Kathleen was surprised by the lack of fanfare typical of Hannah’s events. Morgan pulled into the front of the restaurant and waved off the approaching valet. Exiting the car, he came around and opened Kathleen’s door, then he helped her out and held her hand. Morgan gave the key to the valet along with two one-hundred-dollar bills and said, “Keep it close.” That shouldn’t have been an issue since he noticed all the up-close spots for valet cars were empty.
“Yes, sir,” the young man replied, his eyes roaming between the money in his hands and the expensive car he was about to drive.
There were two big floodlights outside lighting the way, a red carpet had been rolled out and several valets were waiting at the ready, yet no one was around. “Are you sure this is the right spot?” Morgan asked Kathleen.
Kathleen, who looked just as confused as he felt, said, “I’m sure. This is the address my sister sent me.”
“Well, for a grand opening, they’re not getting much business. The owners should fire their PR agency,” Morgan joked.
They both laughed. “Yes, they should.”
Morgan led Kathleen inside, and a pretty blonde woman greeted them with a big smile on her face. She was obviously the hostess. The woman was wearing a short black dress and high strappy heels, a look obviously meant to grab the attention of the male customers. While she certainly would meet her goal with other men, Kathleen noticed that Morgan didn’t seem fazed by the woman.
“Welcome to Vista,” she announced, directing her attention to Morgan.
“Thank you,” Kathleen replied as Morgan gave a quick nod. “I’m Kathleen Winston, and we have a reservation.”
“Yes, ma’am. We’ve been expecting you. Please follow me.”
“We’ve,” Morgan whispered in Kathleen’s ear.
Kathleen shrugged and did as she was asked. The young woman led them into a room that was dimly lit in spite of the many chandeliers that hung from the wooden ceiling. Slate tiles covered the floors and a ceiling-to-floor glass bar ran along one wall. The focal point of the beautiful space was the Japanese Fruticosa tree placed in the middle of the room. A single and inviting table for two sat underneath the artificial tree’s wide spray.
“Here you go,” she said, smiling.
“Thank you,” Kathleen replied as Morgan pulled out her chair. “Excuse me, miss, but if this is a grand opening, where is everyone?”
“It’s a soft launch, actually,” a voice said, coming from a woman who could have been Kathleen’s twin. “Welcome to Vista, big sis.”
Wow, Kathleen’s sister is very pretty and they look a lot alike. But my baby is stunning.
Kathleen smiled as she watched her sister approach in white pants with a matching, double-breasted jacket and a tall chef’s hat. Morgan stood back as the two women embraced and the hostess disappeared behind two closed doors.
“What’s going on, Hannah?” Kathleen asked her sister in French. Switching languages was an automatic reflex whenever Kathleen was around her family.
“Later. Right now, introduce me to this fine-ass handsome man staring at us like he’s seen a two-headed naked lady,” she replied.
Morgan laughed. “He understands French, Hannah. Morgan, this is my sister Hannah Winston,” Kathleen introduced, switching back to English.
Morgan extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Winston.”
Hannah shook his hand and said, “Call me Hannah. We’re almost family,” she teased.
“Stop it, Hannah,” Kathleen scolded.
“It’s cool,” Morgan replied, smiling at both women. “You have a nice place here, Hannah,” he said, looking around the empty room.
“Thanks, but this is not my place. It’s my friend Mark’s, but he won’t get in town until tomorrow.”
“Hannah is the guest chef,” Kathleen announced proudly.
“Nice.”
“Where is everyone, Hannah?” Kathleen asked.
“You two are it. You have the whole place to yourselves...except for my staff, of course, and me. Don’t worry, we’ll stay out of your way. You won’t see us unless you have to. You’ll have plenty of privacy.”
“How do you have any type of opening with just two people?” Kathleen frowned.
“Actually, the soft opening is tomorrow night. This is more like a soft...soft opening.” Hannah gestured with her hands as she glanced around the empty room.
“What does that mean?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
“That means you two are our guinea pigs to make sure we are ready for tomorrow. So let’s get this drill started.” Hannah waved the waiter forward. “This handsome gentleman is Carl, and he’ll be your server this evening.”
Kathleen sat down, and Morgan took the seat across from her. “Can I get you anything to drink?” Carl asked.
“I took the liberty of choosing a nice chardonnay to accompany the appetizers I made for you.” Hannah sent Carl to the bar to collect the bottle, and when he returned he filled their glasses. Another young woman appeared with two large square plates. She placed the plates in the center of the table after Hannah had Carl remove the centerpiece.
“I prepared a baked brie with figs and walnuts. Oh, I hope you don’t have a nut allergy,” Hannah said to Morgan.
“No, I don’t.” Morgan’s cell phone rang; he checked the screen and sent the caller to voice mail.
“Good, because it’s divine. There’re buttered Parmesan croissants, shrimp scampi dip and baked ham-and-cheese roll-ups. Try the roll-ups. They’re ham, Swiss cheese and a poppy seed glaze. Everything’s delicious, if I do say so myself.” Hannah’s whole face lit up.
Kathleen reached for a roll. “We better try one or she’ll never leave us alone.”
Morgan selected one and took a bite. “This is very good.”
“Yes. Hannah, it’s very good,” Kathleen agreed.
“Great. We have a full menu, but if you trust me I can make you something fabulous,” Hannah offered, smiling at both Morgan and her sister.
Morgan raised his right hand. “I’m game.”
“That would be great. Thanks, sis.”
“Excellent. You two enjoy and your dinner will be out shortly.” Hannah exited the room.
Morgan reached for his glass of wine and raised it. “To a very interesting evening,” he said, grinning.
Kathleen smiled, picked up her glass and clinked his with hers. “It’s getting off to an interesting start, that’s for sure.”
