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“Mm, the expensive stuff,” my father said, impressed.
“We’ll break out the scotch and cigars later,” Dane tempted him.
“Now we’re talking.”
I gestured for them to sit and started passing the salad and bread around. Dane graciously opted for my dad to take the head of the table, even though it was Dane’s house, his domain. I found that respectful. Clearly, it was one more thing about my
boyfriend that my father had to admire, regardless of how he felt about Dane being too old for me at thirty. Really, I thought that was code for Dane being too mature and sophisticated for me. Not to mention well beyond my tax bracket.
I’d gotten an earful of Are you sure you know what you’re doing, sweets? when I’d told my father I was moving in with Dane. But maybe now he saw that I hadn’t turned into a Stepford or become some sort of concubine.
Actually, I supposed I did serve that last purpose, since we weren’t married. And hardly a day went by without us stripping each other bare and going at it like sex-starved addicts.
The smile returned. I just couldn’t contain it for long.
After dinner, Dane and my father surprised me by offering to clean up, but I shooed them away for more football and the afore-promised scotch and cigars on the patio off the theater room. I didn’t need them throwing my organized kitchen off-balance. I’d rearranged all the cabinets and drawers, since I wanted everything in its proper place so I could find even the most minor of accessories.
My OCD made me a successful planner, but it also made me anal-retentive about my workspace. Even Rosa had had to learn where I now kept dishes and flatware and how I wanted the pots and pans arranged on the rack that hung over the large island.
I served chocolate lava cake and coffee during halftime, bypassing the traditional pumpkin pie. My father stuck around for the rest of the game, which pleased me. I could tell he’d reluctantly had a good time, even clasping Dane on the shoulder as they shook before he kissed me and climbed into his car.
We went back inside the house once my dad had cleared the gate. I hoped he could find his way out. It was a tricky location, set off back roads in scenic Oak Creek Canyon. But I’d given him detailed written directions, so I figured he’d be okay.
“I’m ready for a shower,” I said. “After golfing and cooking … I must stink pretty bad.”
Dane chuckled, low and deep in my ear as his arms slid around me from behind. “You were amazing today. Dinner was incredible.”
“Thank you. My game, however, was atrocious.”
“You didn’t seem to mind while we were on the course.”
“That was because I was admiring the view. You have a very powerful swing. There were a couple of tee-offs when I actually thought you’d edge out Dad by a few yards.”
“Luckily, I’m not quite as good as him.”
“Yes, that is fortunate. He’s having enough trouble digesting the fact that we’re living in sin.”
“Ah, but not for long,” Dane reminded me. As if I could forget. “Though … you didn’t mention it to him.”
“First of all, it was challenging enough to have him come for dinner while we all pretended it wasn’t a holiday. Thanks for playing along, by the way.”
“As much as you’ve told me about your family situation, I can understand how Thanksgiving might seem … sardonic … to him.”
“That’s a very polite way of putting it,” I muttered. Then I worked out of Dane’s tight embrace and turned to face him. “What were holidays like at the estate in Philadelphia, when you were growing up?”
“Eventful,” he said. “My aunt went all out for everything, every year. Even when she wasn’t feeling well because of the cancer. Apparently, my mother had been big on decorating the mansion and helping the kitchen staff with the meals, so Aunt Lara stepped into the role—and claimed she adored it. I had no basis of comparison, of course, but I thought she did an exceptional job.”
“She must have loved you a lot. To raise you and make sure all of the family traditions stayed intact, were passed along to you. It couldn’t have been easy. She must have given up some of her own dreams.”
“She once told me she’d never intended to have children. My parents had planned a big family, and Aunt Lara had offered to serve as nanny. She liked kids. She just wasn’t interested in having her own brood. Primarily, I think, because she’d had some not so healthy relationships with men when she was young. But then, later on…” He grinned coyly. “She found the right one.”
I regarded him suspiciously. “Oh? You never mentioned she married.”
“She didn’t. They tried to keep it covert. But I found out about it.”
A twinkle in his eye had me dying of curiosity. “Who?” And then it hit me. “Oh, my God. Amano!”
With a nod, Dane said, “I think they were very happy together. More than just wanting to stay on to protect me and the estate, I’m pretty sure he kept his job in the mansion to be close to her.”
