Turnabout's Fair Play (24 page)

“I’ll get the spicy yellowtail roll, then.”

“Niiice.” He drew out the word, slowly nodding his head. They filled out their order sheets and handed them over when the waiter returned with four glasses of water and a pot of hot tea.

When Maureen offered to pour some for her, Flannery held up her hand. “None for me, thanks. Not really a hot tea drinker.”

Maureen didn’t even offer any to Jamie. She and Big Daddy got started talking about some of the restaurants they remembered in Nashville from when they were much,
much
younger.

Jamie turned partway toward Flannery, his gaze roving her face—and apparently liking what he saw. Yes, she could very much pretend tonight that she didn’t dislike him and truly enjoyed his company.

“You know, I’ve been thinking.”

“Have you written a press release about that yet?” She pressed her lips together, but she couldn’t keep her amusement from traveling up to her eyes.

He quirked a lopsided grin at her and nudged her with his elbow. “Good one.” He motioned toward their grandparents with a slight jerk of his head. “You know, I think they’re kinda sweet on each other.”

Flannery slew her gaze across the table without turning her head and bringing attention to herself. “What makes you think that, Captain Obvious?”

Jamie’s expression slipped from smiling to stern. “Be nice, or I’m not sharing the crab roll with you.”

She stared into his slate-colored eyes, noting the halo of lighter gray around the pupils, daring him to blink or smile first.

He had the longest, darkest lashes she’d ever seen on a man in her life. She almost reached out to touch them but stopped herself and rested her hand on the edge of the table.

Was that…a gray hair in his left eyebrow?

She cracked first, unable to hide her humor any longer. “Okay, I promise. I’ll be nice.”

“Good. Because I’m going to need your help. We’re going to have to work together if my plan is going to work.” He leaned a little closer to her.

She leaned toward him. Another couple of inches and their foreheads and noses would be touching. And she wasn’t sure that would be a bad thing. “What’s your plan?”

But before he could launch into it, their food arrived. They both straightened. Cold, desolate, lonely air filled the gap between Flannery’s shoulder and Jamie’s.

Mercy, she could take this pretending thing a little over the top, couldn’t she?

Jamie immediately put a couple of pieces of each of his sushi rolls on her tray. Flannery moved almost a third of her roll onto his.

He reached his chopsticks toward her condiment tray. “Are you going to use that wasabi?”

As if wielding a sword, she blocked his chopsticks with hers. “Yes, I’m going to use all of it, so don’t you touch it. You can have the pickled ginger if you want that, though.”

“Yeah, um, no thanks.”

“Flannery, Jamie tells me you’re an editor with a book publishing company.” Maureen dipped a piece of salmon sashimi into her wasabi-and-soy-sauce mixture.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m the senior editor for Christian fiction at Lindsley House Publishing.” She described a small portion of what she did—from acquiring new titles to scheduling release dates to working with authors and agents.

“So you won’t be working with Jamie on any of the marketing projects he’ll be doing?” Maureen’s painted-on eyebrows raised almost to her fire-engine-red hair. On anyone else it would have looked garish. On Maureen, with her distinct, broad, bold features, it only added to her charm.

“No, ma’am. My understanding is that Jamie will be working with our nonfiction team right now.” She swatted Jamie’s chopsticks away as he reached toward her glob of wasabi again.

“I know he’s already thanked you, but I just wanted to thank you, too.”

Nooo—Flannery did
not
need the reminder that Jamie had been in her office and seen…possibly seen…the print. “No thanks are necessary, really.”

Maureen engaged Big Daddy to tell her about what his other grandchildren did. Jamie leaned against Flannery’s shoulder again.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you turn quite that shade of red before, Ms. McNeill.” He straightened and swished a piece of the spicy crab roll through his wasabi-soy mix. “You really shouldn’t be so self-deprecating when it comes to people expressing gratitude to you when you’ve done such a great service.”

She turned and gazed at him through squinted eyes. He thought she’d blushed because of his grandmother’s expression of gratitude? Then he hadn’t noticed, hadn’t recognized—

“Of course”—he finished chewing and swallowed—“I wouldn’t tell anyone that you’re trying to pass off a print of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle as a piece of Irish artwork, if that’s why you turned beet red when my grandmother mentioned my thank-you note. Nope.” He licked the ends of his chopsticks. “Wouldn’t tell a soul.”

Ooh—he irritated her so much!

Chapter 17

From:
Kirby McNeill

To:
Maureen O’Connor

Subject:
RE: Idea

Dear Maureen
,

You were correct. Though I believe Flannery would have protested the idea of having dinner with Jamie, once we were there, she did seem to get along with him quite well
.

The food was good, and the company was excellent. I look forward to “running into” you and your grandson again
.

Until next weekend,
Kirby

From:
Jamie O’Connor

To:
Flannery McNeill

Subject:
That plan I mentioned

I never got to tell you the other night about my plan. It probably wouldn’t have been a good idea to discuss it in front of them, anyway
.

So, here’s the thing—my grandmother likes your grandfather, and it’s obviously reciprocal. But I have a sneaky suspicion that unless you and I find ways to push them together, they’re not going to admit that they want to spend time together.

My plan is this.…

Big Daddy mentioned that he’s looking for a place to rent or buy in Nashville so he doesn’t have to stay at a hotel every weekend. (Until he sells his house in Pulaski, right?)

