15

“Miranda, what do you think of the invitations?” Isabella asked, as she explained their plans for the restaurant.

“They both look great. I like this one the most,” Miranda said and pointed at the most colorful one.

“I’ll show them to Remy so that he can choose.”

“You’re incredibly creative. That’s why your shop is so inviting.” Miranda took a sour toad from the candy bowl and put it in her mouth. “You know, I could use that class myself.”

Isabella laughed. “Same here, but I think it’ll have to be later on. The purpose is to get the locals to sign up. We can’t fill up the spots.”

“I get it. There are only ten spots in each class. You’re bound to learn something since Remy wants you there.”

“Unless I get to clean the kitchen afterward. Maybe that’s why he needs me,” she joked.

“As if. I think he wants you there for other reasons,” Miranda said. “How did the boat trip go? The weather was amazing yesterday.”

Isabella told her sister how the day had been but left out the details about the swimming. That was between Remy and her. She didn’t want to reveal her innermost thoughts.

“There’s a lot of drama with that woman,” Miranda said. “It seems like you’re being pulled into this, whether you like it or not.”

“Yes, especially since we’re about to start the class. Luckily, Dinah can’t participate.”

“Are you sure?”

“She doesn’t live in Solvik, so I don’t think Remy will allow her.”

“She may move here.”

Isabella headed for the door. “The class starts this week, so she doesn’t have time to move. I have to give Remy the invitations. See you later.”

When Isabella entered the shop, the advertisement flyers had arrived. It was a big stack, and she was glad to put Fiona to work packing them into envelopes to send out. She would offer a thirty percent discount the next week, in the hope of attracting new customers. She was sure they would be back if they saw how welcoming the shop was.

It had been a tedious job finding everyone’s address and then registering them on the PC. She worked on that the previous week, so now all they had to do was print the labels. Tomorrow, everything would be mailed.

From the corner of her eye, she saw someone towering over her. She looked up from her notes and into Remy’s brown eyes. She tried to stay calm but felt a growing attraction to him.

“Do you have a moment to discuss the class?” he asked.

“Yes, but not here. Fiona is in the back room with envelopes all over the table.”

“Come to my office.” Remy started walking, taking for granted that she’d follow him.

Isabella glanced at Pernille, who waved her off. “Take your time.”

She’d never been in the kitchen when it was full of the staff working. There were many employees, and they all had different tasks. They didn’t have time to look at her, so she followed Remy and closed the door behind her.

Remy sat down at the desk, leaned back and ran his hand through his thick hair. It fell back into his face, and he tucked it behind his ears. She tried to focus and reminded herself that she’d decided to keep her distance.

She showed him the sheets she’d printed out at Miranda’s. “What do you think of these?”

He put on his reading glasses and examined the invitations thoroughly. Then he looked at her over the edge of his glasses. He resembled an old-fashioned teacher, and she tried to hold back a smile.

His frown deepened. “Excellent.”

She bit her lip so she wouldn’t laugh. How was it possible to look serious and at the same time be positive? He was like no one else.

“Which one do you prefer?”

Remy pointed at the one with most colors, the one Miranda liked. “This one.”

So all three of them had similar taste. “Is there anything you’d like to add? Something we’re missing?”

“Are we starting on Thursday already?” He rubbed his jaw.

“Yes, to get going as soon as possible.”

“You’re efficient.” He looked impressed, but she wasn’t sure if he meant it. He wasn’t easy to read.

“Miranda wanted to take the class, and I could do with it myself. But we can’t. The locals first, I said.”

“Agreed. I can always hold another class later if there’s enough interest.”

“Need, is a better word.”

He winked at her. “I suppose.”

“Is the menu ready?”

“Almost. I don’t know the level of the participants, so it has to be a mix.”

“I’m going to deliver the invitations this afternoon. The deadline is Wednesday night. I’ve listed my cell phone number, so you don’t have to deal with that. You have enough to do as it is.”

“That’s thoughtful of you.”

They discussed the price, payment, and the practicalities regarding the class. The door opened, and Dinah stood in front of them. Remy peeked at her, askance. “It’s common courtesy to knock, and not just burst in.”

Dinah ignored him and glared at Isabella. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have your own shop to run?”

Her injured ankle seemed to be forgotten.

Remy intervened. “We’re in a meeting. What do you want?”

Without limping, Dinah went over to his desk and gave him a loving peck on his cheek. “Darling, Fiona told me about the class you’re starting. I want to join and finally learn how to cook.” She attempted to give him another kiss for the sake of appearance, but he pulled away.

“Sorry, that’s not possible. The class is for locals only,” he said.

Dinah acted baffled, or she simply hadn’t heard. “Oh, I didn’t know. Anyway, I’m moving here to be with you. Problem solved.”

Remy’s small eyes widened. Isabella had never seen him lose his head. He was always so restrained, but he was uneasy now.

Remy stood up so rapidly that his office chair rolled off toward the bookshelf. “That’s not happening.” With that, he waved her out the door, like a chicken who couldn’t find the way on its own. Dinah blushed but didn’t have a choice. She tiptoed after him, without a word, and had seemingly lost both her voice and her will to fight.

