Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“You made that cake,” he pointed out.
It was the wrong thing to say, he knew, when her eyes turned to slits and she snapped, “Shut up, Dair.”
“It’s a beautiful cake, lassie,” he returned.
“Big deal.”
“It will be for us when we eat it. Mum’s world crashed around her last night, and tonight, she’s eating cake. And that shite.” He gestured to the platter. “Which looks great and smells better. But ye working so hard on it will mean everything to her. She’ll remember you and your father’s, but especially your kindness in this time of her life for the rest of it.”
She bit her lip and sniffed.
He kept at her.
“If ye did up this house, you’re fucking good at it. Ye planned your sister’s wedding within every quarter hour, and she had a day that was nothing to her but loving and being loved in return while you were running around arranging grass.”
“Dair—”
“Ye dinnae have to make money to be worth anything. My mum hasn’t worked a day in her life.”
“She raised two children.”
“And she’s raised millions for charity,” he retorted. “She made a home. She made my father look good through entertaining.” He aimed a pointed glance at the platter. “There’s worth to time spent doing those things.”
She licked her lips and stared at the platter like she’d never seen it before.
He got her attention again when he bit out, “Fuck your mother and fuck her flat. Your father adores you. He’ll be happy you’re home for a spell while ye decide where ye want to land.”
“God!” she cried. “Stop doing that!”
Dair was confused. “Doing what?”
“Being all…all…”—another arm fling, this one in front of her indicating him—“you.”
“Sorry?”
“Why are you so awesome?”
He felt his body jerk in surprise.
Then he smiled again, but this one came very slow.
He took a step to her.
She took a step back.
“What are you doing?’ she asked unsteadily.
“Ye think I’m awesome?”
“Oh God,” she breathed in a panic.
His smile didn’t waver.
He took another step forward.
She took one back.
“Is everything okay?” Ned asked from behind them.
Fucking shite.
“Yes!” Blake chirped fake cheerily, hopping forward to rescue the strawberry. She tucked it on the platter, picked it up and shoved it into his hands. “You take that in.” She craned her neck to look beyond him. “Dad, can I have a martini?”
“Already shaken, darling,” he said.
“Before those get cold, Dair,” she ordered, tipping her head to the platter.
“We’re not done talking, lassie.”
“I need to open the wine to breathe for dinner. Go.”
He didn’t move.
“Go!” she snapped. “I didn’t toil over wrapping dates with bacon for it to be cold and gross when people ate it.”
That got him moving.
But he did it saying, “After dinner, you’re coming back to the hotel with me.”
She didn’t respond.
Even so.
After dinner, she was coming back to the hotel with him.
They were going to talk.
And he didn’t intend to bring her home when they were done.
It happened after the third time he reached under the table to take her hand and Blake pulled away.
Ned was at the head.
Blake at the foot.
Kenna was to Ned’s right, Dair next to his mother, seated to Blake’s left.
Davi was across from them.
By the by, Blake hadn’t served them steak.
Oh no.
She served them a perfectly roasted prime rib with crisp, perfectly seasoned hasselback potatoes and the tenderest brussels sprouts he’d ever tasted, the bonus being they were coated with balsamic glaze.
He’d had meals in Michelin Star restaurants he hadn’t enjoyed as much.
But his mother noticed everything. It had been the bane of his existence all of his life.
Now it was going to be the bane of Blake’s.
That and Kenna’s bluntness and honesty.
“I’m sorry,” she said shortly. “I heard the raised voices earlier. You’re likely to think it’s none of my business. However, if it isn’t, perhaps ye two should go somewhere and talk out your issue.”
“Mum,” Davi said low, proving she hadn’t missed Blake’s actions either, “stay out of it.”
“Blake’s not mad at me,” Dair announced. “She’s upset her mother evicted her.”
Kenna pulled in a shocked breath.
Angry color came to Ned’s face, and he asked, “I’m sorry?”
Fuck.
She hadn’t told her father yet.
Something that didn’t need to be confirmed was, when Blake slapped his arm and snapped, “Now, I’m mad at you.”
“Sorry, baby,” he muttered.
“She can’t do that,” Ned stated.
“Well, Dad, she has,” Blake said on a sigh. “I was going to tell you tomorrow. I was busy with doing food prep while managing a hangover. I didn’t have time to be angry and throw a tantrum. She’s having my things moved home.” A hesitation and then, “I won’t stay long. It’s time I found my own place anyway.”
“That is your place,” Ned said.
Blake nodded. “Yes. I know. I’ve been living there for years and she’s hardly ever there. But it’s still hers.”
“No, darling, that apartment belongs to the Norton estate,” Ned explained.
An electric vibe sizzled over the table.