She touched her mouth, the feel of Ollie’s kiss lingering. She smiled. That flan was going to taste even sweeter now.
Chapter Seventeen
Blaise pulled her sunglasses on as she stepped out into the early morning. And it was early. She seemed to be the only soul awake. She glanced at Brick’s. There was a light on. Maybe he was up making coffee. She smiled.
“Come on, Beau. Let’s get moving.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. He trotted ahead with the self-importance of a creature who believed walks were his God-given right. She supposed all dogs felt that way. She was just happy to have a partner to get her steps in with. The Colony was really charming at this hour—the sky peach-tinted, the Gulf breeze almost cool, the gulls still quiet.
“Beau, really? That can’t smell any different than it did yesterday,” she said as he paused to sniff a palm frond that looked exactly like every other palm frond he’d sniffed this week. And he’d sniffed a lot of them.
They got moving again and her thoughts drifted back to the night before. Dinner with Brick and Holland had gone surprisingly well. After their initial meeting, Holland had been polite. Reserved, but polite. Brick, bless him, had tried hard tokeep the discussion light and comfortable, even if that wasn’t his nature.
It was plain to Blaise that Brick had wanted his son to like her. The effort he’d made at conversation alone was enough to tell her that.
Holland had asked her a few questions about modeling, but it felt like that was because he was more curious than impressed. And though he wasn’t the warmest person she’d ever met, Blaise had left feeling cautiously optimistic.
“He didn’t hate me,” she told Beau. “I’m calling that a win.”
Beau wagged his tail, though that was most likely because a lizard had just run across the sidewalk.
They made their usual loop and on the return, she rounded the last curve leading to her tiny home, already thinking about coffee and breakfast. Maybe eggs this morning. In fact, a veggie scramble with a little cheese sounded good. But then she slowed.
Someone was standing at her door.
Holland. His arms were crossed and his stance was rigid. He could have easily been a younger version of his father. He looked awfully serious for this hour of the day. Blaise’s stomach tightened. Had something happened to Brick? She hoped not.
“Holland?” she called out lightly. “You’re up early. Everything all right?”
He looked up as she approached, offering a tight, polite nod. “Ms. Monroe.”
Oh, boy. No first name. That was never good. And he hadn’t answered her question.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, keeping Beau close beside her.
He cleared his throat. “I wanted to speak with you. Alone.”
Right. That wasn’t ominous at all.
She forced a smile. “Well, you’ve caught me before coffee, so I can’t guarantee my conversational skills.” Then again, he washis father’s son. Conversational skills probably didn’t rank very high.
He didn’t smile back. “I’ll be direct,” he said. “My father doesn’t need complications in his life. He’s enjoying his retirement. His peace. And I intend to make sure that peace isn’t disturbed.”
It took Blaise a breath to understand him. Then another to absorb the insult wrapped in his words.
“Holland,” she said quietly, hoping no neighbors were in earshot. “If this is about last night?—”
“It’s not,” he said sharply, then softened it with a tight smile. “It’s about what might happen going forward. Nothing against you personally, but if you’re considering a relationship with him, I’d ask you to reconsider.”
Beau whimpered, picking up her tension.
Blaise’s heart thudded in her chest. She’d never been great with confrontation, but this was silly. “Does your father know you’re here?” She guessed not.
Holland’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t see what that has to do with it.”
“Brick is an adult,” she said. “And a good man. He doesn’t need you managing his personal life.” She didn’t think he’d appreciate it, either.
“I’m not managing it,” Holland said, hands tightening at his sides. “I’m protecting him. From being taken advantage of. If you’re under the impression that his pension or savings will make your life easier…” His gaze swept over her, cool and assessing. “I won’t allow that.”
