Cherished (25 page)

He kept catching her off guard. She liked it.

“Is that so? Why is that?”

He shrugged as they came to a halt while the instructor began to speak again.

“Do you like telling people what to do? Just to see how they react?”

He stopped, examining her carefully. His attention so very intense it was nearly physical. She tried not to gulp under such scrutiny but it was hard not to. She felt very much like Little Red Riding Hood having bumped into the Big Bad Wolf.

“I prefer it when their reaction is obedience.”

A flush roared through her, hot and wild. A million things she wanted to say flitted through her brain but none of them seemed right. She was usually good at this stuff, the silly back and forth between herself and the students. But he was something altogether different.

He studied her a long time until he finally spoke again. “I’m going to go.”

Her heart sank even as she struggled to keep her face relaxed.

“I don’t need this class. But I showed up and I can honestly say so. Thank you for amusing me.”

He stepped back and bowed as they took the first brief break. “I enjoyed meeting you, Levi.” She waved to Tansi and left, heading back down the hall.

How strange her day had been. Flirted with by a rather intense older man who totally made her hot-for-teacher fantasies go wild. Not a bad way to leave work.

Chapter 2

She stood with her hands at her waist and looked the installation over. “I don’t like the light. Switch it out for a different bulb.”

This was her biggest piece yet. Hell, the biggest sale yet. Not a lot of money as things went, but enough to know she was making a living, even a small one, from her work. And that was important.

A mixed-media piece. Watercolor and paper. In three distinct parts, like a winged altar. It was going to hang in the large, open atrium of Cal Whaley’s small office building.

Speaking of Cal, he wandered out, looking handsome and studious in his natty three-piece suit holding a sheaf of papers. He clearly hadn’t been expecting her though, because when he looked up from the papers in his hands he started and then smiled when he saw her.

“Daisy!” He kissed her cheek. “What brings you…Oh, today is installation day.” He noted the work. “I love this so much. Really brings some color and life into this space.”

It did. With vivid blues and greens. Evocative of the water they were surrounded by, of the forest too. It had come to her on a hike they’d all taken nearly two years before. In the spring when everything had been clear and sharp. They’d been standing on an overlook, taking in Puget Sound and she’d been so glad to have had her camera to capture it. She’d spent another six months tinkering with the idea as she’d finished another project.

And the whole time Cal had been her biggest supporter, telling her he wanted her to do it already so he could buy it.

“It’s not hard to look that great in this space.” The windows soared to the third-floor landing, flooding the room with light, the art reflecting Eagle Harbor out in the distance.

“Now you need to finish the glass piece so I can buy it for that alcove over there.”

She laughed, flattered and delighted.

“I’ve got to run. I have a client meeting in about twenty minutes. We need to have lunch soon.” He bent and kissed her cheek.

“We do. Also, thank you, Calvin Whaley. For buying this piece.”

He cocked his head. “I love it. I loved it before you had finished it. I laid claim to this over a year ago.” He grinned. “So thank
you
.”

It was those little moments that got her through the times when it seemed she’d never make it.

Turning back to the task at hand, she scrambled up the ladder with the level and the lightbulb she thought would work better.

Levi had loved this building for a few years. It was close to the ferry, but not too close. The view was incredible. He’d considered renting office space here before deciding to have a home office built. But one of the investigators he often worked with had space here they let him use when he had need of a conference room.

And now, three hours later he was hungry and sick to death of his clients, but they’d hammered out a deal both sides could live with and he could be done with this project.

“Will we see you at the luncheon next month?” Jessy Calhoun asked as she tucked a file folder into her bag.

He’d paused at the front doors to say good-bye to everyone.

“The fund-raiser?”

He sat on the board of several charities, including Created Families, which raised money and awareness for adoption and foster care. Jessy Calhoun, the woman who asked, also sat on the board. She and her husband Elton had adopted four kids and now that they were all in college, they were foster parents.

“I’ll be there.” He looked at the art going up in the lobby. “We should auction off something like this.” The light caught it perfectly, creating a nearly seamless feedback between the water and the wall.

