Page 5 of Fall For You

“What?” I demand, scanning her plate to see which dish has elicited her reaction. I gave her a little bit of everything I’d brought—migas, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried chicken with pecan pancakes, Texas style eggs Benedict made with brisket and queso. All hill country classics made with locally grown-or-sourced ingredients and my own special twists. All solid dishes, or so I’d thought. “What’s wrong?”

“Bit her tongue, I imagine,” Vi suggests, without much emotion.

But Jo shakes her head at that. She holds up a finger and continues chewing for a moment longer then finally says,“Nothing’s wrong. Are you kidding? I just wasn’t expecting the massive foodgasm you just gave me.”

“Yeah?” I feel my spirits soar and I can’t keep from smiling. “It’s good? Really?”

“Fuck, yeah,” she replies—eliciting a gasp of outrage from her aunt. “No crumbs.”

“Jocelyn Marie! What did you just say?”

“Sorry, Auntie,” Jo replies. Then her gaze meets mine. “Seriously, Carter. This is sooo freaking good!”

She pauses for effect and then adds, “You know what? You should maybe think about opening a restaurant or something.”

“Ha-ha,” I say, rolling my eyes, nearly missing the distressed expression on Ms. Vi’s face.

“But…he does have a restaurant,” she says, her voice wavering a little. “You do, don’t you, Carter?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I say at the same time as Jo answers, “Jo was just joking.”

Vi doesn’t say anything for a moment. Her gaze shifts from one to the other of us, and then back again before finally settling on Jo. She gives a little nod, as though she’d come to a decision, then says, “I know what you’re really here for.”

Jocelyn

Oh,crapola. The one point that Ms. Bev had been most emphatic about was that I should not, under any circumstances reveal to my aunt who it was that had (in Bev’s words) ‘ratted her out’. “I’m here because I..because I missed you,” I say, nearly stumbling over the words.

Vi shakes her head. “No. That’s not why.”

“She’s here to give me a hard time—that’s what you mean, right?” Carter asks.

I eye him suspiciously. What does he know?

“Don’t be silly,” Aunt Vi says using what I always used to think of as her School-Marm voice—something I haven’t heard in a very long time. “She’s here to help you get the word out about your restaurant.”

“Hunh?” I’m surprised into saying.

“What?” Carter asks, sounding equally perplexed.

“You have that Valentine’s Day event you’re trying to put on,” Vi tells him. “And that’s what Jo does. She plans parties and events for people. Don’t you, dear?”

“I… Well, yes,” I stammer. “I mean, sort of.” Vi’s not completely wrong. My most recent job—the one I was just let go from—was acting as personal assistant to one of Malibu’s most exclusive party planners. But, on the other hand, “It’s not like I have any contacts here, or anything. So, I?—”

Vi shoots a sidelong glance my way. “What are you talking about, child? Of course you have contacts. You grew up here, didn’t you?”

“Well, not really,” I mutter as my gaze swivels in Carter’s direction. And yes, Iamfalling back on bad habits, looking for him to bail me out. Which he usually does, either by cracking a joke, or deflecting my aunt in some other way. But Carter—whodidgrow up here, and who probablydoeshave contacts—is looking poleaxed. Which, if I’m honest, kind of hurts. Not that there’s any reason why he should be any more eager for us to work together than I am, but still…

“You probably don’t need any help, anyway, do you?” I ask, giving us both an out.

“It’s not that,” he says, hedging in a way that’s so unlike his usual, self-assured manner that I find myself staring.

I’m on the brink of asking him what’s going on—we’ve always been honest with each other, so I’m reasonably sure he’ll tell me the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it makes him—when I hear the front door open and a cheery voice calls out, “Hello, Ms. Vi. It’s Evelyn. How are you feeling today?”

As my aunt calls back a greeting, I look to Carter for an explanation. “Evelyn?” I mouth quietly.

“Home care nurse,” he mouths quietly back. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks it’s odd that all these strangers have access to the house, since neither Vi nor Carter seem even slightly surprised. Although Carterisgiving total drowning-man-reaching-for-a-lifeline vibes as he greets her. “Hey, Evelyn. Good to see you. What’s up?”

“Not much, Carter. You?”

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