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“I guess my confusion lies in trying to label what it is that’s developing between us,” he explained. “I think we’re done fighting. Officially, we’ve gone on one date, but we’ve spent a lot of time together in general. It’s too early to say much more than that.”
“You like her,” Miss Adelia pointed out. “And she likes you. Even when you two were fighting, I could see a sparkle in her eye when she spoke about you. I, too, am curious where it’ll go. I know better than anyone how Maddie can be. She was spoiled mercilessly as a child. Her father treated her like the sun rose and set at her command. As she got older, she became quite the handful. She’s my kin a
nd I love her, but I know how difficult she can make your life if she wants to. I’m hoping that you can”—she hesitated for a moment—“bring balance to the Force, so to speak.”
Had the elder Mrs. Chamberlain just made a Star Wars reference? There were more layers to her than even he knew. “Me?”
“Yes. You’re a self-made millionaire, but you’re very down-to-earth. You don’t walk around with your nose in the air. I like that about you. Even when you weren’t pretending to be a poor bartender, you were never arrogant or treated people like you’re better than them. I think that’s important. I think Maddie could use that kind of influence in her life.”
Emmett shrugged away her compliment. He’d always been fairly down-to-earth. His family had money, but none of it had gone to him, so he’d done his own thing. It never occurred to him that he was better than anyone else, but he knew from Maddie’s own admission that she had been guilty of that. Was he a good influence on her? Since they’d started hanging out she’d gotten arrested, passed out drunk at a bar, and tried to shoot a man for daring to spray-paint her bakery. Not the best track record.
“I’m not sure I’m a good influence on anyone, especially your granddaughter. I’m living a double life. I’ve lied to every person in this town.”
“Have you?” Adelia asked.
He hadn’t outright lied, true, but he hadn’t been honest, either. “I’ve lied by omission.”
“Every facet of your life isn’t the business of everyone around you. Some things are meant to be private, and if you’re wanting to put the past behind you, I see no problem with that. It’s not as though you’re going by an assumed name and dye your hair blond so no one will recognize you.”
“You may not take issue with it, but I worry about Maddie,” he admitted. “I don’t think she’ll take it as easily as others might when she finds out the truth about me.”
“You mean when she learns that her forbidden, blue-collar romance is really an affair with a wealthy bachelor in disguise? What part of that lie could possibly be disappointing?”
“You make it sound like a soap opera plot,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s not what I’m lying about so much, as that I’m lying in general. There will be drama, I know it.”
“Well,” Adelia said, setting aside her teacup, “Madelyn is a very dramatic girl. But tell me the truth . . . Are you worried she’ll feel betrayed because you lied about your past, or are you more concerned that she’ll like you even more when she realizes you’re rich?”
That was a good question. He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he had a hard time enjoying himself when he felt like this was hanging over his head. “I like that she’s seeing me without knowing the truth. I’m not sure that my influence has anything to do with it, but she does seem to be relaxing a little. Dating a lowly bartender is a pretty big step for her if she doesn’t know the truth. Did you tell her?”
“Of course not. I told you I’d keep your secret. She’s involved with you because she likes you, not because of what you can buy her. But you’re right: the fact that you two are dating is a huge step for her. She’s always been very cautious about who she dates after what happened to her in high school.”
Emmett frowned. “What happened to her in high school?”
Adelia waved away his question. “That’s her tale to tell, if she chooses. But the point is that she’s gone out of her comfort zone to see you. I think that means she’s growing up and truly likes you as you are. When the truth about you comes out, I think things will be fine. Hopefully your money will just be an unexpected bonus.”
Maybe Adelia was right. Maybe he was worried that she’d like him more if she knew the truth. He’d had his fair share of gold diggers come after him in Tampa. There’d been a time when he was willing to spend money on a beautiful woman while he enjoyed her company. But that was long ago. He lived a simple life now—one that he enjoyed. If Maddie knew the truth, would she expect him to change? To live the millionaire life she thought he should be living?
He wasn’t interested in that at all. He liked the easy life of Emmett the bartender. He could only hope that was enough for Maddie, too.
Maddie was certainly getting used to having Gertie around. In the afternoons while Gertie watched the counter, Maddie’d been able to meet with Alice Jordan about the movie-night event and do some work upstairs on the tea room. She’d even started waking up an hour later. Gertie liked staying in the evening so much that the two of them had started making up whatever doughs and batters they could the night before. Some things had to be mixed and immediately baked, but everything else was made up and refrigerated overnight. It had been a tremendous help, and Maddie didn’t understand why she’d never considered this before.
Today, Maddie was studying a couple of different paint swatches, trying to decide what color she liked best for upstairs. At this rate, she could have the tea room up and running ahead of schedule.
“I like the abalone pink better than the rosette,” Gertie said.
So did Maddie. It was a delicate shade that brought to mind classic Victorian tea service, and that was exactly what she was going for. Paired with cherry tables, lace curtains, and just the right artwork, it would bring the room together perfectly. “Abalone it is,” she decided, tossing the other swatches into the trash so she wouldn’t second-guess herself.
When she looked up from the winning swatch, she spied Pepper on the sidewalk outside the hair salon next door. She’d been hoping to get the chance to talk to her future sister-in-law, but the opportunity hadn’t presented itself until now. “Can you watch the shop for a second? I need to talk to Pepper.”
“No problem.”
Maddie rounded the counter and slipped outside. Pepper was doing something with her phone, but she turned it off and slipped it in her purse when she saw Maddie approach. She tensed, snuggling further into her leather jacket as a poorly disguised frown drew down Pepper’s brow. She was probably trying to figure out what Maddie wanted from her. All they had in common was Grant, and until recently, a mutual dislike for each other.
“Pepper,” Maddie said with a pleasant smile. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Pepper sighed and shuffled her feet anxiously as though she was trying to come up with an excuse not to chat, but couldn’t find one. “Sure,” she admitted at last. “I’m waiting for Grant to pick me up, so I have a few minutes. What do you need?”
“I don’t need anything,” Maddie corrected, suddenly feeling very nervous about what she was about to do. Pepper’s resistance was a result of years of being mistreated by Maddie. How could she possibly undo that with a few kind words? She always tried to promote an air of confidence, but she could feel it crumbling as she sought out the right way to do this.