Isabella wondered what Remy had meant by ‘not happening.’ Was Dinah not joining the class, or was she not moving in with him? Or both? Isabella was frustrated at constantly having to witness uncomfortable situations between the two of them. She was always caught in the middle of it. And the many kisses Dinah had managed to place on his lips and cheek annoyed her more than anything.

“Sorry,” he said and sat down heavily. “Dinah never ceases to surprise me. She’s had sixteen years to learn how to cook, but never cared.”

Isabella smiled. This was precisely what she’d discussed with Miranda earlier in the day. The probability of his wife wanting to join the class was as big as they’d feared. Dinah did everything in her power to be close to her husband. It couldn’t be easy to be alone after so many years together. Sixteen years was a lifetime in this context. But Dinah was fortunate to live with her daughter, so she wasn’t all alone.

It must be strange for Remy to live on his own. She could tell he missed his daughter, by witnessing their close relationship. Isabella sighed. She was glad she didn’t have these kinds of problems. There sure were advantages of being single. She could do what she wanted, without hurting or disappointing anyone.

“Where were we?” Remy asked. “Yes, the class.”

“Does it look good?” They rechecked the invitations.

“Perfect.”

Remy’s office had a view of the marina. She craned her neck to get a glimpse of his boat but couldn’t see it. She went over to the window. “How nice to be able to watch the boats all day.”

“Not a lot of time for that.”

Several boats were on their way out on this balmy summer day. Two sailboats followed each other from the floating docks. She watched the trees moving. The sea breeze wasn’t strong enough for them to use their sails today.

Remy stood right behind her, and she could feel him close to her. He moved her long hair over to the other shoulder. The mere touch of his fingers on her neck sent a warm longing through her. She didn’t turn around; she knew what would happen. It was best their friendship didn’t develop any further.

She felt a soft kiss on her neck and let out a small gasp. She stared intensely at the boats in the marina while trying to think of how to react to this caress.

“Come on a boat trip this weekend,” he whispered.

“With Dinah?” She gave him a sidelong glance.

“Without her. But Fiona wants to come. She loves the sea.”

“She’s not the one I’m worried about. She’s easygoing.”

He smiled wryly. “As opposed to Dinah. Yeah, I know what you mean. And I don’t disagree with you.”

“I don’t think it’s wise to get to know each other better, Remy. You have enough going on as it is. The breakup is so fresh. I doubt you’re ready for a new relationship.” There. She’d said exactly what was worrying her and what she’d been mulling over the last twenty-four hours.

He was disappointed. “How do you know that?”

“I don’t, but common sense tells me that you can’t possibly be ready for this yet.”

“Are you always this sensible?”

She looked at him with sad eyes. “Far from it. If I had been, it would’ve saved me a lot of trouble.”

“With Bob, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Have you received more envelopes?”

“Thank goodness, no.”

“Let me know if you get more. We have to get to the bottom of this.”

She nodded and was grateful he wanted to help her.

“It’s been over between Dinah and me for a year or more,” he continued. “It just took me a long time to realize it.”

She could understand how difficult it must have been to make a decision like that. They’d shared their lives for years, and now everything was changing for both of them.

“I seized the opportunity when this job turned up,” he said.

“Do you regret it?”

“Does it look like I do?” Remy gave her a mischievous smile that made her smile involuntarily, despite their serious conversation.

“Don’t you miss Fiona?”

“I do, but now we have all summer together. I’m considering buying a house in Solvik. Then she can visit me as often as she likes.”

“What about the house in Oslo?”

“It has to be sold.”

“That won’t go over well. It might be better to wait until Fiona is done with school in three years.” She could easily imagine how upsetting it would be for the girl to move.

“Maybe. Fiona’s talking about studying abroad. But it will be too long for me to live in a small apartment. She can’t spend the night there.”

“So if you let them continue living in the house, you must stay in the apartment?”

His brows were knit together in concern. “Or vice versa.”

“Oh, that’s not an easy decision.”

“Nothing is easy when there’s a family involved.”

It dawned on her how right he was. It was for the best that she kept her distance. How complicated it was, seeing as she liked this special man more than she ought to.

“You have to consider what’s best for everyone,” she said to conclude the conversation.

“If you promise to consider the invitation for the boat trip,” said Remy.

Isabella laughed aloud and nodded. She appreciated the postponement. She turned around to leave. Remy was in her way and had no intention of moving. She put her hand on his chest to push him away. Instead, he pulled her close. “Such beautiful blue eyes. Just like the sky today.” He held her gaze longer than necessary.

A delightful shiver of wanting ran through her. She couldn’t think straight. She was entranced, without the ability to take action. She should have left his office a long time ago. It was too late now.

He put his soft lips on hers in a tender kiss that should have woken her from the dream. Remy sometimes appeared emotionless, but there was no lack of emotion now. She let herself get carried away and slid her fingers through his dark hair. If they didn’t stop this second, she knew what could happen.

She ended the kiss reluctantly and felt like a breathless girl of eighteen. Remy was just as excited.

“Wow.”

“I’d better leave.” She picked up the invitations. “Time to get some work done.”