“I can find out who the artist is if you like.” Jessy buttoned her coat.

“I can do it. I’ll get back with you about it. See if we can’t get him to donate something.” Levi was remarkably good at getting people to donate things for auctions.

“All right then.” She waved and was gone and he turned back, heading toward the spot where the people were installing the art.

And then one of the workers turned around and he realized it was Daisy. He hadn’t forgotten her name. Hadn’t forgotten the way she’d submitted to him as they’d danced. The warm, solid weight of her in his arms as they’d moved.

Today she wore a red bandanna in her hair, Rosie the Riveter style. With a jumpsuit to match and bright pink sneakers. She wore chunky black glasses and a tool belt.

She sent him a bland smile until she recognized him and it brightened. He felt it straight to his toes.

“Well, hello there, Levi. What brings you here today?”

“I had a meeting here in the building. I wanted to ask—”

“Levi?”

He turned to catch sight of opposing counsel standing on the stairs leading to the conference room.

He took Daisy’s hands and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I have to deal with this.”

He liked the disappointment on her face. “All right then. See you around.” She stepped back and he had to force himself to move away from her and back up to work.

By the time he finished and came out, the art was up and she was gone.
Damn.

The work was beautiful. Unexpected as he looked closer and saw the layers, the delicate paper against the bolder brushstrokes of the watercolors.

There was a small plaque that read:
#14. Ramona
.

He’d have to contact the owner of the building, Cal Whaley, to get the information. Too bad. He was hoping to get the info from the lovely Ms. Huerta instead. It was most likely a sign. If he believed in such things.

Daisy wasn’t surprised to find Mary on her doorstep when she opened after the knock.

“I bring food.” Mary Whaley, her closest friend, held up a cotton tote bag, the kind she always used to bring all manner of delicious treats to her friends’ homes.

“Lucky me.” She opened up and stood to the side to allow Mary to pass. Daisy followed her into the small kitchen. Once Mary put her things down Daisy gave her a hug.

“You busy?” Mary looked around as she put her jacket on the back of the chair.

“I am now that my friend has come and brought me dinner.”

Mary’s smile was fast as her eyes lit. “I’m trying a few new things. I need your opinion.”

“Score.” Daisy brought out plates and silverware. “These wedding-type gizmos or for the supper club?”

“I may have a catering gig.”

“Yeah? Do tell!”

Daisy knew Mary had been trying to build her catering business for the last two years. The food truck biz was complicated. It was impossible to park the truck anywhere but private property in Seattle. She’d managed to work out some arrangements with property owners around town but Daisy knew what her friend really wanted was a full-time gig with far more certainty than the truck.

And, as Mary cooked better than anyone else Daisy had ever met, she wanted it for her too.

“Try the soup first. I’m going to get your broiler working to finish these other things.”

“Is this a stand-up event?” She peered into the container of soup. The smoky scent of curry hit first.

“It is. But the soup will be in shot glasses. Easy to use.”

She managed to find shot glasses. “I’m going to say up front a shot of that soup won’t be enough.”

Mary slid a tray of something into the oven.

Daisy drank the soup and it was better than she figured it would be. And that was already really good.

“This is criminally good. Can you use larger containers?”

“They have larger shot glasses that hold a triple shot. Or maybe an espresso cup. Hm. Going to think on it. I want it to get your senses ready for what’s next.”

Daisy toed off her shoes near the back door. “You gonna tell me the specifics of the gig or am I going to have to beat it out of you?”

“A friend of Adrian’s needs a caterer for an industry thing.”

Adrian was Adrian Brown, their best friend Gillian’s fiancé, who also happened to be a huge deal rock star.

“So cool!”

“It could be, yes.” Mary thrust a plate of something at Daisy, who quickly gobbled one up and groaned. “You like?”

“Honestly, I don’t know why you always look so nervous. You’re an amazing cook, silly. Now, tell me what this is.”

“Figs with honey and cheese on homemade toasts. I worry they’ll get soggy though.”

