there was still a nip in the air. If Brad were here – she stopped. She was not going to think about that, she wasn’t …
“Is it money? Do you want more money?”
“No. I just want to explore other opportunities.”
“You’re not going to come up with anything better than this. You’re the one who told me how much you wanted to work for me.”
“I know but …”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to become a granola eating hippy?”
“No. Not exactly …”
“Kids today.” He turned towards Brad. “You realize there are a hundred other guys ready to take your place at the drop of a hat. And they’re wiling to work day or night. Whatever it takes.”
“I know.”
Greg shook his head. “I thought you had what it took. Now, you’re quitting.”
“It’s just not right for me now.”
“So are you walking out on Elena too?” He glared at Brad as if daring him.
“No. I’m sticking with her. And I’ll be available for consulting on the Enlo project or anything else I had started. I just…”
“You want to explore your options.” He waved Brad away. “Just go. I can’t believe this.”
Truth was neither could Brad. He must be nuts to be giving up a job he’d spent over a year doing everything in his power to get. And for what?
There was a better than average chance Elena wasn’t going to want anything to do with him
anyway
! OK, there’d been a few moments when he was sure there was something there. But maybe she was just using her dad as an excuse. There was a better than average chance he’d given up the job of a lifetime for nothing.
Not nothing. It still gave him an opportunity to look at other opportunities. In Chemainus. That hotbed of commerce. He must be nuts. Certifiably nuts. And then he pictured Elena.
He pictured her long black hair and moss-green eyes. The way her lips would curl up in a smile. Her long, slim fingers. Her bravery. Bravery? Bravery. He knew it scared her to do the things she’d done to make her business a success. She was scared she’d lose it before it even started. But she’d done it anyway. She’d taken a chance. She’d listened to him and trusted him.
Now he wanted more. Would she? Would he in her place?
He didn’t know. But he wanted a chance to find out. And as long as he worked for Greg Tighe he wouldn’t have one. In the end he wasn’t walking away from an opportunity. He was walking towards another one. A better one. A chance for happiness. Just a chance.
Maybe he wouldn’t tell her. At least until he had something else lined up. He felt suddenly lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from him. He was free to do whatever he wanted.
And what did he want? Elena. He pictured her now in her gallery. Then he pictured her in a house dancing in the living room over-looking the ocean. He pictured a little girl with hair the same colour as Elena’s. WHOA! He was getting way ahead of himself.
Right now he wanted to live in Chemainus. He wanted to be involved with Elena. Personally, professionally, in every way possible. But he also needed something of his own. Maybe it was time to start looking at what Chemainus had to offer. Small town life with world-class health care and recreational opportunities. If he wanted to live here so would other people. He picked up a copy of the local real estate listings.
“Where have you been,” Elena demanded. “I thought you died.” She tried to keep the worry out of her voice, tried to keep it light. Two days! And she’d left how many messages on his cell phone?
“I’ve been tied up,” he said easily as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“And you couldn’t give me one lousy phone call?”
He had the grace to look shame-faced, at least momentarily. “I figured you’d survive two days.” He looked her up and down approvingly. “I’d say you did.”
She felt herself turning red. She wasn’t letting him do this to her, she wasn’t. “That’s beside the point,” she snapped, turning away from him.
“Not to me,” he said looking at her in a way made her want to melt on the spot.
“Anyway we need to go over the things I called you about.”
“Everything?” he said in amazement.
“Some of it I’ve already dealt with,” she said evenly. “Some of it, “ she broke off shaking her head in disbelief. “I gave up bamboo for cork because the bamboo was stuck in Thailand.”
“And…”
“Now the cork’s stuck in New Orleans.”
“Oh. Well, at least it’s on the continent,” he said cheerfully.
“But it’s not here!”
“I’ll talk to Grant,” he said easily.
“And I need you to taste the food.”
“Checking for poison?”
“Mary feels you have good taste,” she said a little stiffly.
“And you?”
“Of course,” she said smiling at him. “I wouldn’t ask you otherwise.”
“It would be an honour,” he said simply, smiling at her.
It was as if a sunrise had suddenly lit up the sky. She felt her heart catch in her throat. He was her business consultant. That was it. “So you’ve been in Vancouver?”
“Briefly.” He didn’t elaborate.
