You Say It First
Page 48

“I’m hurt.”
She doubted that.
“I actually came to talk to you about something else,” he told her. “The bank.”
“What about it?”
He glanced over his shoulder, as if making sure they weren’t going to be overheard. “Your mom is very happy about some canceled wedding. She seems to think it will cause you to rethink your decision not to go to work for her.”
Pallas tried to ignore the sudden rock in her stomach. “I don’t get it. She makes all these rules and when I break them, she tells me to forget it. That I’ve lost my chance. So why would she care if...” She pressed her lips together. “Sorry. You have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” His expression turned serious. “What I do know is you and your mom have a difficult relationship. You always have. But you’re my cousin and we’re close. If you want to come work at the bank, just say the word. I’ll give you a job. Don’t let Libby jerk your chain any more than she already has.”
The rock disappeared and her muscles relaxed. “Why would you do that for me? You know she’d be pissed.”
He flashed her a grin. “So what? I’m the blessed heir apparent. All goodness flows through me.” The smile faded. “Seriously, you’re qualified. You’re a hard worker and people like you. You’re exactly the kind of person we’re always looking for. So it’s your call. You can come see me at any time.”
She flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you. I appreciate the offer so much.”
“There’s a no in there, isn’t there?”
She stepped back. “There is. I love my business. It’s what I want to do with my life. I need to make that clear to my mom. But I appreciate your faith in me, Drew. I mean it.”
“Unlike you, I care about family.”
She sighed. “I’m not talking about Silver. Stop trying to make me.”
“Does she ever mention me?”
Pallas pointed to his table. “Go.”
“Does she miss me? Blink if that’s a yes.”
She shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m running a very successful bank, Pallas. That makes me a catch.”
With that, he walked away. A few minutes later, Nick was back with a beer and a mug of hot tea.
“You’re looking pensive,” he said as he sat next to her.
“Drew offered me a job at the bank.”
“Do you want to take it?”
“No, but I’m happy he said what he did.” She rolled her eyes. “Apparently my mother has been all excited that Nova and Joel’s wedding is canceled. She seems to think this will bring me to my senses. I don’t get it. She wants me on her very exact terms and only on her terms. I’m not willing to do what she says, so why does she keep trying? I can’t imagine she’s all that thrilled at the thought of working with me. All we do is fight.”
“Maybe she wants to be closer to you.”
“I doubt that. Most of the time, I’m not even sure she likes me.”
“Are you going to take Drew up on the job?”
“No. I want to stay with Weddings in a Box. I like what I’m doing. The black-and-white wedding kind of threw me, but I was excited about the alien wedding. I wanted to be challenged and see it all happen. That’s important to me.”
“Have you told your mom that?”
“What and be mature? No. I just wish...”
He waited.
“I wish she would accept me for who I am,” Pallas said at last. “Without having to follow any rules or do what she says.”
He kissed her. “You want your mom to love you unconditionally.”
Which made her sound like a five-year-old, she thought, embarrassed. “I guess I should get over it.”
“Why? She’s your mother. That’s her job—to love and support you. Yes, you’ve followed your own path. So has Cade. You want to feel supported and loved in your own family. That’s not unreasonable.”
Pallas knew he was right. She shouldn’t have to fight her mother, just to be happy. And she should stop putting her life on hold until she received an approval that wasn’t coming. Only knowing the right thing to do and standing up to Libby were two different things.
“Baby steps,” she whispered. “That’s about all I can do.”
“You’re moving forward. That’s what matters.”
The warning bell rang, signaling the start of the second round. Nick returned to his seat across from her. Wynn walked over.
“Everyone at my table is out,” she said cheerfully. “I’m warning you, I’ve been on a roll.”
Pallas laughed. “I think you have to worry about Jasper more than us. If the break had come five minutes later, I would have been out for sure.” She waved her token. “But I’m keeping my cat.”
Wynn waved her hand. “I don’t care which one I am. Oh, and no one can tell Hunter what we did tonight. He’s already bitter about not being able to come to the tournaments. If he finds out we played a game he considers himself too old for, he’ll be devastated.”
“I won’t say a word,” Pallas promised. She glanced up and saw Jasper approaching. “Look who’s joining us,” she called.
Jasper spotted Wynn. For a second, it seemed as if he froze in place, but the hesitation was so quick, Pallas couldn’t be sure.
Wynn and Jasper? She couldn’t imagine the reclusive writer and the single mom together. What would they have in common?
“Pallas has to have the cat,” he said as he took his seat.
“So I’ve been told.” Wynn laughed. “I’ll take anything. Oh, and I plan to win, just so everyone is prepared.”
See, Pallas told herself. They were just friends. Imagining anything else was ridiculous.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE HEAT FROM the blowtorch made it hard to breathe. Even through the protective gloves, Nick could feel the fire licking close to his skin. He already had a half-dozen minor burns on his arms and he and Mathias were only in day two of their metal experiment.
He waited an extra second, then turned off the blowtorch. He and Mathias quickly carried the rod to the clamps and began to twist the metal. They had a limited amount of time before the rod cooled. Once it did, they had to heat it again. Unfortunately, there were only so many times any piece could be heated and cooled before it was compromised. Something they’d learned the hard way. There were shattered and broken rods all over the concrete floor.
“One more?” Mathias asked.
Nick nodded.
Mathias turned the handle. Nick watched the rod twist, crack and go sailing out in five different directions. He and his brother ducked. One of the pieces clipped Nick in the arm. He felt a sharp pain and looked down in time to see blood trickling past his elbow.
“This might be harder than it looked on YouTube,” Mathias grumbled.
Nick pulled off his gloves and goggles, then went to the sink to wash his wound. He slapped on an oversize bandage from the ones always kept in the cupboard.
“We should probably take a class or something,” Nick told him. “Talk about embarrassing. Want to get a beer?”
They went to The Boardroom and ordered beers, then took a table by the window. Nick smiled as he thought about the tournament last Monday. Jasper had ended up winning it all, just like Pallas had predicted. She’d gone out in the third round, with Nick quickly following in the fourth.