I have a three-bedroom townhouse. He can stay in my guest bedroom on the weekends until he finds something more permanent. Then you and I can figure out some activities we can all do together—the four of us—so that he gets to see my grandmother but also gets to spend time with you. What do you think?

—j

BTW—Have I mentioned recently that I promise I would never say anything about the Sir Gawain print to anyone else? I am curious about it, though
.

From:
LadyNelle

To:
TennesseeGawain

Subject:
RE: Hope You’re Okay

Yes, it was a little strange to receive a message like yours from a complete stranger, but thank you for the sentiments. There has been no illness or family emergency, just life intruding, the way it can sometimes do. I’m humbled by the fact someone who doesn’t even know me would pray for me
.

Thank you
.

PS—I posted a new chapter tonight. I hope you enjoy it
.

From:
Maureen O’Connor

To:
Kirby McNeill

Subject:
RE: RE: Idea

Dear Kirby
,

There did seem to be some flirting going on across the table from us, didn’t there? Until seeing them together, I had forgotten how the sparks flew between the two of them at a cookout Jamie and I attended last autumn. It is rare that I see a young person with as much poise and humbleness of spirit as your granddaughter. I would feel blessed indeed to welcome Flannery into my family, should things develop to that stage
.

I understand my grandson has written to invite you to stay with him on the weekends until you have more permanent arrangements. This would work greatly to our advantage in planning activities that bring Jamie and Flannery together, as I believe she would find it logical and reasonable if you began to include Jamie, and possibly me, in your plans
.

Do not feel I am pressuring you to accept his offer. You must do what you feel is right, of course
.

Cordially,
Maureen

From:
Danny Seung

To:
Jamie O’Connor

Subject:
RE: Yeah, It’s Me

I knew it! You’re so obvious
.

The guys and I are gaming this coming Saturday if you’d like to come join us and see what it’s all about
.

I only have thirty minutes for lunches this week, so meeting for lunch is out of the question. And since we haven’t found a house up there to buy yet—mostly because we’re waiting on the M’boro house to get some offers first—I’ve pretty much got to head straight home after work so that I don’t get stuck in the worst of rush-hour traffic
.

Why don’t we meet at the IHOP right there at the corner of Harding and Nolensville (in front of the Walmart) for breakfast
some morning? That’s closest to the hospital, so I’ll have a little more time if we meet there. My shift starts at 7:30 a.m., and they open at 6:00 a.m. I know you’ve never been an early morning person, but if you’re really serious about going to nursing school, you’re going to have to get used to it sooner or later, because the newest nurses get the worst shifts
.

Just let me know if you want to meet one morning, and I’ll plan for it
.

Danny

From:
TennesseeGawain

To:
LadyNelle

Subject:
New Chapter

Seriously? You’re going to leave me hanging like that? What a horrible (and absolutely awesome) way to end a chapter!

From:
Jamie O’Connor

To:
Danny Seung

Subject:
RE: RE: Yeah, It’s Me

Ugh—6 in the morning??? Maybe I’ll just stay up instead of trying to get up that early
.

How does Wednesday sound?

I’ve got a houseguest this weekend (and every weekend for the foreseeable future). I probably won’t be able to swing the gaming session this month, but I am really interested, so keep letting me know when you’re meeting
.

—j

BTW—The townhouse two doors down from mine just went on the market this week. Three bed/two bath. Renovated kitchen. I think it’s a foreclosure, so you might be able to get a good deal on it
.

From:
Kirby McNeill

To:
Maureen O’Connor

Subject:
RE: RE: RE: Idea

Dear Maureen
,

I just sent an e-mail to your grandson, accepting his offer. I plan to drive up early on Friday and hope that you might be available for lunch so that we can discuss your ideas face-to-face, without Jamie or Flannery being there. I’ve told Jamie not to expect me before three o’clock
.

I hope you know that it is not only discussing the grandchildren that leads me to asking you to lunch. While I desire nothing more than seeing my youngest granddaughter find the happiness that my sons and other grandchildren have found, I cannot claim to be completely selfless in this endeavor
.

I enjoy spending time with you and hope that we will make opportunities to see each other regularly
.

With affection,
Kirby

From:
Jamie O’Connor

To:
Chae Seung

Subject:
RE: Dinner

Thank you so much for the invitation to dinner with your family. Yes, I will bring a guest. I’m not certain who it will be at this point, but I will bring someone
.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had Korean food, and I look forward to it, especially since it sounds like your mother and grandmother will be doing most of the cooking.;-)

—j

BTW—How long did you know Danny before he told you about his Sir Galahad obsession? What did you think when you first found out?

From:
Maureen O’Connor

To:
Kirby McNeill

Subject:
Lunch on Friday

Dear Kirby
,

I, too, enjoy spending time with you, and I would be delighted to meet you for lunch Friday. Since you will be driving up from the south side of town, why don’t we meet at Chef Paul’s on Mallory Lane in Cool Springs, just off the new McEwen Drive exit. Is eleven o’clock too early for you?

Until Friday,
Maureen

From:
Flannery McNeill

To:
Jamie O’Connor

Subject:
RE: That plan I mentioned

My grandfather (and no, you may not call him Big Daddy, so don’t do it again; it’s Mr. McNeill to you) just called me to tell me he’s going to be staying with you on the weekends
.