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“Coconut macaroons,” she tempted me.
Oh, were they tempting. I gave her a half smile. “Okay, maybe one.”
She set a plate out on the large island and placed three cookies on it. “Sit down,” she ordered kindly.
I tossed my bag near the stairs and obediently took a seat on one of the stools lining the grand island. The gourmet kitchen had shiny commercial-size stainless steel appliances and a breakfast nook enveloped in windows. It was one of my favorite places in the house. Probably because Miss Rae had made it feel like home. This was her domain, and no stepmother had been brave enough to boss her around. Miss Rae might have a heart of gold, but she was tough as nails.
She sat next to me, and her lively blue eyes encouraged me to spill my guts. “What’s up, buttercup?”
I grabbed a cookie and debated taking a bite, which was kind of a big deal for me. No one had ever rendered me unable to eat before. I knew Mindy would get so worked up about guys that she couldn’t eat; however, I’d always been sure I would never be a victim to such a cruel fate.
“Ophelia,” I sighed.
Miss Rae slapped the countertop. “What did that ungrateful brat do today? That girl has always been too big for her britches. Her momma should have taught her some manners.”
Miss Rae had been through all the stepchildren along with me. She loved one—Mindy—and she disliked most, but she loathed Ophelia.
I dropped the cookie back on the plate. “It’s not her, exactly. It’s Kane.”
Her faced pinched like a bulldog. “Is he giving you a hard time? He seemed polite—not to mention pretty—but knowing who his mother is, it’s no surprise. She is a piece of work. Did you see all the new furniture? Get ready for shabby chic, by the way, whatever that is.”
I rested my hand on top of Miss Rae’s strong, age-spotted hand. “Kane isn’t giving me a hard time. It’s just the opposite. He’s been nothing but nice to me.”
She squinted. “So, what’s wrong?”
I was embarrassed to say. I mean, I knew Miss Rae would keep anything I said to her confidential. She’s always told Auggie she worked for me, not him. Naomi and she had been my protectors and constants in the musical chair environment I’d grown up in.
I tapped my fingers on the counter. “Kane was helping me with my medical school essay during lunch today. Ophelia happened to see us and took it all wrong. Kane and I are only friends. He plainly said so when he took me to dinner on Monday night. But she’s going to blow it out of proportion because that’s what she always does and then she’ll tell everyone. It will be just one more humiliation since no one will believe that someone like Kane would ever want to be with someone like me. And then everyone at the office will start gossiping and staring at me even more than they have been, which I already don’t understand. Unless maybe they saw Kane coming out of my office. Oh my gosh, what if they did? We’re practically related, though Kane hates that and doesn’t think we are. But everyone else does. Ugh,” I groaned and finally took a breath before pushing the plate of cookies away and laying my head down dramatically on the counter with a sigh.
Miss Rae chuckled and stroked my hair repeatedly. “Hmm, sounds like you’ve had an interesting few days.”
“Not really. I mean, sure, for me, but it’s nothing.”
“Then why are you so upset?”
“I don’t know why.”
“I think you do.”
I lifted my head. “I do?”
She tapped my nose. “If I had to guess, and this is just a guess,”—she grinned—“I would say you like Kane.”
“Of course, I like him. He’s a nice guy.”
“Let’s not forget attractive and older.” She wagged her drawn-on brows.
I bit my lip. “Yeah.”
“Uh-huh, that’s what I thought. You have a crush on him.”
“No,” I said way too quickly.
“Honey, you’re not fooling me.”
I sat up straight. “Fine. It’s ridiculous, I know.”
“Why? Sounds like maybe he has a crush on you too.”
“No way.”
“Oh, honey.” She stood, walked back over to the cutting board and began arranging the peaches on the flatbread already covered in cheese and prosciutto. “You are like whiskey in a teacup.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re delicate and beautiful on the outside, but inside there is this fire waiting to come out if you would only let it. And nothing can stoke a flame like a little romance.”
“Miss Rae, Kane and I aren’t going to be romantic.”
She shrugged. “You never can tell about these things. But I’ll tell you this, if a man like Kane was paying me some attention, I’d take advantage of it. And I sure as heck wouldn’t care what anyone had to say about it, especially Ophelia.”