She wanted to ask him why. She wanted to know where he’d been. She wanted to know if he’d talked to her dad.
This was impossible. She felt her head start to ache and turned away from him. She turned back briefly. “Anyway we need to set up a testing. Does tomorrow afternoon work for you?”
“What time?”
“I don’t know. About one o’clock?”
“I’ll be there.”
She was on pins and needles as they prepared for the tasting the next day. First dates had never made her this nervous. “Is everything ready,” she asked for the hundredth time.”
“As ready as it’s going to be,” Mary said cheerfully.
“What do we have?”
“The final brownies, two types of cheesecake and apple pie.”
Elena groaned. “I’m gaining weight just looking at it.”
“We’ve also got iced teas and lemonade from fresh lemons.”
“That sounds good.”
“And I’ve made a couple of fruit ices.”
“Ices?”
“Try it before you say anything more. They’re nice and light. I think they’ll work well.”
“I’m not going in competition with the ice-cream lady.”
“You won’t be. But if you like things like that other people will too.”
She was right Elena realized. Just the thought of all the cheesecake, brownies and cheesecake made her feel bloated and sick. Dan would like the pies. So would Brad. But there were also a lot of people like her who appreciated something lighter.
“Who else is coming?”
“Today?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Brad.”
“That’s it?”
“Uh-huh,” Mary nodded.
“That’s not a tasting!” she wailed.
“Of course it is. We’ll get other people’s opinions first. But we’ll be the core. Until we decide what we want no one else tastes.”
“You could have warned me.”
“I did,” Mary said lightly. I said Brad had good taste and I wanted him involved.
“You didn’t say he was going to be the only other person.”
“He’s not,” Mary said reasonably.
“There’s no one else,” Elena said looking around wildly.
“You’re here, aren’t you,” Mary said lightly. “And I happen to consider myself a person.”
“Well, yes, “ Elena said faintly. “I just assumed …” her voice trailed off. She’d just assumed there’d be other people there to provide a buffer. “Are we having anything besides desert?”
“Soups and salads for lunch with on the spot deli sandwiches and one or two entrees like quiche.”
“And for breakfast?”
“Breakfast burritos, fresh fruit kabobs and biscuit breakfast sandwiches.”
“They’re done to death.”
“Not the way I do them,” Mary said firmly.
“Why don’t we taste those today,” Elena said suspiciously.
“Because I like starting with desert,” Mary said laughing.
She’d noticed, Elena thought darkly. This was probably Mary matchmaking. And there wasn’t a thing she could do to stop it, she thought. She brightened momentarily. “Maybe Brad won’t show up.”
“He called this morning to make sure it was still on,” Mary said brightly. “Come on. This is going to be fun.”
She didn’t have the heart to rain on Mary’s parade.
She might not agree with her methods or her opinions concerning Brad but she had a good heart and Elena considered herself lucky to have her as a friend. She’d just have to put aside her personal feelings where Brad was concerned. It wasn’t like she didn’t have any practise at it.
He came in better looking than he had a right to, she thought resentfully. “It smells wonderful.”
“Tastes even better,” Mary said cheerfully. “Have a seat. You too Elena.”
“I’m helping you,” Elena said hastily.
“By being a taster,” Mary said firmly.
Elena sat. “Thanks for coming,” she said faintly.
He grinned. “I can think of worse assignments if the brownie I tasted the other day is any example.”
“We’re starting with the brownie. But I’m also serving three ices with it,” Mary said cheerfully.”
“Ices?”
“Frozen like ice-cream but much lighter.”She came out with the brownie on one plate with three small ices for each of them. “Let’s see. That’s raspberry, watermelon and margarita.”
“I don’t want anything alcoholic,” Elena said quickly.
“It’s got the taste,” Mary said quickly. “There’s no actual booze in it.”
“That should be OK then,” Elena said.
“Aren’t you having any?” Brad asked.
“Nope. I’ll be in the kitchen preparing the next tasting. Bon Appetite,” Mary said brightly exiting the room.
Brad smiled at her. “If I didn’t know better I’d say that was a set-up.”
Elena felt her face flush. “Don’t look at me,” she warned. “I had nothing to do with it.”
The look in his eyes wasn’t making her feel any better. “It’s just business,” he said innocently, taking a bite of the brownie and ice. “Umm,” he groaned appreciatively. “That woman can cook.”
