Page 39 of Geordie

I make quick work of the steak, mushrooms, and sauce. The salad was no problem; it was only greens with a few orange sections that I tossed in for flavor. I bring our meals out on a tray and set it beside him, then pluck mine off and take a seat in a chair.

The aroma of steak and mushrooms with a rich brandy sauce fills the air. He stares at his dinner like he's looking at a woman's ass. There are two ways to a man's heart and I just brushed against one of them. “Let me know what you think.”

He already has a knife and fork in hand, cutting into the steak. He eats European-style, meaning he cuts the steak, then pops the meat into his mouth without setting his knife down or changing the fork to his other hand. The bliss on his face is just what I was looking for.

“It'll do,” he says. “How did you make the sauce?”

“I'll have to show you one day. It's easier than telling you how to do it, especially if you're not a cook.”

The thought travels across his face. “I've left my frozen dinner in the microwave.”

I cut him off before he finishes his sentence. “Oh, I saw that. I put it where it belongs, in the bin.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “I'm sorry that wee dinner offended you because it wasn't a restaurant-quality meal.”

“Oh, frozen dinners don't offend me. There are some that are better than others. That was not one of the better ones. If you want my recommendation, I'll give you a list. I usually tell people they can cook and freeze meals themselves that will be cheaper and much better.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I'll think about it. That's an interesting idea.”

Chapter nineteen

Good Night and Sweet Dreams

Geordie

I’mfloatingaweebit, the pain at bay, while Lily moves about the apartment with unaffected grace, her deception about Catriona becoming less of a concern.

She’s cleaning the kitchen, putting food away, and presenting a picture of domestic happiness. It’s like a premonition that one day there will be another woman in this kitchen with a child at her skirts.

“Would you like anything else before I close the kitchen?”

“I’m sufficiently satiated. Thank you.”

“Great, if you’ll excuse me, I have to make a call.”

She’s already walking onto the balcony, out of earshot, or so she thinks she is.

“Harv, sorry, I couldn’t make it back. It was worse than I expected.” There’s silence while she listens. “I promise I’ll be back tomorrow. No excuses. You can take tomorrow off if you like and I’ll run the crew.” She gives a low giggle. “I can survive without you, but I don’t want to. Have a good night.”

She appears in the sliding glass door, pushing it closed behind her, then walks around the couch to sit next to me. “I don’t want to be pushy, but you should try to make an appointment with your doctor right now. That painkiller will last only about twelve hours. The doctor should examine you before it wears off. I could take you to emergency right now and they could help you out.”

The concern on her face is touching, really convincing. “I’m good. Besides, the doctor’s office is closed.”

“You can make an appointment online and see him in the morning. Would you like me to help you make the appointment and I can drive you to the doctor’s office tomorrow?”

“According to your conversation, and yes, I heard it, it seems you’re in enough trouble at the restaurant. I can get a rideshare if I need medical attention. Can we change the subject?”

She frowns, scanning the room. “You sure there’s nothing else I can do? I have the evening off; it’s no trouble.” Her gaze lands on the pile of magazines stacked on the coffee table. “I’ll just straighten up before I go.” She fans them out into an arc. There’s a series of winemaking magazines, dirt biking; there’s even an entertainment magazine that focuses on Scotland. This is reading material you’d see in a single man’s apartment. I’m about to tell her not to fuss when I see a parenting magazine sandwiched in with the others.

My heart drops when she sees the magazine titledParenting Today.Lily is trying to figure out if this is my magazine or if someone’s left it here. She picks it up, thumbing through the pages. “Is keeping up with parenting trends a hobby?”

I’m trying to decide whether to tell her the truth or a plausible lie. Then I think about her sin of omission and figure that the truth is better. At least I can keep my position as king of the holier. “The parenting magazine is mine. I’m thinking of starting a family.”

She pins me with a disbelieving stare, probably deciding if this is a joke. “When you say that you’re starting a family, is that with your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“A boyfriend then, and I’m perfectly cool with that.”

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