Page 146 of Ice Darling
Mom’s attention is also arrested there. “Hockey players work out a lot, don’t they?”
“About as much as any other athlete.”
Mom blinks distractedly and studies Renthrow’s face. “You’re very handsome, young man.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Are you single?”
“Mooom.” I groan.
“No, ma’am.” He balances the pans of roasted duck, potatoes, and steamed broccoli that Mom piles on him.
“That’s disappointing. Who’s the lucky lady?” Mom pushes over a basket of bread to me.
Renthrow intercepts it, and his lips curl up in a sultry grin as he looks my way. “Someone who came all the way to Lucky Falls just to find me and my daughter.”
Mom’s eyebrows climb.Good.Renthrow’s answer is perfect evidence that me leaving my old life had nothing to do with Gwen.
I clear my throat and reach for the bread. “I can carry that.”
“Ah-ah.” He steps back. “I’ve got it.”
“It’s just bread, Renthrow. It’s not that heavy.” I make another halfhearted attempt for the basket.
Like the professional athlete that he is, Renthrow sidesteps me and then leans down to whisper in my ear, “I’ll handle this. If you feel particularly touched, you can thank me later.”
He backs up with a smirk as his eyes roam to my lips. It’s enough to send a blush streaking across my face.
“Ahem.” Mom clears her throat when Renthrow is out the door. “So he’s the one, huh?”
“He’s the one,” I say.
Mom’s grin stretches from one ear to the next.
“But we haven’t told Gordie yet. I’d like it if you kept it that way.”
“Honey, that’sfantastic. He seems like such a good man. And his mom is so lovely.”
“Speaking of, how do you know Renthrow’s mom?”
“We…have mutual connections.” Mom opens the wine bar beneath the cupboard. “Can you take this out? I promised Brenda I’d show her something even better than rosé tonight.”
I accept the drink, my internal alarm bells clanging. “What connections?”
“Cordelia, can you take the corn as well?”
I stare Mom down.
“Go, go.” Mom steers me outside.
My instincts are screaming that the connection with Brenda is worth investigating. Mom’s friends are all jet-setting entrepreneurs who spend their time balancing their companies, nipping and tucking every wrinkle that appears, and chasing after their cheating husbands. There’s no way Brenda runs in the same circles. No wayanyonein Lucky Falls does.
When I step outside, Gordie pops to her feet. “Delia, sit with me!”
I force a smile onto my face and walk toward her. Renthrow is headed to the kitchen at the same time, and there’s not enough space for us both to pass.
Instinctively, I step back, so he can go first. But he puts his hands on my waist and brings me close, twisting us around almost in a dance, so we exchange places.
