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She laughs musically. “A chef never reveals her secrets.”
“I thought that was magicians.”
“Us chefs, too.”
“Are you an actual chef or—
“Mm, hmm,” she says, as she sips her wine.
He turns to me. “No wonder you scooped her up. Better watch your waistline. She’ll fatten you up in no time.”
I chuckle. “If you see me a little thicker at the holidays, you’ll know why.”
“I’ll put you on a diet in October to make up for it,” Lily says with a wink.
Clint laughs, and I count my lucky stars that she’s playing along so well. She doesn’t deserve a mere bonus. She deserveseverythingfor this performance. I gulp as I wonder just how much of it is a performance, though. Everything feels too natural…too right. Like we’re just a couple, chatting with a business associate, like it’s not all a lie. Probably just my imagination, but I can’t help but wonder if she feels it, too.
As we devour the berry tart for dessert, I’m preoccupied by the raspberries on it. Each one making me think of her.
The kids get squirmy and sleepy, and before I can think to say it, Lily says, “Kids, I think it’s your bedtime.” Then she looks at me.
I nod. “Go get ready. I’ll be there in a few to tuck you in.”
“Okay,” Franny says. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Bryson.”
“Yeah,” Aiden adds while yawning.
“It was wonderful to meet you both, as well.” The kids scurry off, and he says, “I have never met such well-behaved children in my life. What’s your secret?”
“Good nannies,” Lily says, smirking.
I laugh a little uncomfortably, and Clint chuckles, too. “She’s not wrong, Clint. I’ve lucked out in that department in innumerable ways.” I mean every word of that about Lily. For a moment, she hid her smile behind her napkin, and I know it’s only for me. I haven’t sorted out what her bonus will be, but it’s going to be big.
“It is important to find the right people for the job,” he says. “That is why I am so picky about where my money goes for investments. Why I like to surprise drop in on my projects. I must admit, it surprised me you were willing to let me in on your family dinner.”
One of Dad’s rules comes to mind.Lies are best told with a casual smile. “We’re happy to have the company.”
Lily smiles and nods as she eats. “I never get to meet any of Cormac’s friends from work, so this has been a welcome change.”
“You’re keeping her all to yourself? I can hardly blame you, but a girl likes to go out, Cormac. You better treat her right or someone else will,” he teases.
“Thank you!” she says, smirking at me, like she’s told me this a hundred times. “But I think he’s a little greedy with my time, and I don’t mind that at all.”
He chuckles. “Of course. About the resort. When do you see it opening?”
And more of Dad’s wisdom comes to mind. “Depending on the investors, we could see an opening in as little as three years.”
“Three years?” he asks, appalled. “How little is everyone else investing?”
“It’s a tricky thing, Clint. You know better than anyone how volatile the resort industry is, and people are skittish to invest in an unproven product.”
Lily chimes in, “It takes a visionary to see a brighter future. Unfortunately, mavericks are scarce.”
He smirks. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re buttering me up to be your maverick, young lady.”
She giggles. “Well, I should hope so, otherwise you wouldn’t be the businessman Cormac has been speaking so highly about.”
More chuckles out of him. “She’s shrewd. Are you sure you don’t need a chef to come on at MacMillan Co?”