Elena just glowered at him.
“This is what you wanted isn’t it? I mean, you did ASK me here didn’t you?” he said.
“Of course I did,” she snapped furious. “Do you have to enjoy it so much?”
“Enjoy what?” he teased as Mary entered the room.
“You like it,” she said beaming.
“How could I not?” he said smiling. “You’re an amazing cook.”
“I’ll help you in the kitchen,” Elena said.
“Not so fast,” Mary said, putting out a hand to stop her. “There’s more to taste. And I’ve got detailed questionnaires for you to fill out.”
“Questionnaires?” Elena said groaning.
“I need input on all the menu items. More than just ‘it tastes good’, Mary said sternly. “This isn’t just a chance for free food, you know. I need good input.”
“Of course,” Elena said weakly.
“And I’ve got more food for you to taste.” She headed off to the kitchen returning shortly with a three page questionnaire. “You can get started on this while I get the next group of foods together for tasting.”
“I don’t have anything else planned,” Brad said sweetly.
He looked like a Cheshire cat Elena thought resentfully. Kenny G came on in the background.
“Thoughtful of Mary to put on mood music,” Brad commented.
“It’s not going to do any good,” she retorted. “I’ve already told you all I want is a working relationship.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Brad said cheerfully. “It seems you do.”
“I don’t,” she said angrily.
“Good, let’s go over the questionnaire shall we?”
She could see the gleam in his eye. He was enjoying every minute of this she thought fuming. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“Fine,” she said primly. “Let’s start with the brownie. Is it too sweet or too tart?”
“I’d say it’s just about perfect,” he said looking her in the eyes, “with a good mouth feel.”
“What?” she said almost choking.
“Mouth feel,” he said innocently. “It’s nice and chewy with just the right amount of texture.”
“Of course,” she said faintly. This was no good. She was never going to make it through the whole menu like this. “Let’s go over the ices,” she said firmly.
“Smooth,” he said, his voice like butter. “Melts in your mouth.”
She could feel butterflies in her stomache. “You’re distracting me,” she whispered angrily.
“But I’m not doing anything,” he said.
She wanted to stamp on his foot. Or stick out her tongue. He brought out the worst in her without even trying. “We agreed,” she said heatedly.
“To what?”
“Not to let personal feelings get in the way of the job at hand.”
“I’m not,” he said pointedly. “And actually you’re the one who said that.”
“But …” she felt her breath catch in her throat. “I can’t do this. I can’t,” she said angrily.
“Can’t what?” he pressed her.
“You know,” she said angrily.
“I think you’re using your dad as an excuse.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he said, taking a bite of brownie.
“What difference does it make?” she asked heatedly.
“What if I’m not working for him anymore?”
She felt herself choke on a sip of lemonade. “That’s your dream job.”
“I just said what if.”
“What if – you do, end of story.”
“I think you’re afraid of losing control.”
“Control of what?” she gasped.
“Your emotions,” he said looking at her straight on.
“You’re impossible,” she said. “What gives you the right?”
He leaned forward cupping her face in his, bringing her lips up to his. She could feel her heart beginning to explode. His lips explored hers firmly, yet gently.
Her lips opened. His tongue gently touched hers, tentatively, exploring, dancing. A small moan escaped from her lips.
Dimly she was aware of Mary standing above them. “I’ll take some of that,” she was saying lightly.
They broke apart slowly. Brad grinned at Mary. “Sorry, it’s not on the menu.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to reschedule. Another time. OK.”
The kiss left her shaken and trembling. What did he mean by that? Was it just her dad? Of course it was! That and business. She’d made it clear from the beginning that that was all she was interested in. At least until Elena’s was up and running. And then?
It didn’t matter. He did work for her dad. In his dream job. End of story.
She looked up to see Mary watching and blushed to the tip of her toes. “I’m sorry Mary. I’m afraid we messed up the tasting.”
“I don’t know. Looked pretty good to me,” Mary said pulling up a chair and a cup of coffee.
“Mary!”
“Don’t Oh Mary me! I’ve been in love too you know.”
“I’m not in love,” she said alarmed.
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s not love,” she insisted. “It’s, it’s – I don’t know! He’s being impossible.”
“Uh-huh. In the meantime, what about the menu?”