Steam rose from the aromatic food as Andie’s eyes narrowed and drifted up to her brother’s face. A smug smile pulled at his lips.
“Why do you do stuff like that?” she challenged.
He dragged a chair away from the table, sank into it, then popped a strip of bacon into his mouth and crunched. “Like what?”
“We have a three-hour meeting last night discussing business,” she started, inwardly steaming hotter than his plate of food. “We cover important topics ranging from nightly rates, annual income, and the bottom line. We finally get to the heart of what we’ve invested the rest of our lives into and you sit down and suggest that me andthe cowboyare a thing.”
Richard kept his eyes pasted on her as he tossed another crunchy strip of bacon into his mouth. “Are you?”
Andie shot to a stand and let the scrape of her chair against the floor answer his question. The older couple seated beside a window glanced over as she moved to an empty table, fruit plate in hand.
“How are you guys this morning?” she asked them, forcing a hint of cheer into her voice.
“Just fine, dear,” the woman said as she rested the syrup container onto a plate. “Looks like he’s gotten himself into a bit of hot water.” The gray-haired woman aimed a crooked finger in Richard’s direction.
Her husband covered his mouth with the back of his hand and shouted over at Richard. “It’s best to just say sorry and move on, son.”
“He’s not…” Andie corrected. “He’s just my brother.”
“Oh,” the couple said in unison. “We thought you two weretogether.”
Andie had to cover a laugh. As much as she didn’t like that they’d made the assumption, she knew Richard would dislike it even more.
“No, this is just my baby sister.” Richard was headed her way with his plate in his hands. “But you’re right anyway,” he said to the man as he took a seat. “I should apologize.” He turned his gaze to Andie next. “Sorry, little sis.”
“Oh, isn’t that sweet?” the woman cried.
“Atta boy,” the man cheered.
Andie moved her gaze back to her fruit and fought back the irritation that threatened to burst out of her in a heated rant. She wasn’t in the mood. Here she’d had her life turned upside down in a matter of days and she still hadn’t fully accepted it. Being in the program was one thing. And sure, the entire focus was on how it would be once they were in their new location. But now that they were here, the permanence of their situation—and the utter loss of their prior existence—was starting to sink in. She’d never go back to her comforts. To her huge, beautifully designed penthouse with prompt room service, faithful maids, and jacuzzi tubs aplenty—the best of which being the outdoor hot tub on her private balcony overlooking the city.
To top it all off, Andie had to pretend to be someone thatwasn’ttrapped in a relocation program for the rest of her life. Someone who hadn’t just lost nearly everything she’d known, including her own name. That was the real crux of it. Not the penthouse or the comforts. It was the fact that she couldn’t be honest about who she was, where she was from, and what they’d been through.
Shards of devastation threatened to prick right through her calm façade. Her eyes stung as she fought back the tears welling there.No, Andie. Save them for the pillow.But that was just it. She’d managed to keep even those at bay. And now what, she’d have a breakdown right there for Richard and the old couple to see?
“Hey, I really am sorry,” Richard said under his breath. “I honestly forget how sensitive women are.”
The comment only fanned her irritation. She aimed an incredulous look at him. “You’re digging yourself in deeper.”
But Richard put his hands up in surrender. “No, no, I’m sincere. Julianne always told me I needed to work on that. Besides, you’re already dealing with enough right now.” He paused to glance about the place. “We all are.”
Andie’s shoulders softened. She pulled in a rather shaky breath, then sighed. “Right. We are.” Her thoughts narrowed, as if streaming through a funnel, into one lasting concern. One that had been bothering her increasingly over the last few days.
A beat of uncertainty flickered as she considered bringing it up to Richard. She’d have to approach it in a roundabout way.
“What do you see your life looking like here?” she started.
He shrugged and salted his eggs. “I don’t know. But I have a better idea since the meeting. I plan to just contribute in the areas that suit me best. The business end, mainly.”
That didn’t exactly answer her question. Or at least, not the question she’d been hoping to ask without exactly asking it. “What about…” She shifted her gaze to her plate while orchestrating the words. “Do you see yourself having a family one day? Getting married.”
“What?” he hissed, causing Andie to flinch. “We can’t even think about that kind of thing right now.”
“No oneisthinking about it right now,” she said defensively. “I’m asking about down the road, of course.”
Andie caught sight of a gal carrying a fresh, sizzling skillet in a cast iron pan. After setting it on the buffet, she proceeded to shred a small block of dry cheese over top.
Andie’s eyes settled on the sharp edges of the grater, musing her heart was about to go through it too.
