Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 57
“Look at you, acting like we haven’t seen each other in a while. I was just in the office last week,” he says.
“No, Dad, you weren’t,” Nathanial chimes in, stepping up to my side with his hand on the small of my back. “You haven’t been in the office in over a year, remember? You retired.”
Carlson looks very confused and glances over to Caroline for confirmation, which she gives him in the form of a nod.
“Ah, well, the old brain isn’t working so well nowadays,” he says. “What do you say we go get some pancakes? I’m starving.”
“You all go on ahead. Piper and I will be right behind you in my car,” Nathanial says.
“Are you sure? I can drive you. I don’t mind,” Carlson says to him, patting his pockets. I think he’s looking for his keys.
“Actually, it’s okay if we all ride together. I don’t mind,” I offer up to avoid there being any unnecessary tension, since I’m assuming he isn’t allowed to drive anymore, and I can feel Nathanial go icy cold and his hand flexes against my back.
“That would be great!” Caroline says, clasping her hands together. “Nath, sweetie, would you care to drive? It’s been a long morning for us already.”
He clears his throat. “We are in the Stingray, so we’ll have to take your car.” His voice is stoic and monotone.
“Fine with me,” his father offers up. “We’ll meet you two outside.”
“Yeah, I just need to run up and get my purse and cell phone,” I say. “I shouldn’t be long.”
We part ways for now, them heading out to the car, and Nathanial and I heading back to the bedroom to retrieve my things.
He closes the door behind him, but doesn’t say anything to me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have insisted we all ride together, but I could tell there was something brewing in the air, and I know you don’t want there to be any tension, and neither does your mother. He doesn’t drive anymore, does he?”
Nathanial shakes his head. “No, he doesn’t. He forgets that part a lot. Gets upset sometimes over it.”
“That’s what I thought.” I step closer to him and take his face in my hands. “I may not know exactly what happened between you and your father, or why it’s so hard for you two to be around one another, but it’s one breakfast, and I’ll be right there the whole time.”
He closes his eyes and leans into my palm.
“That’s what makes me more nervous than anything.”
That’s not exactly what I was expecting him to say. I shake my head slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He turns his face and kisses my palm. “We should go before they come looking for us.”
I don’t push him to elaborate on what he meant by what he said, because I know there is no point. If there is one person on this earth who is more stubborn than I am, it’s Nathanial Lennox.
Chapter 21
Piper
The ride to the restaurant wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be.
I sat up front with Nathanial, even after insisting I could sit in the back, I mean, it is their car after all, but Caroline wasn’t taking no for an answer. Truth be told, I don’t think her son would have allowed me to be anywhere but by his side either.
He kept his hand on my thigh for the entire drive, occasionally giving it a squeeze anytime his father would mention Lennox Publishing or asking if he was or wasn’t doing something correctly.
Clearly, Old Man Lennox has high expectations for his son. Some could say too high.
When we stepped into the quaint restaurant, I was delighted by its charming wooden floors and simple décor. It’s small, with only ten to twelve tables, and a walk-up counter for baked goods.
It smells heavenly.
We have to wait for a few moments for a table in the middle to be cleared, as apparently this is the place to be this early in the morning in the area, but soon we are all settled and have made our breakfast selections.
While we wait, we’re only left with coffee and conversation.
“So,” Caroline says, breaking the silence. “How long have you two been…” She waves her finger between us.
I look to Nathanial, and thankfully, he answers for the both of us. “It’s fairly new. We are still trying to figure things out as we go.”
“So, it’s not serious then?” Carlson chimes in.
“Dad, that’s personal and not a conversation I want to have at the breakfast table.”
“I’m just asking, Nathanial. You’ve been dating Jessica here for quite awhile. Isn’t it about time you make an honest woman out of her?” His question is like a punch to my gut, because I’ve never heard that name before. Not even once.
Caroline steps in immediately. “Carlson, Jessica and Nathanial broke up three years ago. This is Piper. She works at Lennox Publishing with Nathanial, remember?”
He has to stare at me for a few moments before the realization dawns on him.
“Oh, yes, yes. I’m sorry.” He shakes his head and looks down, clearly embarrassed. “I remember.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “Really. I have one of those faces,” I joke. “Very forgettable.”
“Well, that’s absolutely not true at all,” the brooding younger Lennox says as he takes a sip of coffee.
“You’re biased.” I playfully bump him with my shoulder.
“Piper, your family owns the Italian restaurant, right?” Caroline asks. “How’s that going? Everything still chugging along and going well?”
My first inclination is to lie to her, because I don’t even want to say the truth out loud, like it’s going to make it somehow more true to admit to it, but what does hiding it do for me?
Nothing but riddle me with guilt.
“Business is good, yes, but finances are a bit tight at the moment. It’s hard running a business right now.”
“Yeah, you just said a mouthful there, Miss,” Carlson says.
Our server appears at our tableside with her arms full of