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Palmer
Matt’s been a perfect gentleman. He’s been kind and sweet and nothing like I assumed he would be. I figured he might be a tad egotistical because he’s likely used to getting what he wants. Which I hope includes me at least for tonight. But he’s been gracious and almost humble as people approach him while we walk through the entrance of the Glacier Point Resort and head to their restaurant.
When he mentioned coming here, I didn’t want to tell him my uncle owns it, so I wait patiently as he talks to the hostess about the fact that we don’t have a reservation.
I see him try to slyly hand her some cash, but the young girl opens her hand and stares at the one-hundred-dollar bill as though it’s a fossil. I guess young people aren’t used to being bribed for a good table these days.
I wish my thoughts were on this date and how good-looking Matt is, but they’re back in my bedroom with Hudson. Why was he acting so strange? He hasn’t been that flustered around me since the morning after the night we met, when he showed up at my apartment. It was as if he was scared how I was going to react to whatever he wanted to tell me.
“I’m Matt Peterson,” he whispers, and the doe-eyed teenage girl stares with a blank expression. Then he glances at me with a sheepish expression. “It’s all booked.”
I nod and step up to the stand. I smile sweetly, lean closer, and say, “I’m Palmer Ferguson, Wyatt Whitmore’s niece.”
Her eyes widen, and her head swivels right and left, as if my uncle is going to pop up out of nowhere. “Oh, I’m sorry. Let me get someone to help.” She scurries off before I have a chance to tell her it’s not a 9-1-1 situation.
“You’ve got more clout than me here.” Matt laughs. “And she pocketed my Benjamin anyway.”
“I’m not sure if Hudson told you?—”
“That your family owns the majority of Lake Starlight? Yeah, he mentioned it. Plus, your rock star aunt, Phoenix, and your all-star cousin, Easton. You come from a good gene pool.”
I shake my head and smile. “I think there’s just so many of us. Some were bound to become bigger names than others.”
“I’m the only one from my entire town who made it big, so I’m not sure that’s the correct theory.”
The hostess comes back to the stand and grabs two menus. “We have the chef’s table in the kitchen open.”
Even Matt’s eyebrows raise. “Wow.”
Our meal will be comped, that much I know, so I hope Matt isn’t worried about what this will cost.
Matt holds his arm out for me to go first, and I follow the young girl through packed tables holding loud conversations, then through a door to the even louder kitchen. People are yelling, pots are clanking, but a deep smile faces me from behind the stainless-steel shelving where the dishes are put.
“Well, looky here!” my cousin Linus shouts, wiping his hands on a dish towel and rounding the crowded area to come over to me. He lifts his hands in case I struggle to hear him with everything going on back here. Not like you to use the Bailey name.
I giggle and shrug.
I’m not sure what to say. My date didn’t realize that even restaurants in small towns get busy?
I step out from our two-person circle and put my arm out toward Matt, continuing to sign since it’s so loud in here. Matt, this is my cousin, Linus. Linus, this is Matt?—
Peterson. Linus signs, putting out his hand. Are you telling me your name didn’t work with Cami? Linus speaks as well as signs.
Matt chuckles, his easygoing personality shining through. Nope. Palmer got us in. And the chef’s table at that? He looks at me with eyes filled with admiration. A look most women would die to have facing them, but I feel nothing stirring inside. Impressive.
Shit, he can sign? Linus grins. He must be a keeper.
I have no idea what to say, other than I don’t think he is. At least not for me. Linus walks behind my back, over to the small table for two where we can still see them working but the noise level is a few decibels lower.
I hope to impress you. Have a seat and enjoy. Do you have any allergies, Matt? Linus smiles at me because he knows I don’t have any.
Linus is in my age bracket in the Bailey clan and was one of my biggest confidants during our high school years. When he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a chef, he was adamant about doing it on his own terms. After returning from his training all over the world, he concentrated on Asian cuisine while Uncle Rome is all about European. Linus and my other cousin, Lance, are partners in this new restaurant in the resort, The Bamboo Spoon.
None. Matt sighs.
Great, let me go prepare some specialities. Linus runs his hand over the back of my shoulders as he walks back to the kitchen.
I really want to tug Linus down and get his advice about these feelings for Hudson that are suddenly rising inside me. Why, when I have this hot guy next to me, is all I can think of a man who has been in my life for years.
