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I decided on the latter since I hadn’t been cool since I’d opened my restaurant. I used to go to the biggest and best parties in the city. Hell, a million different cities when I worked the cruise liners.
Now I was just a freaking boss.
“It’s not that hard, Mason.”
I flicked through my music app on my phone and settled on a summertime song from a few years ago. It had won a Grammy, for God’s sake. It couldn’t betoouncool.
I hoped.
“I love this song.” She stood up and swung around the room, her colorful dress swirling out like a bell around her as she and the baby danced together. Her thick, golden hair caught the sun, and she gave me a huge smile.
The shot to my chest was nearly staggering.
Thankfully, it was a short song, and the glimmer of happiness in her smile faded a bit as I shut down the music.
“We should get back before your brother sends a search party.”
“You’re right.”
I gestured to the other stairs. “We can go down there, and I’ll show you the outer deck downstairs.
This staircase wasn’t covered, but I’d made sure to add treads against the spray of the lake or the elements. She stood at the top of the stairs and looked out over the lake. “It really is the best view. I can see why you’d do this.” She gripped the glossy teak railing. “This isn’t like any boat I’ve ever been on. Not that I’ve been on many, but it sure doesn’t look like the tugboats I’ve seen.”
I laid my hand on her lower back to steady her since it was a little harder to go down the stairs carrying a baby than up. “It was actually an old barge. I bought it at auction last year.”
Xavier and I had bought it. He’d seen my vision for the restaurant and now this boat. He enjoyed being a silent partner with most of his ventures. He didn’t pressure me for a return on investment, but then again, I pressured myself enough for both of us.
“Oh. Isn’t a barge like a big flat work boat?”
“Yes. I liked the space of it. A helluva lot more square footage for people to mill around. Boats are surprisingly small. Even cruise ships when you think about it.”
“I’ve never been on one.” She pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. “The wind is something.” She held onto my arm as she took each careful step.
“Yeah, why I wanted plenty of cover. I actually spent years working on cruise liners in the kitchen and dining rooms. Was a great way to travel and learn what people like.”
She got to the bottom step and gave me a grateful smile. “She’s only seven pounds, but it sure feels like more when I do the stairs.”
“Maybe we should have brought over the carrier.”
“Nah. I’m pretty much the carrier. Besides, it’s a good workout. It felt like I wasn’t going to bounce back at all those first few days. I’ve always been really active with the stage productions in school.”
Another reminder of just how young she was. I hadn’t managed to stay in college for long, opting for working on airlines and cruise ships instead. It had been good money and I’d been able to bank a sizable nest egg for the restaurant and then a mortgage that only made me cry a few times a month for my house on the lake.
“So, were you on the production side or were you actually acting too?”
“Oh, I definitely wanted to act. I was good too—but I didn’t want to own up to the fact that I was better at producing.”
There was a tinge of sadness to her expression and in her tone. Again, I had the strongest urge to put my arm around her.
“Anyway, this little bean changed my mind there. Even before I found out I was pregnant, I’d been replaced in the eyes of the director of the drama department.”
“Sounds like a dick.”
She laughed. “You have no idea.”
“Do you miss it?”
She didn’t answer for a few beats. She simply rubbed her hand up and down the baby’s back. “You know, I thought I would, but I don’t.”