Kathleen filled her plate with several appetizers and watched as Morgan did the same. “Your sister’s pretty great and her cooking is amazing.”
Kathleen wiped her mouth. “She really is...both my sisters are.”
“What does your other sister do?” Morgan took a drink from his glass, and his phone rang again. He looked at the phone’s screen; his smile disappeared and his face went blank.
“Anything wrong?” Kathleen took a sip of her wine. She wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know the answer to that question, but she was happy she didn’t have to answer his question about her other sister yet.
Morgan exhaled noisily. “I was engaged once. To a socialite named Bonnie Ford, and she’s reaching out to me again.”
“I see...” Kathleen’s eyes dropped to her plate and her heart fell to the floor with the thought that this woman was back in his life. She set her mouth in a hard line, preventing all the emotional craziness in her head from escaping her mouth.
Morgan reached across the table and held Kathleen’s hand. “Bonnie and I haven’t been anything to each other in years.”
“Then why is she calling you now?”
“I’m not sure. We haven’t spoken yet.”
“Engaged.” Kathleen pulled her hand back and took another sip of her wine. They must have had something pretty special if she still thinks it’s okay to reach out to him. Maybe he still has feelings for her.
* * *
Morgan sighed and sat back in his seat. He could almost see the wall coming back up between them, and Morgan knew he couldn’t let that happen. Morgan hated talking about the circumstances behind his breakup with Bonnie but he figured if he didn’t this might be his first and last date with Kathleen.
“The Ford family was part of the same social circle as mine. We met while in high school. She went to an all-girls boarding school, so we mostly saw each other on the weekends and holidays.”
“So this was just a high school thing,” Kathleen concluded incorrectly.
At that, her face had brightened like a light bulb, and he hated to disappoint her. Damn. I wish I could just stop right here, but I will not start this relationship off on a lie. “Not exactly. More wine?” He reached for the bottle.
“Yes, please.”
Morgan topped off both their glasses and returned the bottle to the silver bucket where it had been resting on a bed of ice. They both took a drink before Morgan continued. “After high school, we went to the same college, and both majored in engineering. The Fords own a small refinery.”
“Sounds like you two had a lot in common.”
“I thought so. Even though Bonnie was pursuing her degree, all she wanted was to marry me, have kids and stay home.”
“And you didn’t like that.” Kathleen nodded.
“Actually, that’s exactly what I wanted.”
Kathleen went poker-faced. “You did? Do you still feel like that?”
Here we go. I might as well ask for the check now. “If I’m honest, I love the idea of coming home and finding someone waiting for me. Not to wait on me hand and foot, if that’s what you’re thinking. I want a partner in every way. But—”
“But what?”
“I know this will be hard to believe but I grew up in a mostly traditional home. While my mother helped my dad out at the office a couple of days a week, for the most part, she was a stay-at-home mom when we were really young.”
“Victoria Kingsley?” Doubt crossed her face.
“She wasn’t always Victoria Kingsley. For a long time, she was Mrs. Alexander Kingsley and Mom. Then my dad and uncle died, and everything changed.” Not knowing what Kathleen was thinking or feeling about these new revelations, their earlier conversations about his aunt and the emotions of his father’s death rushing back overwhelmed him. He gripped the stem of his wineglass with more force than he realized, and it broke off in his hand, cutting him. “Ouch...”
They saw the waiter approaching, but Kathleen held up her right palm to stop his forward movement. She pushed her chair back and rose slowly and silently. Morgan sat still and closed his eyes. He was trying to bring himself back under control. Morgan felt the warmth of Kathleen’s hands cupping his face. She turned his head and said, “Open your eyes, baby.”
Her words and touch brought him instant relief. The emotional hurricane swirling inside him subsided. Morgan opened his eyes and stared down into the warmth of hers. She had knelt down right next to him. “What’s developing between us, Kathleen, has already surpassed what I thought she and I had,” he said, hoping she could see the conviction in his eyes.
Kathleen smiled, rose up and gently kissed him on the lips. “That’s all I wanted to hear. Let’s get your hand cleaned up. Does it hurt?”
Morgan sighed. “A little. But I want you to know everything about me. I don’t ever want any lies or misunderstandings to come between us. My parents and brothers have great relationships and I want that too...with you.”
* * *
Kathleen was fighting back tears at the sight of Morgan’s pain and sweet declaration at the same time trying to slow her racing heart. His words wrapped around her like a warm sweater she had that once belonged to her mother. The idea that she’d been lying to him and his family about who she was and her motives for being there was making her ill.
“Carl, my man,” Morgan called, waving him over. He wrapped his bleeding hand in his napkin. Kathleen stood and stepped aside.
“Yes, sir,” Carl answered as he made his way over to the table.
“Do you have a first-aid kit?”
“Yes, sir, I’ll get it right away.”
“I think we should get you to a doctor,” Kathleen suggested.
“No, it’s not that bad. A couple of butterfly stitches should be fine.”
Carl returned with the kit, and Hannah was on his heels. “Here you go, sir.”
“What happened?” Confusion and concern were written all over Hannah’s face.
“Just a small mishap. I’ll pay for the glass,” Morgan promised.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Hannah waved off his offer. “Carl, please get this mess cleaned up.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excuse me while I go take care of this.” Morgan glanced down at his hand. “Where’s the men’s room?”
“This way, sir.” Morgan kissed Kathleen on the cheek before following Carl to the other side of the restaurant.
Kathleen gazed after him.
“Wow, you really are into him, aren’t you?” Hannah observed.
Kathleen stared down at her feet and slowly nodded. She raised her head and turned to face her sister. “Yes, I am. Too bad nothing will ever come of it.” Tears began streaming down her face.