“You know what I mean.” He sighed and, for the first time, shewondered if maybe there was more to it.
“Are you worried about me?”
He rolled his eyes and she got the impression he wished Daniellawas there to back him up. “Not worried worried. We just don’t want you to belonely.”
Suddenly, the ripple effect of her choices came into focus. She’dalways put her kids first, had wanted to as much as she’d felt like it was anobligation. But now she could see she wasn’t modeling the sort of balance shealways encouraged them to find. She crossed the room and wrapped her armsaround him. “You don’t need to worry.”
He returned the hug, but then stepped back and folded his arms.The gesture reminded her so much of Mel she almost laughed. “And what’s youranswer when Daniella and I say that to you?”
Touché. “It’s my prerogative to worry about you.”
He lifted his chin with a trace of challenge. “Well, same goes.”
“How’d I get so lucky in the kid department?”
He dropped his hands to his sides and shrugged. “Beats me.”
And just like that, the emotional moment passed and hersmart-aleck son was back. She loved that he had the capacity for both. Shebumped his shoulder with hers. “Are you in for the night?”
“Yeah. I have to work early tomorrow.”
She kissed his cheek. “Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
She started toward the stairs but paused when he called afterher. She poked her head back in the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“Maybe you should think about dating your architect. She’s totallyyour type.”
She shook her head but laughed. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll takeit under consideration.”
His voice followed her up the stairs. “You should listen to me.I’m very smart.”
Chapter Ten
Amanda heard the door swing behind her. Assuming it wasTanya, she didn’t look up from the cake layers in front of her. “Did we makealmond pastry cream yesterday? I didn’t see it in the cooler.”
“I don’t know, but I sure hope there’s some leftover forsamples,” Mel said.
She resisted a growl and turned. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t answer my texts.”
“Because I didn’t want to talk to you.”
Mel sighed. “I’m trying to apologize.”
Amanda wiped her hands on her apron. “And I’m not interested.”
“Bella and I had a huge fight. I wanted to be with you, but Icouldn’t walk out. I mean, we’re trying to figure out whether or not to getdivorced.”
The irony of the excuse made her chuckle. “Oh, well then. Thatmakes me feel much better.”
“Don’t be mad.”
Amanda closed her eyes. “I’m not mad.”
“Of course you are. And you have every right to be. Just tell mewhat I need to do to make it up to you.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to make up.”
Mel folded her arms and gave her a look of exasperation. “Yourmouth is saying one thing, but your body language is saying another.”
“My body language is saying I don’t want to do this with youanymore. It doesn’t mean I’m angry.”
Mel’s expression changed. It was almost comical to see therecalibration of her switching tactics. “I want to see where this is going.Don’t deny us the chance to find out.”
Twenty years ago, the move would have worked. She’d always beeninclined to kiss and make up. Even at her most frustrated, she’d have a softspot for one or another of Mel’s strategies and Mel was a master of working herway through them until she found the one that worked. But a lot had changed intwenty years.
The conciliatory smile gave way to full charm. Mel angled herhead and, without words, managed to convey a sense of come on, you know youwant to. “Foot massage.”
It wasn’t fair to tempt women who spent hours and hours on theirfeet with foot massages. Through the years, Mel had gotten away with a lotcourtesy of her skill and willingness to give them. Only Amanda spent a lotless time on her feet than she used to. And she had the money and appreciationfor self-care to get massages on a regular basis. “Not this time.”
“So, next time.”
God, she was relentless. Not to mention arrogant. To think she’donce found it attractive. “No next time. Please believe me when I say therewon’t be a next time.”
Mel’s shoulders dropped. “All right.”
It wasn’t like her to give in this easily, but at this point,Amanda wanted out of the conversation. “I need to get to work.”
“Of course. I’m sure whatever it is will be delicious.”
She didn’t watch Mel go, the way she had so many times. Instead,she turned her focus to the cakes in front of her waiting to be split andfilled and frosted. Because as much as she’d wanted to get rid of Mel, she alsohad a ton of work to do.
She’d just gotten the first one filled before Tanya burst throughthe door like the place was on fire. “What was that about?”
Amanda scooped frosting onto the cake and started the crumb coat.“Nothing.”
Tanya’s sniff came with hands on hips and head cocked to oneside. “You can refuse to tell me, but don’t lie to me.”
Ugh. She really didn’t have time for this. But she and Tanya hadbeen friends for almost as long as they’d worked together. She knew theintimate details of Tanya’s romantic ups and downs. Not reciprocating would be insulting.“Mel and I slept together, but I realized it was a terrible idea and broke itoff and she’s not happy about it.”
“Wait, wait, wait. What?”
She should have known better than to think she could get awaywith such an abbreviated explanation. She slid the first cake into the coolerand gave Tanya her full attention. “Did you not hear me or do you not believeme?”
Tanya’s mouth came open, then it closed. “The second one.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. “Iknow.”
“I demand you tell me everything. Literally everything.”
“I promise. Just not now. We’ve got a wedding tonight and threetomorrow.” Not an overly hectic few days, but she needed to be focused if shewanted to keep it that way.
“You have to eat. You can give me the broad strokes when
