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He saw the confusion in her eyes. He didn’t want her to think he’d insulted her.
“I’m sure everyone there knew you were your mother’s daughter, correct?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Then they know your background. They know that, like Eli, Egan, and Ethan and all the other Bond family members, you could have coasted through life doing nothing but sitting on the beach and looking out over the water.”
She laughed. “True.”
“But you didn’t. You’ve got a career that takes sweat and determination in a field that is run more by men. You could own your own restaurant and work when you wanted and issue commands sitting back and cooking when you felt like it.”
“I’d never do that,” she said indignantly.
“That’s right, you wouldn’t any more than your cousins or your mother did. So in speaking to this group, you show that it doesn’t matter where you come from, hard work is the key to success, not luck or landing in the right spot in life.”
Though there were times he thought luck was what landed him in Boston and this job.
“You make a valid point,” she said.
“So it stands to reason that is why your mother wanted you there. And maybe it was to get you out of your comfort zone. Though if I was to be honest, I don’t mind you in the kitchen.”
She lifted her eyebrows at him. “Excuse me?”
He laughed and lifted his drink to his lips. “I’m not sexist thinking that a woman should be in the kitchen. I’m just saying you’ve got one hell of a talent. I was going to eat that entire dinner but figured you’d think I was a pig. Ever pick up a cereal bowl when you’re done and drink the milk?”
“Of course,” she said. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“No,” he said. “My mother always dumped the milk. I thought it was crazy. But she ate fiber cereal so maybe no one wants to drink that.”
Grace laughed. “I wouldn’t. Give me Cocoa Puffs and the milk is the best.”
“Captain Crunch,” he said.
“We could debate that, but that can be another conversation.”
“Back to your dinner. I wanted to lick your container clean. I mean pick it up and stick my face in it and lick it like a dog would until every last drop of sauce was gone. But I would have picked you up with sauce in my beard. Talk about embarrassing.”
Grace was laughing so hard and even angled her head to check his chin out so he twisted it for a better look. “That is what the bread was for.”
“And there isn’t one crumb of bread left,” he said.
“Good,” she said. “I should have given you a whole loaf.”
“I’m stuffed and don’t care. I’ll eat the rest tomorrow on one of my breaks between flights. It will save me from fast food again. I get a lot of food delivered to the docks.”
It was easier than leaving. He’d order and they’d drop it off and he’d eat when he got back from a flight. If he was just transporting products and not people, he’d eat a sandwich or something while flying.
“I suppose you do what works for you. I have a hard time eating out. Not that I don’t enjoy it.”
“But you’re used to a certain quality of food,” he said. “I don’t blame you. I’d never order out again if I had your food daily.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate that. And you only had one simple dish.”
“I’m sure there isn’t anything about you that is simple,” he said.
The conflicting thoughts in his brain didn’t normally take up much space anymore.
He was a champion at pushing those thoughts away that he didn’t or couldn’t deal with.