Mary was an amazing cook. Clever, intuitive, she made art in her kitchen every single day and sometimes the only person who didn’t get that was Mary herself.

Daisy arched a brow and put a hand on her hip as she looked toward her friend. “You’d have to imagine they’d sit around for very long. Which they won’t. I’d push these things so hard. I’m assuming you’ll need me to help staff this gig?”

“Would you?” Mary asked hopefully.

Daisy snorted. “Where else would I be? The money is good. The work is good but not overly hard. I get to sneak samples. That’s all sorts of win/win. Plus I get to see you with everyone excited about your food like they should be. Just say when and it’s on my schedule.”

“Now Gillian just needs to choose a date for the wedding.” Mary’s corkscrew curls were currently being restrained by barrettes and some ponytail holders, but one had already won free at her temple.

“Don’t you think that’s what they’re going to tell us all at Delicious next week?”

Delicious was the name of the supper club Mary had started many years before. At first, and mainly for the last several years, it had been for Mary’s friends. They’d gather once a week, usually on Fridays, but recently it had shifted to Sundays to accommodate everyone’s schedule.

More than just a woman who loved to cook who made dinner for her friends, Mary had turned Delicious into a hot secret everyone knew. And everyone wanted in. So much so that people paid a yearly fee for supplies and they’d be invited at random to a certain number of dinners or afternoon events.

Their friends, the core of Delicious, were always on the guest list. But for everyone else, it was an event to get their number called to attend a dinner.

“Yeah, probably. She’s not one for coy, our Gillian. But this guy is good for her. He’s been on her to set a date for the last two months. I can’t imagine she’s going to be able to hold out much longer. Especially now that the renovations on their new house are in full swing.”

“Been a long time for her. I’m happy. Gillian deserves her happily ever after. And it’ll be a great job for you too.” She tipped her glass of cider in Mary’s direction.

“He might want some big wedding with a crack catering staff instead of his new wife’s friends.”

Daisy snorted. “Yes, I’m sure. After one look at Adrian and his family you can totally tell they care about the thread count of the napkins and your china pattern.”

A joke of course, as Adrian and his sister, also a rock star, had multiple tats and his brother ran a tattoo shop. Their friends were a wild assortment of awesome jobs, hair colors and wild backgrounds. Above all they were down-to-earth. They fit with Gillian’s friends perfectly.

“I just want her to be happy.”

“Of course you do. Jules will make the cake and you will make the food. That’s Delicious.”

It had been Daisy who gave the name Delicious not only to the weekly gatherings but also to her group of friends, the sexiest, funniest, most awesome women she knew. Women who were always there for each other. Whether it was to kick someone’s ass
to make them straighten up, or to defend and protect. They were part of her family. They were delicious in every way and it pleased her that it had stuck.

Daisy waved a hand at all the food. “This is awesome. More cumin in the meatballs maybe?”

“I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the sauce needs a tweak instead? What do you think of the cheese straws? Those I just made up a batch for because I know your grandma loves them and she promised me some jam if I made her some.”

Daisy laughed. “She’s greedy for your treats.” She bit into one of the lighter-than-air straws. “So good. Oh what’d you add?”

“I used a new kind of cheese. It had black peppercorns in it. I’m going to premiere them at dinner. How was your day?”

“I finished a new piece. Want to see?”

Mary jumped up eagerly. “I can’t believe you need to ask.”

Other than her grandmother, Mary was always the first person she showed her new work to. Daisy knew she’d tell the truth.

They went through the small house to the studio out back. Daisy and her grandmother shared the space, a garage converted to a workspace for her grandmother and then when the time came, they added a kiln and space for Daisy’s mixed media work as she’d begun to truly explore art professionally.

Suddenly nervous, she stopped Mary at the door. “Okay so this is something a little new for me.”

Mary took her hands. “Hush you. Let me see it.”

Daisy pushed the doors open and pointed. Mary took a few steps and halted, sucking in a breath as she took it in. “Wow. This is…wow.”