“Did I scare you off?” There was a teasing note in her voice.
“Did you mean to?” he asked. He let the question hang for a minute. When she didn’t reply he said, “You’re a hard worker, Maddy. I’ve seen you in action. I respect that about you. I have no doubt you’ll get where you want to go.”
“I’ve noticed you’re not exactly a deadbeat yourself. You must’ve put in a lot of effort to impress Ray so much that he’d leave you his business.”
“I believe in giving it your all. My parents raised us to earn our keep and pull our weight and all those other principle-oriented clichés.” He thought of Annie and gave a sad smile. “But I also tend to have tunnel vision sometimes. That’s not a good thing. I’m working on it, though.”
“We’re all works in progress.”
“That we are. Thanks for telling me what you did, Maddy. You didn’t have to.”
“Figured you should know what you’re getting yourself into.” She said it jokingly, but he had a feeling it revealed a seed of truth.
“Our mistakes don’t define us—thank God. If they did we’d all be up the creek.”
***
Maddy let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. Her heart was still palpitating in her chest. She was still mortified by what she’d done to get that job, and she’d been afraid Connor would view her differently once he knew.
She remembered telling Nick about her résumé and couldn’t help but distinguish between the two men’s reactions. Nick had high-fived her and said,Whatever it takes, babe.She should’ve known then and there what kind of person he was. Instead, she’d allowed his approval to soothe her guilt. Connor’s reaction hadn’t affirmed her actions, but he’d also shown her grace.
Conversation continued to flow easily on the drive to Wilmington, and before she knew it they were pulling into a diagonal parking spot along Main Street. She could hardly believe they were already here.
Connor ushered her into the restaurant, a hand at the small of her back. Delectable smells filled the air: grilled steak, a hint of garlic. The hostess led them across the dining room.
The lighting was perfect, falling from rustic urban chandeliers onto white tablecloths. The low buzz of conversation and clattering of silverware blended with the sultry jazz piped in from invisible speakers. An adjacent room boasted high ceilings and a scarred wooden floor that tilted a bit, ending at a brick wall. It was there that the hostess seated them, then left them to look over the leather-bound menus.
A few minutes later Maddy’s mouth was watering at the entrée descriptions. “Everything looks so good. Do you have any recommendations? Have you been here before?”
“No, I haven’t,” he said. “My best friend, Lamont, recommended it. I’ll tell you, it’s a little intimidating to choose a restaurant for someone in the business.”
“What? No, I’m not hard to please. Besides,you’rein the business.”
He gave her a wry look over his menu.
Maddy laughed, her gaze flittering over the entrée selections. “I really don’t eat out very often, but I admit I’m impressed by the chef’s creativity. Look at the blackened scallops. ‘Served with a spring mix atop sweet-and-sour sauce, garnished with candied walnuts and bleu cheese crumbles.’ Yum.”
“Sounds like someone’s made a decision.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Did you see the cioppino? And the Chilean sea bass? It all sounds so good.”
“Well, you’ve narrowed it down to seafood at least. That’s further than I’ve gotten. I can’t get past the smell of the steak.”
When the server came to the table she shared the dinner features. Maddy was sold on the blackened scallops, and Connor settled on a very large rib eye.
“Your sisters seemed to be getting along pretty well this week,” he said once their server sashayed away. “At least while I’m around.”
“They’re... behaving. But nothing’s been resolved, believe me. Much to my grandmother’s dismay.”
“She’s been gone awhile. I’ve only lived next door a couple years, but I’ve never known her to take a long trip like this.”
“I think she’s giving us space to work things out. Frankly, I’m surprised Emma or Nora didn’t take a hike a long time ago. I’ve been praying for reconciliation, but neither of them is willing to budge.”
“And there you are, right in the middle.”
“It’s never been my favorite place.” The server came and brought their drinks, then slipped quietly away. “You’ve never asked what happened between them.”
He took a sip of his Coke. “Figured it was none of my business. Must’ve been a doozy to still be festering after all these years.”
