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“There you go.”She toasted him with her wineglass before hopping off the stool toturn off the flame. “Dinner is ready. Grab some bowls from thecupboard.”
He hid a smile as hegrabbed the bowls. He’d been born wealthy and, as far back ashe could remember, he had people picking up after him. Odette was theonly one who could order him around without a second thought.
“Yes, ma’am.”His sham humility had her giving him a sharp look as she took thebowls and started ladling out the chili. “It smells good.”
They settled down toeat in companionable silence, eclipsed only by the clink of utensilsagainst the bowls. That was another thing that hit him each time hewas with her. The silence was never uncomfortable, but they wouldslip into it with ease.
“What do youthink?”
“You don’tneed validation.” He told her teasingly.
“That's right,I don’t.”
“It’svery good.” He told her with a smile. “You don’tusually cook.”
“That doesn’tmean I’m not good at it.”
Dipping her spooninto the chili, she took an experimental swallow and nodded inapproval.
“Whenever I’mworking, I forget and, by the time I remember, it’s late and Idon’t want to eat anything heavy.”
“You shouldhire someone.”
“Remember whathappened to the last one?” She asked him dryly.
“She stole fromyou. There are reputable agencies out there.”
“She was afriend of a friend.”
“That’salways a mistake.”
“I found outthe hard way and you know I hate people in my space. I hired acleaning service and it’s working out pretty well. Morewine?”
“Why not?”Holding out his glass, he watched as she poured.
“I see Horton’shas been in the news again.”
“This time in agood way.”
“You guys arebranching out and turning up in quaint little towns.” She gavehim a curious look. “I’m betting that’s your idea.”
He nodded. “Ipassed a town on my way here and will be checking it out. The Hortonname is synonymous with quality. That will never change. We’rean exclusive brand- “
“You’vecertainly been giving Romano’s and the others a run for theirmoney.”
“We try, butmaking brands to suit the everyday people is the way to go.”
“I’m justthinking that Ilene must have been forced to start letting go of herrigid standards.”
Dion laughed as hereached for his wineglass. “Mother had to be persuaded andconvinced that designing clothing for the working class doesn’tmean we’re lowering our standards.”
“She thoughtshe was doing that when you convinced her to start showcasing mydesigns.”
“She was provenwrong, though.” He shook his head. “Your enthusiasm wascontagious.”
“That’sbecause I was desperate to sell you. I knew if I did, I was in. Ididn’t want you to do it because of our friendship.”
“You know mebetter than that.”
