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Gray inhaled the scent of turkey, and thoughts of Thanksgiving popped up. When he walked into his own place, only the smell of whatever furniture polish the maids used greeted him. He’d much prefer the smell of a turkey dinner. His brother was a lucky guy.
Allison sat at the small round table in the gourmet kitchen while his sister-in-law stirred something on the stove.
“Kiera!” Allison jumped out of her seat and hugged Kiera before giving Trent a dirty look. Then she looked at Gray. “Trent said you were bringing someone, but he refused to say who. When did this happen?”
“After the wedding, and for now, we’re keeping it to ourselves,” Gray answered.
“My lips are sealed. Promise.”
Allison drove him crazy as only a younger sister could, but he trusted her.
Trent returned from putting the jackets away and stopped beside his wife. “I think you two met at the wedding, Addi
e, but if not, this is Kiera. She spent a lot of time with Gray and me when we were kids.”
Gray watched as Kiera and Addie exchanged the usual pleasantries.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I made an apricot almond tart and chocolate cupcakes.” Kiera put the two desserts on the table.
Addie looked first at the tart “That looks delicious. I haven’t had that kind of tart in a long time.” Then she glanced at the cupcakes. “Are those gummy worms on the cupcakes?”
Trent laughed and Kiera smiled.
“They’re mixed in with crushed chocolate cookies.”
“Very funny,” Allison said, peeking at the cupcakes.
Addie looked at him then Allison before she looked at Trent. “I don’t get it. What’s the joke?”
Trent handed Kiera and Gray each a glass of wine. “Kiera made cupcakes like these once and convinced Allison they were real worms so we wouldn’t have to share with her.”
“Sounds like something my brothers would’ve done to me, but they would have used real worms not candy ones. How old were you, Allison?”
“Maybe three. I don’t remember exactly.” Allison uncovered the cupcakes and pulled one out. “Since I didn’t get one then, I’m having one now.”
“As good as they look, I’m going to wait. Dinner is almost done.” Addie pulled a gummy worm off the cupcake Trent held and went back to the stove.
“Do you need any help?” Kiera asked.
“All set. Trent can help me serve in the other room.”
Gray took that as their cue to leave the kitchen, and he followed Kiera and his sister into the dining room. While they waited for Addie and Trent, Kiera and his sister caught up. As a child, Kiera had always spent more time with him and Trent, but she’d gotten along well with Allison, too.
Instead of joining the conversation, he chose to listen while he mentally made plans. Randall wanted him to meet with José on Monday morning. In a perfect world, he’d arrive in Cozumel early tomorrow, get a good night’s rest, then handle business with José. He’d need a flight out tonight to accomplish that, and he had no intention of cutting his time any shorter than necessary with Kiera.
That left him with Option Two: fly out tomorrow and sleep on the flight, then meet with José on Monday and spend a day or two there in case anything else came up before he flew back home. How late could he leave tomorrow without jeopardizing the mission?
“What’s your problem?” Allison asked him. “You look mad at the world.”
Gray looked at his sister. “Work stuff.” He reached for his drink. “Are you going to work with Jake?” When he’d last heard Allison’s plans, their father had been trying to convince her to stay in Rhode Island.
His comment got the desired results.
“You’re moving? When did you decide that?” Trent asked.
“When you were on your honeymoon, Jake offered me a job with the Falmouth Foundation.”
“Is the moron moving with you?” Trent asked.
