CHAPTER 8
“I’M SO GLADyou’re coming, too, Grandpa,” Mel said, her breath tickling the back of Kyle’s ear as he maneuvered his Jeep past the gates that marked the entrance to Emerald Cliffs. She was sitting in the back seat, having deferred shotgun to her grandfather. She was leaning forward so that she could talk to both of them.
Gregory Tanner cleared his throat. “I’m still a little surprised Miss Emily invited me. We haven’t…well, we haven’t really seen much of each other these past few years.”
“That’s probably why she invited you,” Kyle said. “To catch up on old times.” He braked at a stop sign, then turned to face the older man. “I should probably warn you, though, that I think she’s a bit enamored with your reputation. The Cat, I mean. Don’t be surprised if she wants to hear all your stories.”
“Not all of them, I hope,” Gregory said. “Melissa told me how you two first met. I certainly don’twant to sharethatescapade with your grandmother.”
Kyle laughed. “No, you’ve got a point. Probably best to keep any stories you tell limited to the old days.”
Gregory smiled. “That I can do.”
Kyle met Mel’s smile in the rearview mirror, her gaze reflecting her thoughts—they hadn’t told her grandfathereverything. Kyle had picked them up at seven, easily finding Mel’s house in Mission Viejo, a more inland community about half an hour from his house in Laguna Beach and a few million dollars from Miss Emily’s palace in Emerald Cliffs.
“Don’t worry,” Kyle said, as they got close to the house. “Mel or I will rescue you if Emily starts to be too overbearing. She can be that way.”
“Yes,” Gregory said. “I know.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, I remember.” He smiled, his mustache curving with his lips. “And thank you for looking out for me. You’re a good man. So nice of you to bring me along on your date with Melissa.”
Kyle sneaked another peek at the rearview mirror, this time to see Mel roll her eyes. “I told you, Gramps, it’s not a date. I’m working for Kyle now. Security consultant. It’s a great job.”
She met his eyes in the mirror, hers dancing. He’d brought business cards when he’d picked her up,and the delight on her face as she’d run her fingers over the embossed type still amused him.
“Ah, yes. That’s right. I thought perhaps you two were courting?” he said, turning the statement into a question.
“‘Courting’?” Mel laughed. “Is it my imagination or did we just drive through a time portal?”
Gregory didn’t say anything, and neither did Kyle. After a moment Mel sat back in her seat. “This isn’t a date,” she repeated. “And we’re not courting.”
And even though Kyle had known all along that she’d say that, he still felt disappointment kick him right in the gut.
* * *
WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT BRIDESwas apparently true. Kyle’s cousin Lucy glowed. No, more than that. If someone had cut the lights, Mel was certain that Lucy alone would illuminate the room.
It was a completely fabulous party, and Mel was clinging to Kyle for dear life. “I didn’t realize there’d be so many people,” she said. “Just how many relatives do you have?”
He frowned, then started counting on his fingers. “There’re Emily’s kids—my dad, his two sisters and his brother. They’re all here, of course, except Mom and Dad.” He gestured across the room to somepeople she’d met about a half hour earlier. She’d already forgotten their names and she told herself it didn’t matter. She was here as Emily’s guest and Kyle’s employee, not because she was auditioning to be part of the family.
Kyle was still counting. “And, let’s see, I’m an only child, but I don’t think any of my cousins are, and there’re five—no six—cousins. And then there’re all of Frances’s kids and Lucy’s brothers and sisters and—”
She pressed her fingers to his mouth. “Never mind. I get the drift. Big family.”
“I told you.”
She sighed. “I know. I just didn’t realize how big.” Actually, it was kind of nice. She’d been expecting another Emily Radley Affair with a capital A, but this was more of a laid-back party. There were even toddlers—somehow related to Kyle, though she couldn’t keep track of how—racing around the halls.
All in all it was loud and wild and, except for the fact that she couldn’t remember anyone’s name to save her life, she really was having a good time. “Your family’s really nice,” she said.
He smiled. “Yeah. They are. I hardly saw them when I was a kid—too much traveling—but they’vealways been around.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“I am,” she said. And she meant it. “Gramps is, too.” She nodded toward the couple in the corner. He and Emily were chatting like old friends over by the fireplace. “Guess they’re catching up, huh?”
“I’m surprised they haven’t kept in touch. Knowing my grandmother, Gregory is exactly the type of man she’d want in her life. She always did have an adventurous streak.”
Mel shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s nice they’re together now.” She took his hand, thrilled when he twined his fingers through hers. “I guess it’s a good thing Gramps rushed me to that job interview. I’d never even worked with Betsy before.”
“Rushed?”
