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“I was hoping for a fewyears?”
He snorts, a brief break from his professional persona. “Wouldn’t that be nice.” A moment of silence hangs between us before he seems to snap out of it. “I went for a shop, but I don’t know your preferences yet. If there’s anything specific you need, just ask, and I’ll be more than happy to run out for it.” He stoops and pulls out a new cast-iron frying pan from the drawer. “A replacement.”
I wince. “Looks heavier.”
“Oh, it is.” He smacks his free palm against the bottom of it. “Does Mr. Wolf have any more brothers we need to worry about?”
I chuckle, though it’s a morbid and terrible joke. “Not that I’m aware of.” Maybe a niece, but I can’t see her being a danger to either of us. Besides, the way she ran out of here yesterday, I don’t know that we’ll ever see her again.
He starts loading the fridge. “Have you eaten? Can I make you something for breakfast? Here, let me get your coffee started.” He’s flipping buttons before I have a chance to answer.
“You don’t need to wait on me,” I call out over the buzz of the fancy Italian espresso machine.
“Mr. Wolf has asked that I come every day to meet your needs, now that you’re living here.”
“He didn’t need to do that.”
Raj’s brow furrows. “Will my presence here be an issue for you? Because I can speak to Mr. Wolf—”
“No, of course not.” I hold up my hands in surrender, afraid I’ve offended him. “I just mean I’m self-sufficient. I didn’t grow up with allthis—” I wave around me. “You’re going to be bored if you’re relying on me to keep you busy.”
“One can never be bored with good company.” He winks before setting a full mug of coffee in front of me, followed by cream and sugar.
“Thank you.” I fix my drink, noting how Raj watches intently, no doubt mentally measuring how much of each I put in so he can make itforme next time. It’s going to take me a long time to get used to this new life.
My phone chirps and my stomach tenses as I see the name pop up.What now, Mama?
Mama:Look what Celeste found among her dress patterns! She’ll sew them for your bridesmaids. Connie and Stephanie have already sent their measurements and I’ve found the perfect fabric.
I click on the attached picture. Sure enough, it looks like something Celeste Enderbey would sew—chaste and cotton, circa 1985. “Stop it!” I wail, scrolling to the spool of green-and-white gingham fabric. Mama’s favorite.
“Is something the matter, Miss Abbi?” Raj asks.
“Yes, actually.” I groan with exasperation. “You know what you can help me with, Raj? Tell me how to deal with a Momzilla who is trying to hijack every single element of my wedding.”
He cocks his head, his hand collecting mine to study the ring on my finger. “Mr. Wolf neglected to mention that bit of news.”
“Oh.” I flush. “It just happened yesterday.”
A bright smile fills his face as he squeezes my hand. “Congratulations are in order, then.”
His sincerity tempers my frustration with Mama for the moment. “Thank you. It’s all come as quite a shock.”
He gives my hand another squeeze and then releases it. “To you, maybe. I am not at all shocked that Mr. Wolf has asked you to marry him.”
“Really? Why not?”
“He is a different man since he met you.”
“How so?”
“Just … different. In a very good way.”
I smile. Raj is so easy to talk to. “Can I help you with all these groceries?”
“And leave me with nothing to do? No, thank you.” He flashes a grin.
I sip my coffee and watch him quietly as he goes back to his task, washing berries and filling the fruit crisper.
