“Not sure.” I glanced at Gwen as she poured the eggy mixture into the pie crust. “I’ll get that figured out and text you my travel details.”
Gwen’s eyes flicked to me then back to her creation.
“Assuming you’re coming solo,” Logan said. “Unless there’s a model of the moment I haven’t heard about.”
“I’ll let you know,” I said cryptically. “Anything else we need to discuss? I’m sort of in the middle of something.”
Logan laughed. “Yeah, it’s Tuesday at eleven forty-five, I figured you’d be doing something important. Sorry to interrupt.”
There was no way I was telling him I was currently being pampered by the most beautiful woman alive. Let him think I was working hard at the office.
“Guess I’ll see you soon,” I said.
“You know it,” Logan said. “I’ll be happy when this is over. I’m lousy at keeping secrets.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure Dad’s just pretending not to know.”
“Killjoy,” Logan replied, then I heard a scuffle as he covered the phone to talk to someone “Sorry, Noah wants to make sure I tell you he says hello.” Another pause. “Excuse me, he wants me to say, ‘Hi, Uncle Harry, I miss you.’”
I grinned. My nephew, Noah, had been a surprise for all of us, his father included, but now we all couldn’t imagine life without him. Noah lived with his mom most of the time, far from California, but we tried to have as active a role in his life as we could.
“Tell that kid he’s the best, and I miss him too.”
I noticed Gwen glance over at me then refocus on her cooking.
We ended the call.
“Sounds like you’ve got a trip coming up. Anything I need to know about?” Gwen asked.
She’d put the quiche in the oven and was now watching me expectantly.
I’d been debating the question since we’d tumbled into bed the night before, because now everything between us was different.
“Yeah, actually there is,” I began slowly. “I’ve got this…thing coming up on Saturday. In Carmel. A party. Would you want to come?”
It was an awkward invitation, but the idea of bringing Gwen with me to a family function had me at an uncharacteristic loss of words.
Gwen’s face shifted as she considered it. I could read disbelief, confusion, excitement. “A party. With you.”
I nodded.
“What’s the occasion?”
I cleared my throat. Probably should’ve led with that. “It’s, um, my dad’s sixtieth birthday. We’re having a surprise party.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want Gwen to go, it was just what the implication of bringing her would mean. Sure, I’d brought women to family functions before. No one would necessarily be surprised by it.
The difference this time around was howIfelt about bringing someone.
Because Gwen wasn’t just a “someone.”
“How would that work?” she asked. “Because Carmel is sort of far for a party.”
“We’d fly out Friday after work, spend the night, take the next day to do whatever, go to the party Saturday night, then fly home Sunday morning. Early, if that’s better for you.”
Gwen rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me. “Yes, yes, yes! I wouldlovethat!”
I smiled as I squeezed her to me. “I’ll warn you, there’s probably going to be drama. My dad doesn’t love big parties when he’s the center of attention, and then there’s the static between me and my brothers.”
