Page 92 of Bad Seed

Brendan hesitated. The one secret he couldn’t tell until she was his wife.

“I don’t think that’s possible. The town and the land it’s built on are all property of a corporation. They have rigid rules about the land, all in order to maintain the natural beauty of the place and not outgrow the original footprint. They don’t want Jubilee to get anybigger, just maintain the status quo, so to speak. The way I understand it, the building will always be a hotel, to do with as each owner chooses, but the footprint of the building itself can’t change.”

“Interesting business concept,” she muttered, then shrugged. “Anyway…I’m telling you now, if he buys it, I’m working for him. I can only imagine the scope of his holdings. It won’t be a breeze, but it will be a challenge, and I like being challenged.”

“I know you do. You also like pie, and it’s still sitting in the mini-fridge. I’m not sure it’ll still be there by morning, though. Wanna share?”

“What’s mine is yours,” she said, echoing his declaration when he’d given her half of his sandwich.

“Stay right where you are. I’ll get the pie and the fork.”

They sat side by side on the sofa with Brendan holding the pie and feeding her a bite, and then himself a bite, back and forth, quibbling about the size of his bite compared to hers.

“Your bites are bigger than mine,” Harley said.

He faked surprise. “Really? I hadn’t noticed. I guess because I’m bigger than you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Is this going to be your argument for the rest of our lives?”

He paused, staring into those beautiful eyes, and then he leaned over and kissed her, softly, slowly, tasting chocolate and her. “I sure hope so,” he said. He forked one last bite for himself and then handed herthe plate. “You earned a whole damn pie, and as soon as I get you home, I’ll make you one.”

“I’m not much of a cook, but I’m hell on wheels about cleaning. I’ll be your sous-chef and dishwasher, okay?”

“You’re going be wheeling and dealing with Wolfgang Outen, and I’m going to be the proudest man ever. As long as I get to fall asleep beside you and wake up with you in my arms, my life will be complete. Now, finish off that pie. I’m going to make coffee.”

Harley took another bite and then waved her fork in the air. “I don’t think you realize how quickly you have devastated my chi.”

He arched an eyebrow as he popped a coffee pod into the Keurig. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Oh, it’s a good thing, but I have reveled in my autonomy for years, and I am still shocked by how quickly I succumbed to your charms.”

He laughed. “You’re a mess, and I just realized I don’t know your middle name. I’m going to guess it’s Harley Chocolate Banks? Is that it?”

Now she was laughing. “It fits, but that’s not it. Harley Jo…without thee. Dad wanted a boy.”

Brendan nodded. “Harley Jo. I like it. Good thing he leaned toward an American ride, or you might have wound up Yamaha Banks.”

Harley burst out laughing, then winced. “Oh oww… I made my own head hurt. God, I love you. Nobody makes me laugh like you do.”

“There’s a little bit of wiseass in every Pope,” he said.

She was still giggling at the thought of going through life as Yamaha, and after she finished off the pie and coffee, stretched out on the sofa and fell asleep with her feet in Brendan’s lap.

He covered her with the blanket she’d brought from the bedroom, then sat watching her sleep, all too aware their momentary peace was tentative, as a rumble sounded in the distance. He glanced toward the balcony and then to the mountain and the sky beyond. Storm clouds were gathering. Rain was coming. It felt like a portent of the days ahead.

***

Rusty was wiping pudding off Ellie’s face, while Ghost was licking up the splatters on the floor at her feet. She made a mental note that the floors needed to be mopped, but she would do it after she got everyone in bed tonight. It would be useless to do it beforehand.

Cameron and Mikey were on their way home from Jubilee, and she was anxiously watching the weather, hoping they’d get back before the storm hit.

“Mama, I play with Ghost now,” Ellie said as Rusty helped her down from her booster seat at the table.

“You go read him a story. No dress-up. No makeup. Ghost doesn’t like that, okay?”

“Okay,” Ellie said.

Ghost looked up at Rusty as if to say, “I got this,” and trotted along behind her.

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