“You should bring her. Becca’s a lot of fun. It’d make a dull night a little lighter.” There was a hint of hope in her voice. The sort that needed to be quashed immediately or it would grow like crazy and ruin his life forever.
He shook his head. He’d learned by experience that it was better not to run headlong down his mother’s rabbit holes.
“Maybe I’ll ask her as my guest,” Eliana said, looking carefully at him to gauge his reaction.
“Don’t.” His voice was firm.
“But, darling,” she protested. “I want her to be there.”
He shook his head. “It’s complicated, and I don’t need you making it worse. So no, don’t ask her.”
His mother sighed. “I wish you’d let me in a little more. It’s like talking to a brick wall. Or your father.”
Daniel’s nostrils flared. “Thanks for that comparison.”
“Your father had many good qualities. And so do you. But communication isn’t one of them.”
Daniel stood and tapped her desk with his fingers. “In that case, I guess I should get back to work. I’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
“I’ll keep the seat free. In case you change your mind.”
“I won’t.” He headed to the door, shaking his head. His mother was obstinate. When she got something in her mind it was almost impossible to get her to let go.
“Oh, and you can stay at my place in Charleston this weekend,” his mother called out, “I’ll have Rona make up the guest rooms.”
“Room. Singular.” He turned to raise an eyebrow at her. He knew exactly what she was doing, and he wasn’t having it. “For one person only.”
“That’s what I meant, darling. Have a good afternoon. Dinner tonight?” She gave him an innocent smile.
“Not tonight, I have things to do.” Like pull his eyelashes out one by one. Or stare moodily at the wall and determine why the heck he couldn’t stop thinking about a certain distiller.
“Okay then.” She smiled, as though she’d won a game he hadn’t even known they were playing. “Maybe tomorrow.”
The flowers arrived right before five that evening. Sandy called her to the reception desk, beaming madly as Becca took in the elegant white arrangement sitting on the center of the desk.
“These are for you,” Sandy pushed the arrangement toward her. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Becca gaped at them. She hadn’t expected an apology from Daniel. Not this fast, anyway. And maybe she didn’t even deserve one. She wasn’t sure who owed who what. This morning’s argument felt hazy, and she couldn’t quite figure out who was in the wrong. She’d made assumptions, but then he’d yelled at her to leave.
Maybe neither of them owed each other anything. Wouldn’t that be nice and easy?
“I didn’t know you have an admirer,” Sandy said. She was wearing her jacket as though she was about to leave, but she didn’t seem in a hurry.
“Me either.” Becca lifted the envelope from where it was nestled amid the blooms. Loosening the flap, she pulled the card halfway out, being careful not to let Sandy read over her shoulder.
Thank you for an amazing evening. I was smiling all weekend.
Shawn
Ignoring the weird pang of disappointment tugging at her gut, Becca slid the card back into the arrangement. The weekend felt like forever ago. She’d danced with Shawn but nothing more had happened. She could barely remember what he looked like with her thoughts full of twisted lips and dark eyes. “Can I leave them behind your desk and pick them up on my way out?”
“Are you working late tonight?”
“No, Garrett’s covering the late run. I just need to finish a few things up.”
Sandy curled her hands around the vase. “You should really put these in fresh water. But I guess they’ll be fine for an hour. Make sure you cut half an inch off the stems when you get home. They’ll last longer that way.”
“Sure. Have a good evening.” She gave Sandy a wave and headed back to the still room, checking in with Garrett and the two operators who’d finish the run that evening. There were a few more tasks she needed to do before she could leave – making sure they had enough ground corn to start the next run in the morning, and a quick chat with Mia, her almost-sister-in-law, about some marketing they were doing for the International Blend.