Addison accepted the offering and sniffed it before tasting. Her face lit up when she chewed.
“Good?” Pop asked and she nodded. He narrowed his eyes at Skylar. “So, you’ve come back?”
“I had a kitchen emergency.”
“Everyone comes back. They say they want to leave, but in the end, they always return. You know why? Because you can always count on family.”
Her grandmother, Camilla, appeared carrying a large box of food. “Leave her alone, Vincenzo.” She slid the box onto the counter. “I put a piece of cardboard between the salads so they don’t get hot, but don’t leave them in there for too long.”
“Thanks, Nonna.”
“She’s paying for that. We don’t feed outsiders for free,” Pop said.
He made no secret of his disapproval. Not only did he prefer his daughters and granddaughters working in the family business, he openly despised Rhett Buchanan, the man who single-handedly beat him in the last election.
“Get back in the kitchen,” Nonna snapped as she punched something into the register. As soon as Pop grumbled his way through the swinging door, the register opened and she slammed it shut. “I’ll still give you a little discount—just between us.”
Aunt Angela appeared and Aunt Nicky followed. “So, how is it?”
“What’s he like?”
Skylar shrugged. “I’m still getting settled. And to be honest, he’s a little intimidating at times. I don’t know how to read him.”
Nicky tipped her chin toward Addison, who was drawing pictures in the steam on the front window. “That the rug rat?”
“That’s Addison.”
“She’s cute. Is she good?”
“So far I haven’t had any major problems.”
“Make sure they pay, Camilla. That man doesn’t deserve my food,” her grandfather’s voice yelled from the kitchen window.
“Get out of here!” Nonna snapped, then punched a few keys in the register again. “Forty-two-ninety-one.”
Skylar inwardly winced. It was more than fifty percent off, but still a lot for one meal. She really needed to improve her cooking skills.
Reaching into her purse, she removed her debit card and handed it to her grandmother. The three women glanced at it and scowled.
“Why are you paying for their dinner?” Nicky asked.
Skylar flushed and lied, “I get reimbursed.”
The truth was, she already spent the grocery budget and burned tonight’s dinner, so she had to make things right. She didn’t plan on telling Mr. Buchanan about it.
“I should hope so!”
“And really, Skylar,” Nonna said, ringing her out. “You should be preparing meals yourself. You know how to cook.”
“I know. It’s just the first day.” She couldn’t afford takeout, anyway, not on the grocery allowance Mr. Buchanan was providing.
She gathered the box and her aunt held the door, walking them out to the car. “Watch the snow. It’s slippery.”
Once she had Addison buckled and the food secured on the back seat, she faced Nicky. “What?”
Her aunt, who was only in her late twenties, smiled. “What’s he like?”
“I haven’t really interacted with him. He’s always busy.”
Her eyes rolled back. “He’s so sexy. You should really mention that you have a single aunt.”
Actually, Skylar had three, but that didn’t matter. “I think he’s sleeping with his personal assistant.”
Her dreamy expression twisted into revulsion. “Who? Erin Montgomery?”
“Yeah.”
“No way. Ugh, that just knocked him down a rung.”
“Do you know her?”
“She used to date your Uncle Finn.”
Skylar’s eyes bulged. “Erin did?”
“Yeah, before Aunt Mallory came around. She was horrible to him. And I’m pretty sure she slept around behind his back.”
“Do you think she knows I’m Finn’s niece?”
“I’m sure. There isn’t much that gets past her. God, I can’t imagine him hooking up with that witch. He can do so much better.”
Skylar wanted more details about the woman tied to her boss’s life, but she was running out of time and had to get back. “You’ll have to fill me in on her later.”
“Definitely.” Aunt Nicky kissed her cheek and instructed her to drive safe.
On the way back to the mayor’s house, she couldn’t stop thinking about how revolted her aunt looked at the mention of Erin. It actually helped, because after their interaction that morning, Skylar felt a little off-kilter. She sensed something passive-aggressive hiding under her surface, but couldn’t figure out why Erin disliked her when they only just met.
Now, it made more sense. It wasn’t Skylar. It was her family. Strangely, she could accept that. Her family could be a lot at times.
They made it back to the house, and she had everything transferred to serving dishes and on the table when Mr. Buchanan arrived. He entered the dining room and stilled, seeming surprised to find the table set.
“Wow.”
“Daddy!” Addison charged out of the kitchen and catapulted into her father’s arms.
“Look at you!” He kissed her cheek and hoisted her onto his hip, inspecting her hair and outfit. “You’re all dressed up.”
“Skylar did my hair.”
“I can tell. It’s beautiful.” He smiled and the expression climbed all the way to his eyes. “I’m impressed.”