Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(40)

Kiera was surprised by the enthusiasm in his voice, the rare passion. She’d known plenty of cooks over the years. This was her first experience with an honest-to-goodness trained chef, a man who cared deeply about the food he served. Perhaps she hadn’t been giving Bryan enough credit. He might not have the experience with Irish dishes that she or Nell had, but she shouldn’t be doubting that the commitment he’d made to the quality of ingredients he used carried over to getting the recipes just right, as well.

“You’re suddenly awfully quiet.”

“I’ve a feeling that I’ve misjudged you,” she admitted. “I’ve accused you of being careless and inexperienced.”

“Walking into a kitchen filled with smoke rather than the delicious aromas you were expecting could have given you that impression,” he conceded, his tone wry.

“That only happened the one time,” she said. “Anyone could have an off night.” Because it seemed only right to admit to her own flaws, she added, “Ask my children how often their evening meal consisted of a grilled cheese sandwich, because I grew distracted and let the meal I’d planned overcook. Interestingly, it happened most often on the nights I was preparing something they didn’t particularly like.” She chuckled. “I just realized that. I’ll have to ask Moira if it was an intentionally devious game they learned to play with me, asking questions about homework just when I should have been standing at the stove paying close attention.”

Bryan faced her, his expression startled. “Is that an olive branch, Kiera?”

“Perhaps.” She smiled. “I suppose we’ll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.”

He lifted his glass and waited until she’d lifted hers as well, then clinked the two together. “To peace and harmony.”

“To peace and harmony,” she said, feeling the oddest sense of something shifting between them.

When he stood to go, regret stole over her, but she forced another smile. “Good night, Bryan.”

“Sleep well, Kiera.”

Once again as he walked away, he paused and turned back, just as he had that morning. “If you’re wanting to weed the garden, you’re welcome,” he said. “But if I find you can’t tell a weed from a tomato plant, we’ll be having a discussion about it.”

She regarded him very solemnly. “If I have any doubts, I’ll ask before I yank something from the ground. Your tomatoes will be safe, I promise.”

Quite likely a lot safer than her heart, which suddenly seemed to be opening to possibilities yet again. Her relationship with Peter had begun in just such a way, with baby steps and fragile trust. Did she dare risk such a thing happening again, especially with a man whose secrets had made him so wary?

*

Deanna had taken her anatomy textbook to her favorite bench beneath a huge oak tree on the university campus with every intention of studying for tomorrow’s final, but she couldn’t seem to focus. She’d been staring at the same page for an hour now, more aware of the mild spring sun filtering through the leaves than of any of the information she was supposed to be memorizing.

When a shadow fell across the book, she looked up to see her roommate studying her with a worried expression.

“Either you’re totally fascinated by how the knee bone connects to the thigh bone or there’s something else on your mind. I’ve been standing here for at least five minutes,” Juliette complained. “It was the same when you got back yesterday, as if you were off in another world.”

She sat down without waiting for an invitation, then held out a square of Dove dark chocolate, their indulgence when studying. “You look as if you need this. I have more in my purse, if there’s a real crisis.”

Deanna managed a smile. “Always prepared. Were you a Girl Scout, Jules?”

“I think that’s the Boy Scout motto, but when it comes to chocolate, I’m never without it, as you should know after two years of rooming together. So what’s going on? I know you saw Dr. Robbins before you took off for the weekend. Did she give you bad news?”

“Quite the contrary. She said I was fine, just tired and overwhelmed with finals. She advised me to take a break.”

“And that’s why you suddenly decided to go home?”

“Pretty much.”

Juliette gave her a disappointed look. “I know you think I’m just some flighty airhead who only came to college to nab a husband, but I’m your friend, Dee. I can’t help, though, if you won’t open up. What’s going on? And I can tell this is about more than finals. If that’s all it was, you’d be turning the pages of that book like crazy. I watched you last night and just now. You’re still staring at the same page.”

Deanna sighed. As much as she could probably use a friend right now, she wasn’t quite ready to talk about Ash’s revelations. Instead, she said, “I told my stepfather I’m not coming home to work for his company this summer.”

Juliette’s eyes went wide. “Wow! That’s huge. How did he take the news?”

“I think he was okay with it.” She frowned. “It’s not as if I really gave him a choice. I just said it was what I was going to do.”

“I thought you were worried about disappointing him.”

“I was, but this is something I have to do, and that’s what I told him,” she said, making it sound far less complicated than it had been. She hoped Juliette wasn’t perceptive enough to see through her nonchalance.