Page 30 of Love You, Mean It

“Thank you,” Marta murmured, taking one tiny bite before pushing the plate away. “I’ve been working on updating the décor, but it’s such a long process.”

“Marta has a background in interior design,” Theo said, sipping his wine. “She actually used to work for the company. It’s how she and Ted met.”

I couldn’t help but wonder how old she’d been when they “met.” Not to mention what Ted’s marital status had been at the time. God, I’d havesomuch gossip for Bella once I dragged myself through this.

“Well, you clearly have excellent taste.” Marta flushed slightly, saving her smile for the leaves she was shuffling around the salad plate. I had a depressing sense that she didn’t receive many compliments about her skills. At least not the ones she’d put on a résumé.

“I agree, of course. But I must say I’m more interested inyou.” Ted stabbed a chunk of lettuce. He still wore that same politely disinterested smile, but his gaze felt like a threat, a wolf who’d spotted a wounded bunny. “You’re abutcher? Do I have that right?” Exaggerated incredulousness dripped from every feature.

“Umm, no,” I laughed, the awkwardness so thick I could practically feel it congealing around me. “I run a deli. It’s here in Milborough, Greco’s Deli?”

“Hmm. Doesn’t ring a bell.” He shrugged, pushing his plate to the side and leaning back, wine glass in hand. It was clearly a signal, because Betsy bustled over to clear all our salads. How very lord-of-the-manor. “Have I seen you at the club?”

He could only mean Belle Glen, the country club of choice for Milborough’s upper crust. Like most of the towns nearby, Milborough had a fairly even mix of the generationally wealthy and the generationally townie; Belle Glen was very much the enclave of the former.

“Not yet, no.” I stretched my grin as far as it would go. “Though Theo’s promised he’ll teach me to golf one of these days.”

“He’ll have to. We Taylors have always been avid golfers. Theopractically grew up on that course. It’s where you and Sam first connected, isn’t that right?” Ted said, feigning casual. “I’m sure you know they were an item, Ellie. Before Theo let her slip through his fingers, that is. Though…maybe you didn’t know that, this whole thing has been fairly rushed.” He gestured between us, lip curling.

“When you know, you know,” I said, smiling weakly.

“Who could have guessedmyson would ‘know’ in just a few months?”

“Ellie’s family has been in business over a hundred years, isn’t that right, Ellie?” Theo tipped his head toward me, studiously avoiding his father’s eyes.

“Yes, that’s right. We’ve been in our current location—it’s downtown, just off Washington—since the nineteen-forties. But before that my great-great-grandfather had a door-to-door business.”

“How quaint. Theo always has loved small-town charm.” Ted sipped his wine lazily. “Isn’t that why you’re so attached to the old Taylor’s building?”

“Not primarily. Though I think you know that.” Theo’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly, but Ted just shrugged. Whatever was going on between them, it did not seem likely to ease the tension in the atmosphere.

“We’re really proud of it,” I said, trying to channel Bella’s cheeryall friends heretones. I downed a huge slug of my own wine, too-bright smile never slipping. “Of course it’s nothing compared to your business,” I added. Seeming impressed with Ted’s prowess had to count for something, no?

When I glanced at Theo his eyes glinted with some message I couldn’t decode. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself.Just ignore the vibes and keep trying to win him over, even if you’d rather claw your own eyes out,I reminded myself.Don’t let him get under your skin.

Betsy came around with the next course, filets with asparagus and an artful swoop of mashed potatoes, béarnaise sauce glistening over the top. I sliced into my meat to find the center deeply rare.

“And the two of you met at a bar?” Ted’s eyes were on his steak, making it impossible to read his expression.

“Yup!” I tried to push some liveliness into my voice. “Major MacLeod’s. I beat him pretty badly at pool.” Theo and I had decided that element of the story I’d panic-spun in the hospital worked well enough that we shouldn’t mess with it.

“Come on, I put up a good fight.” Theo grinned at me.

“Keep telling yourself that, Taylor.” I stuffed a bite of steak into my mouth. I wished it wasn’t so good, especially since I knew for a fact it hadn’t come from my shop.

“And how long ago was that?”

“Right around four months ago.”

“I love a whirlwind romance,” Marta said with a gentle smile.

“Theo, none of this feelshazyto you?” Ted said, turning to his son with a raised eyebrow. I took a sip of wine, grateful for the brief reprieve. “You mentioned some memory loss just after the accident,” he added, mouth twisting with a hint of disgust.

“Luckily, it was limited. And brief,” Theo said, expression rigorously controlled.

“I just wish his awful taste in music could have been permanently erased,” I said lightly, hoping my tone felt spontaneous, though the interjection had been strenuously rehearsed. Apparently Ted liked women with “spunk,” so light ribbing was highly encouraged in tonight’s little performance. To think I’d assumed Theo was overstating Ted’s…Tedness.

“Matter of taste,” Theo quipped back.

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