"You could change her."
He grimaced at her acuity. "Yes. When I told her that I wanted marriage and children, she laughed in my face and bluntly declared that she had no intention of spoiling her figure by getting pregnant."
"Bitch."
Her dry response made him laugh, something he regretted immediately. "Let's talk about your grand premiere instead."
"I would rather not."
He gave her a surprised look as he adjusted the cushions under his head. "You're the best pastry chef this side of town. You've been to Paris and Italy, spending years there, learning the craft. Honey, you're going to take them by storm."
He was surprised to notice that the throbbing was getting less intense. "Are you certain about not springing for a place of yourown? There's an empty building right in the heart of Main Street. We could- "
"No." She shook her head decisively. She had given it a lot of thought and decided that she did not want to be stuck behind the counter, baking things to order. She wanted to be a free agent. The premiere was just to get people to know about her and sample what she had to offer. She would hire herself out to different functions and have the creative freedom to come up with daring ingredients, ones she had concocted herself. She wanted to be different, unique, and that was exactly what she was going to be.
In the future she might consider opening her own place, but not now. She had the good fortune to be independently wealthy, thanks to their parents who had left them both pretty well off. So, she did not need the money. Baking was her passion and had managed to plug the shallow place inside her heart. It was the only thing that had seen her through some heartbreaking years.
"I'm sticking to my decision."
He studied her for a minute, objectively admiring the flawless cocoa-brown skin. She had a narrow face, set off to perfection by her short, spiky haircut. He had been horrified at first when she told him she had cut off her beautiful shoulder-length hair but had to admit that it suited her to perfection. Her cheekbones were high and sculpted, her brows tapered. She was one of those women who did not need enhancement. She was thirty yearsold, but scrubbed clean and not wearing makeup, she looked ten years younger.
He guessed he was feeling his damn age. He was two years her senior but looked a hell of a lot older than her. "Have you called him?"
Althea contemplated playing clueless but decided against it. Her brother was the only person who knew how she had been hiding her broken heart.
"No." She fussed with the lapels of her robe and avoided his eyes. "He was sent an invitation to the premiere."
"And with your name on the card, he's bound to realize it's you." His mouth tightened grimly. "The man is an entitled asshole."
"You know better than that," she stated quietly. "What he went through- "
"Was indescribable. But you were his best friend."
"Until he met her." She rose and started tidying up, her movements jerky and restless. "I cut off communications withhim. I started to reach out when I heard of the tragedy, but I could not bring myself to."
She wandered over to the window, staring out absently at the colorful garden. That was another form of relaxation for her. Flowers cheered her up, giving her hope and a form of peace. She also grew her own herbs.
The cottage had belonged to her parents, and with Andrew deciding to purchase a loft uptown near his firm, the place had come to her. When she decided to return home, he had seen to it that it was aired and cleaned out. He had also hired a landscaper to take care of the grounds. Since she had been back two weeks ago, she had spent time digging in the dirt. Summer was at an end, and she was determined to take advantage of the season.
"Honey, you're beautiful and smart and incredibly talented. Why the hell are you wasting your love on a man who doesn't see you?"
She knew her brother meant well and that he loved her, but his unintentionally cruel words made her want to lash out at him.
"Can we drop the subject?"
"Thea- "
"No." Firming her lips, she turned to face him. "I'm fine. Really." She managed a smile. "Vincent is my past and that's where he'll stay."
*****
He barely looked up from the document he was perusing and scribbling notes on the side when the doors opened. He already knew who it was. His sister's perfume was distinctive, and she was the only one aside from his mother who would dare to barge in without first knocking or asking to be admitted.
An impatient sigh hissed through his lips. He did not have time for her usual conversation. Last night he had been unable to fall asleep, and David had climbed into his bed right when he was about to get in another thirty minutes.
"You look tired." Jacklyn walked over to the cabinet to help herself to some of his excellent coffee. "Your dragon of an assistant wasn't at her desk, which is surprising. I thought she was chained to it."
He glanced up then, a slight smile touching his lips. Jacklyn Andrea McDermot was an elegantly beautiful woman who had been through two divorces through no fault of the men she had married. His sister was a sharp-tongued, highly intelligentindividual and intimidating to those who did not know her very well.
