Page 23 of Vincent
"Will you stay with me?"
"I have a meeting, but I'll try and come back early. How is that?"
The boy nodded. "I love you, Daddy."
Vincent's heart contracted. "I love you too, buddy."
*****
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"You said he hasn't called you."
"So?" Determined not to dwell on the fact that Vincent was avoiding her, she dumped some honey into a bowl. She had been pretty busy anyway. And he had kept his promise to his son. The fact that he had asked Jacklyn to take the boy around to get baking lessons was a reflection on how much he was afraid of what had developed between them. She was sorry now that she had confided in her brother, who would not let the subject go.
"So, it simply means you should forget him. There's this very successful lawyer at the firm. He's into litigation and has a good reputation-"
"No thanks. I do not want you setting me up. I'm fine."
"This is not healthy. I hope you realize that." Shoving from the counter, he went to wrench open the fridge and took out a beer, one she had stacked for him as she did not drink the stuff."You're fixated on him and now he's avoiding you." He popped the cork and came back to sit facing her. "He cannot even drum up the courage to take his son here. He has to send his sister. His bloody sister! You need to keep away from the entire family."
"And disappoint David?" She measured some icing sugar with great precision.
"Oh, dear God."
"What?"
"You're taken in with the kid."
"What? He's... so what?"
"You're not his mother."
She sent him a fulminating glare. "I know that."
"Do you?"
"Yes. Just leave me alone." She shoved her fists into the dough she had been preparing.
"Honey-"
"No." She shook her head. "You know that I'm in love with Vincent. There's no going around how I feel." She pounded the dough until it took shape. She had been keeping busy as well. He had had his assistant call her with details about some retirement party for the oldest member of the board and she had that to prepare for. She didn't have time to think about him ignoring her.
"I'm worried that this is going to blow up in your face," her brother said quietly.
Blowing out a breath, she stopped her kneading and wiped her hands on her soiled apron. She was busy, there was no doubt about it. She was getting orders left, right, and center from hotels, guest houses, diners, and individuals, and was thinking of hiring someone to help out. Not on a permanent basis, because she hated telling people what to do.
Mrs. Bennett was different; she was doing the admin side of things and did not interfere with the actual creative side. But it was coming to a point where she was up at dawn and not going to bed until close to midnight.
"You don't have to worry about me." She came around to sit next to him. Taking the bottle from him, she took a swig and grimaced.
"I don't understand how you can stand to drink that stuff. It tastes like piss."
He gave her a smirk and took a swallow. "Like you've ever had piss before." Slinging a hand around her shoulder, he pulled her in for a hug. "Want me to go and beat some sense into him?"
Leaning her head on his shoulder, she sighed. "I've been thinking of doing just that myself. I'm really okay."
He kissed her forehead. "You're strong, but I don't like the idea of my sister hurting over a guy."
