What those questions might be was what worried Paige. Randi would want to know everything she could about Graham.
Paige dipped a finger in to taste the dressing. Needed more lemon. She squeezed some in and went back to whisking.
That’s how Randi had been with the first man Paige had dated after making herself over and moving to the Colony. Sylvester Russo been a lovely man, who had sadly died of a stroke three months after she’d been out with him.
But as soon as Randi had watched the TikTok post Paige had put up, the questions had begun. Was it serious? Did he have his own money? What was his family like? What had happened to his wife? Did he have a temper? Had he paid for dinner or triedto split the check? How many kids did he have? What kind of car did he drive?
The questions had been exhausting, but as soon as Paige had explained to Randi that she was never going to date anyone with the intention of remarrying, that she was only doing it for content and to show Randi’s father that she was moving on, Randi had calmed down.
But Randi knew Graham was different. There was nothing Paige could do to change her daughter’s mind about that, nor would she want to. That would be a disservice to Graham. Hewasdifferent. He was special. He had so many wonderful qualities it was hard to believe they were all contained in one man.
He scared the daylights out of Paige, or rather, her feelings for him did. Because she already liked him more than she’d ever liked any man.
And that included her ex-husband, Peter.
She set the dressing aside and started washing salad greens.
She’d loved Peter, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever beeninlove with him. Sometimes, she wondered if he hadn’t deliberately convinced her to marry him with the money and jewelry and travel. If he hadn’t, in a sense, bought himself a wife.
Those kinds of thoughts didn’t leave her feeling great about herself. But she’d been young and naive in a lot of ways. And he had given her all of those material things. Then Randi had come along, and Paige had been able to focus on the one person she knew loved her.
Looking back, it was probably right around then that Peter had begun cheating on her. Taking long trips without her, ostensibly for business, but now she wondered. Was he seeing men back then?
She could probably find out if she did some digging, but she no longer cared. Peter was out of her life for the most part.Because of Liam, he would never be out of Randi’s. For that, Paige felt bad.
Bad that Randi had to deal with her father on a regular basis, and also bad for Peter that he was never going to be included the way he wanted to be. But also, she really felt bad for Liam. He was never going to have the kind of grandfather in Peter that he deserved.
Randi padded down the steps from the loft. Her hair was a little damp from the shower she’d taken. “Need help?”
“No, but I think Barkley wants to go out.”
At the sound of his name, he started wagging his tail and whining.
“Come on, Barkley boy.” Randi grabbed his leash and took him out.
Paige had the steaks on a platter and had seasoned them with salt. Thank goodness she’d bought four. She had the asparagus ready to roast on a baking sheet with olive oil, salt, garlic, and lemon. When it was done, she’d sprinkle freshly grated parmesan over the stalks.
Really, all she had to do was finish the salad. When Graham arrived, she’d put the asparagus in the oven and pan-sear the steaks. Wouldn’t take long at all.
He’d texted shortly after they’d gotten home from the beach to say he’d be bringing dessert, if that was all right. She’d said it was, but he hadn’t shared what the dessert was. Knowing Graham even a little bit, she was sure it would be something good.
Paige sprinkled halved cherry tomatoes over the salad greens, then sliced up an English cucumber (which felt appropriate) and tossed that in. She added some shredded carrots for sweetness and some toasted pine nuts for crunch. She drizzled the dressing on, tossed it all together, and took the bowl to the table.
Randi came back in with Barkley. “Okay, what can I do to help?”
Paige looked around. “You could fill the water glasses. Ice and water from the fridge. In fact, maybe fill a pitcher so we don’t have to get up for more.”
“You got it.” Randi went to the table to get the glasses and took them into the kitchen.
Paige looked over her table setting.
The doorbell rang just as she was smoothing the napkin at Randi’s place setting—an unnecessary gesture, since everything was already picture-perfect. She wasn’t recording any content, but the habit of making everything just right was a hard one to quit.
“Mom,” Randi called from the kitchen. “The table is perfect just the way it is. There’s nothing to do but answer the door. Unless you want me to do it.” She grinned mischievously.
“No, I’ll get it.” Paige rolled her eyes, half smiling, and went to let their guest in. Graham stood there in a short-sleeved silk shirt the color of weathered sea glass, holding a white bakery box with a green ribbon.
“I come bearing tribute,” he said, that wry British cadence wrapping around the words. “Key lime pie — apparently, one can’t dine in Florida without it.”
