Chasing Serenity (River Rain 1)

“I’m not sure about that.”

“He still didn’t say no, and if he can’t handle it, and he agreed to it, how is that on her?”

I’d been looking at him.

Now I was glaring at him.

As it seemed with me (not that I was hiding it), Judge didn’t miss anything.

Which had to be why he asked, “Why are you suddenly pissed at me?”

“Because you’re making sense and you being logical doesn’t fit with my mini-tantrum.”

A pop of his dimple and, “Ah.”

“I still want this done quickly.”

“For your dad?”

I turned to face him. “You’re right about all you said. But the fact remains, he’s in hell and he might be willing to do a good thing for your program because it’s something that’s close to his heart. He’s always given time to anything that gets kids into sports or interested in stepping away from their TVs and PlayStations, getting outside and being active. This will still kill. And I want him to do what he feels he needs to do for Mom and Bowie, our family and the people who could benefit from the program. But I don’t want it to last forever.”

“You got plans this weekend?”

Of course I did.

“Why?” I asked.

“It’s Thursday and we can’t get started on it unless we get started on it. What are you doing this weekend?”

“Saturday during the day, I work. In the late afternoon/evening, Cooking Club with Mi-Young and her boyfriend, Jacob. We will consume that then go to a speakeasy and consume beverages. Brunch on Sunday with my friend Tiffany.”

“I like to cook.”

I stared at him.

Then I inquired, “Are you inviting yourself to Cooking Club?”

“Sure.”

“We can’t get program work done while we’re frying chicken thighs,” I noted.

“Back up, what is Cooking Club?”

“Once a month, me, Mi-Young and Jacob get together and cook a three-course meal, from scratch, from start to finish.”

He loved this idea. I could tell.

“Who’s Mi-Young?”

“My best friend and business associate.”

“She work with you on your Fabulous Foot Forward program?”

Dear Lord, he even knew the name of my baby.

Totally going to kill my mother.

“Yes,” I clipped.

“So she might have some good ideas and she knows your family dynamic, including the recent addition of Duncan.”

Damn it.

“Yes, but—”

“So we can cook and brainstorm.”

“You live two hours away and we’re not done until late, and that’s even before the speakeasy.”

“I got buds down here I can crash on their couch.”

“Do you also have an answer to everything?” I asked fake-sweetly.

“When it comes to you, no. But I’m learning.”

Time to get over my emotion, get over how easy it was to talk to him, open up to him, and get us back on track…

That being both of us on different ones.

“Judge, I think—”

“You got a full-time job, I got a full-time job, and we live two hours away from each other. So, Chloe, we can either fit this in when and where, or we can make room for it. What’s it going to be?”

“I don’t like being backed in a corner,” I noted crossly.

“I hate to point this out, but you put yourself there, babe. I got time. None of those folks inside have asked for a rush job. It’s you who wants us to get this done quick. If you wanna take care of your dad, call your friends and tell them to buy a couple more chicken thighs.”

“The. Club. Is. At. Mine. This. Time,” I said through clenched teeth.

This delighted him.

Openly.

“Perfect,” he decreed. “Text me your address.”

He was so very wrong.

It was not perfect.

But someone had to look after my dad.

And with Matt across the country (and not talking to me) and Sasha…whatever she was, that was down to me.

Like it was always down to me with everything, one way or another.

So it was the only avenue available.

And thus, I had no choice but to take it.

Therefore, on a nod which received a blinding smile from Judge, I did.

Chapter 9

The Ivy

Corey

Two years ago…

As he folded out of the back of his chauffeur-driven car, Corey saw her out on the patio of The Ivy, a rare flower amidst a riot of blooms, and he was not surprised at the sunglasses on her nose that were so enormous, Jackie O would be envious.

He knew she wore them not only because they were uber chic and she looked good in them, but they were perfect for her to hide behind.

There were a few things Chloe needed to hide from these days, he suspected.

Big things.

He walked up the narrow path to the front door of the restaurant through its close mass of people on the patio, ignoring the looks he was getting.

Corey was wearing his own Tom Ford sunglasses, but even so, he was a man that was very rarely missed.

Because of this, his bodyguards, both of them, were not joining them, but they weren’t far away in watching his progress to Chloe’s table.