Page 11 of One More Yule Log
“I want to be a star.” That was definite. “No, a superstar.”
“Oh-ho! What kind? Dancing? Singing?” They all moved around each other so easily in the kitchen and dining nook. It was really like being a part of a family, and he had to rein in that thought. He was a paid employee, essentially, who’d been invited for dinner.
“All of it. I want to be a triple-threat—singing, dancing, and acting. Seriously.” Liv gave him an exaggerated blink. “I asked Daddy to let me go and do auditions for real work, but he won’t let me.”
“You can be an adult when you grow up, Olivia. Right now, be a kid.” Ben sounded very sure about that. Very sure. “Her heroes are Emily Blunt and Lady Gaga. I keep telling her to be patient.”
“The Roaring Fork valley is plenty big enough a stage for a lady of your talents right now,” Gray agreed. Child talent things always made him think of that poor little girl in Denver who’d gotten killed. Liv needed to just be her.
“Well, I will slay at my recitals.”
The timer on the oven dinged, saving him from needing to reply.
Ben grabbed the hot pads. “Let me check everything.”
The casserole looked amazing—cheesy and bubbly and full of goodness. The rolls had been in just a little too long, but they were just toasty, not burnt.
“Smells delicious,” Gray said. It did. He ate a lot of juink food, just because his bakery was on “restaurant row” in downtown, and it was so easy to grab and go. Homemade looked so yummy.
“Liv, go put your picture away and wash up, okay?” Ben put the casserole on a trivet at the center of the table, so Gray moved to grab the rolls and pop them in the basket he guessed had been pulled out for them.
“Yes, sir, Mister Daddy sir!”
Ben cracked up, rolling his eyes. “God, it’s been good to be here with her. I’ve been missing her.”
“Sounds like you’re at the office a lot?” He could relate. His hours were less traditional, but he was up and in by four, sometimes earlier.
“Yeah. More than I ever thought I’d be.”
“Do you mind if I ask what you do?” Some people got touchy, but Ben seemed pretty open. Why did this feel more like a date than a business supper?
“Real estate.” Ben wrinkled his nose but immediately stopped. “It was my husband’s pride and joy, his whole world. I’m very lucky to have it.”
Lucky, but not thrilled. Man, it sucked not to love what you did for a living, but that was none of his business, really. He just nodded. “Sounds like it works for you, at least, if you can work from home when Liv is out of school.”
“Yes. I didn’t give the other partners a choice. Fran is away, and Olivia needs me. I’m having a ball.” Ben inhaled deeply, and then let it out. “Would you like some more wine?”
“I would.” Surely dinner would take long enough for him to sober up if he got even a little tipsy. He wouldn’t want to drive the canyon back if not. Ben and Olivia’s place was surprisingly remote. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Ben poured them both a scant glass and led them to the table. “So do you like it? Running a bakery?”
“I love baking. Some of the admin stuff makes me crazy, and I always hire an assistant to do it. Then they quit.” Gray thought how lucky he was to have Alice. “My actual baking assistant has been with me since I opened. Alice. I adore her.”
“She’s so nice, Daddy. She’s Mr. Gray’s friend.” Olivia’s smile brightened the whole room.
“Does she help you in your lessons?”
“Sometimes, but she’s usually making cookies or eclairs or something.” Olivia nodded seriously. “She makes good stuff.”
“Wow. I don’t even know where to begin making an eclair.”
“Choux pastry.” Gray winked at Ben. “I’ll have to show Olivia.”
“I saw that on the kid’s baking show,” she announced. “You make butter and water boil, then mix it with the flour, right?”
Ben’s eyes went comically wide, and Gray fought the urge to crack up.
“That’s right. I wouldn’t want you to burn yourself, so don’t try it without me or your dad, okay?”
