Page 17 of Falling for You
CeCe looked a little tired, but happy overall, as she always did when she was cooking or baking. There was a moment’s hesitation as she registered that Mallory was there before giving her a one-armed hug. “Hey, it’s nice to see you,” CeCe greeted Mallory, and Evan believed her. CeCe was always friendly with people, but she never faked warmth. It’s one of the many things he liked about her. She was all bark and no bite.
“I’m here to see when that hot celebrity chef is coming to town,” Mallory beamed. “I’ve watched Eric Watson’s show a million times. He’s a dish best served hot.” Fanning herself with a napkin, Mallory swooned.
Evan rolled his eyes at his sister. “Gross, Mal.”
Max chuckled, but CeCe had gone whiter than her chef’s tunic. He latched onto her elbow to steady her; she looked like she would faint. “You all right?” he asked as he ushered her to the kitchen.
Mallory went into full nurse mode and followed the trio. Max got a glass of water and pulled out a chair for CeCe. He kept hold of her arm until she took the water and shook her head. “I’m fine, a little tired, I guess. I didn’t sleep well.”
Evan bit back a retort, having firsthand knowledge that not only did she sleep well, but she snored like a freight train. Mallory didn’t seem convinced either, leaning down and checking the pulse on CeCe’s wrist. “You sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, and your pulse is a little high.” Mallory sat back on her haunches and studied CeCe a moment longer before standing and dusting off her pants. “I think she needs to go home and rest,” she told the room.
Max nodded and motioned for Helen. “Helen, can you change the specials board to exclude the quiche today? CeCe isn’t feeling well.”
Helen gave a thumbs-up and headed toward the dining room. “It’s about time you took a day off,” she barked over her shoulder.
CeCe gave a nervous laugh and struggled to get on her feet. Evan didn’t like the color of her complexion, and fortunately Max read his mind. “Why don’t you follow CeCe home, make sure she gets back in one piece?”
Evan nodded and headed toward the wall where CeCe’s jacket and purse hung. CeCe sprung forward and waved off their concern. “Everyone relax, I’ll be fine. I’m a little tired, that’s all.”
No one was buying it, but Evan wasn’t sure why. Judging from the look Max gave CeCe, he knew something Evan didn’t. Mallory looked relieved that CeCe was leaving, but still a little concerned. “Make sure you’re drinking enough water, and let Evan follow you back. It will make us all feel better.”
Reluctantly, CeCe shrugged on her jacket and forced a smile. “Fine, I’ll go home and relax for a bit. But I’m coming in tomorrow.” She pointed at Max, who raised his hands in defense.
“Fine, but make sure you rest. Nurse Mallory’s orders.” Max winked at Mallory again, who officially burst into a shade of crimson that probably needed its own medical attention. Evan would have to remind his dear sister that Max was not only back with his ex-wife, but engaged to remarry in a matter of weeks.
“All right, let’s go,” Evan said to CeCe, who was a step ahead of him. He had so many questions, but he didn’t want to push her. Something was clearly going on, and he had a feeling it had to do with Eric Watson and this food competition. Was CeCe nervous about competing? That seemed completely unfounded. Despite being humble, she was proud of what she’d accomplished in the kitchen.
Then it had to be something else, something bad enough for her to willingly go home for the day. Evan ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath; he needed to get to the bottom of what was breaking CeCe’s heart. Because he couldn’t take much more.
CHAPTER 5
––––––––
CeCe white-knuckledthe steering wheel for the entire ten-minute drive back to her place. Evan was a steady presence behind her, never getting more than twenty feet away. Despite the growing tension headache in her temples, she took relief from seeing Evan’s silhouette in her rearview mirror. “Focus on one man at a time.” She huffed under her breath when she pulled into her driveway.
Evan was out of his car in record time, sprinting to open her door. She let the cool air wash over her, bringing a sense of calm to her brain. It could also have been his strong arm wrapped around her waist that made the tension ease. “There you go,” Evan said as CeCe stepped onto her porch.
