“Stay, Max. Spend a few days now that you’re here. I don’t have many friends. I’d like to keep you in my life.”
He stared at her, clearly startled. “You think of me as a friend?”
She grinned. “I imagine I could with a little practice.” She studied him a minute, then added, “And it seemed to me last night that Helen was more than a little interested in getting to know you better.”
“A lovely woman,” he said, his expression softening. He regarded her closely. “Are you certain I wouldn’t be in the way?”
“Not at all.”
“Perhaps I will stay for a day or two then.”
“Why don’t you call Helen? I’m sure she’d love to show you the sights.”
He eyed her skeptically. “There are sights?”
“Yes, Max. Not all of the world’s beauty is tucked away in France. Just one thing, though.”
“Yes?”
“If Helen suggests a picnic, lose the suit.”
He actually laughed at that. “Before or after we are together?”
“I think I’ll leave that decision up to the two of you.” She stood up. “Now, then, what about breakfast? I’ve actually gotten quite good at it.”
He stared at her incredulously. “You cook?”
“Believe it or not,” she told him, and began making an omelet to prove it.
When she slid the plate in front of Max, his eyes widened with astonishment. “Very nice. Excellent presentation.”
“Forget the presentation. Taste it.”
He grinned at her. “Do I dare?”
“Try it, Max.”
He took a forkful of the eggs, cheese, onions, and tomato and sighed. “Heavenly. Perhaps I have been a bit too hasty in giving up. I may have an opening for a chef quite soon.”
“Forget it. I’m not coming back as a chef,” she said, refusing to admit how flattered she was that he’d even made the absurd suggestion.
“What else can you cook?” Max asked anyway.
“Never mind.”
“She’s a whiz with blueberry muffins,” Kevin chimed in, appearing at the back door. He walked in as if it were perfectly natural for him to show up at the crack of dawn. He even paused to drop an affectionate kiss on the tip of her nose. “Any more of that omelet, darlin’?”
“No, but I’ll make one for you,” Gracie offered, delighted with the chance to show off her skills. This would be good practice for the future, when guests were likely to be showing up at odd times to be fed.
“Any scones left?” Kevin asked.
“I doubt it,” she said. “You eat them faster than I can bake them. Look in that airtight container on the counter.”
Kevin picked it up, then sighed. “Just crumbs.”
“Sorry.”
“You make scones, too?” Max inquired. “I’m afraid I don’t understand this sudden domesticity.”
“I don’t see why not,” Gracie said defensively. “The same skills that are required to run a hotel are just as essential in running a home.”
“I suppose. I just never thought you were interested in being a happy little homemaker.” He studied Kevin. “Perhaps things have changed, however.”
Gracie gritted her teeth. “Max, you only know one side of me, my professional side. You never knew me as a person.”
“I thought it was all one and the same,” he said.
“No, that’s the way you live,” Gracie said. “Not me.”
“If you say so.”
Kevin edged up behind her at the stove. She could feel his breath fanning across her neck, the beckoning heat of his body. She barely resisted the temptation to lean back against him, to let him literally lend her his support.
Of course, Kevin’s only interest was in snatching a crisp strip of bacon from the plate she’d been preparing for him. He winked as he made off with his prize.
He leaned back against the counter and stared at Max with open curiosity. “How long are you sticking around, Max?”
“Gracie has persuaded me to stay a few more days.”
Kevin’s gaze shot to her, disbelief in his eyes. “Really?”
She beamed. “That’s right. Max will be here a few more days.”
“I see.”
“Sit down, Kevin. Your breakfast’s ready.” Gracie put the plate on the table.
Kevin sat, but he didn’t seem to have much of an appetite.
“Something wrong?” Max inquired cheerfully. “You object to my staying, perhaps?”
“It’s Gracie’s house.”
“Yes,” Max agreed. “It is Gracie’s house.”
The two men glowered at each other. Heaven protect her from territorial males, Gracie thought, scowling herself at the pair of them.
“Max, I thought you were going to give Helen a call,” she said.
“Why the hell would he be calling Helen?” Kevin demanded.
“I thought she might enjoy taking Max sightseeing.”
Kevin stared at her blankly. “Why?”
She kicked him under the table.
“Ouch, dammit.” He frowned at her.
“Call her, Max. Something tells me Helen gets out and about early.”
“Actually, she does,” Kevin said, still regarding her with evident confusion. “Max and Helen?” he mouthed when Max’s back was turned.
Gracie nodded.
Kevin sighed heavily, but at least he kept his mouth shut while Max made the arrangements.
“We’re going to see the birthplace of Robert E. Lee,” Max announced when he’d hung up.
“Stratford Hall,” Gracie said. “I hear it’s wonderful.”
“You haven’t been?” Max asked.
“No, not yet. I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Spending time with me,” Kevin said at once. His expression turned grimly determined. “Shall we tag along to Stratford, Gracie?”
Actually, that wasn’t what she’d had in mind at all, but she could see that Kevin wasn’t about to leave Max alone with his cousin, whether Helen might have preferred it that way or not. Kevin’s wariness of Max apparently extended to what might happen between him and any of the women Kevin knew.
“Sure, why not,” she said. “You don’t mind, do you, Max?”
Max shot a look at Kevin that could have withered an entire garden, but he forced out a terse agreement. “The more the merrier.”
Gracie feared there was going to be nothing merry about the outing at all, but she hadn’t counted on Helen’s wiles. Helen managed to separate the two couples in the blink of an eye. Before Gracie knew what was happening, she and Kevin were headed on a long walk toward the river beyond the main plantation house, while Helen and
