Tempting the New Boss(56)

“Shhh.” She kissed him silent. “Let’s not talk about tomorrow.”



Rays of orange sunlight peeked through the window, and the clock read eight a.m. After switching on her phone, she saw five voicemails, one from each of her sisters who weren’t here. How sweet. She’d listen to them later.

Since there was also a text from Brandy fifteen minutes before that they were going down to breakfast, she left Mason sleeping in her bed and dressed to join them.

Her father rose when she entered the restaurant and kissed her on the cheek. “I thought we were going to have to send Joey up there to wake you up. Good sleep, honey?”

“Great. Thanks, Dad. I’m starved.”

“You look so much better.” Her mom patted her hand as she slid between them, Brandy and Joey on the other side.

“I feel better.”

Brandy watched her with a closed lip smile, and Camilla blushed at the scrutiny.

“Well, I, for one, have to get back to Detroit, guys,” her sister said. “As much fun as this little interlude has been, Mikey had a spelling test and got a D on it, and hubby is blaming it on my absence, now that he knows you’re okay.”

“What do they need to be expert spellers for these days?” her dad asked, sprinkling pepper on his fried eggs as the waitress noticed Camilla and came over to take her order. She asked for an omelet, extra cheesy, and rye toast with coffee. Joey was digging into a cinnamon roll, and French toast with more syrup than bread was waiting for his attention.

“Isn’t there spell check now?” her dad continued.

“You know what, Cammy?” Joey said between mouthfuls. “I got licorice from the store over there this morning.”

“But you’re saving it for the plane ride home,” their mom reminded him before turning to Brandy. “I hope Brad isn’t going to make Mikey feel bad about his grade. That just compounds itself, you know. You have to give positive reinforcement.”

“I know, Mom.”

They were all talking at once, a mere echo of the true cacophony that could abound when the entire family was present, principals and spouses and children, generations of similar voices all talking to and with and over each other.

Camilla soaked it in, smiling. Though she spoke with her family on the phone often, it had been too long since she had been home. Three months at least.

Mason entered the restaurant, his clothes the same as the ones he had worn the day before, his hair a mass of curls. He searched her out as if she were a beacon in a stormy sea and nodded when he saw her, heading for their table. He looked hesitant and adorable, and her heart beat faster at the sight of him. Nervous as she was to have him interact with her family, she was glad that he was making the effort to come down and join them. Her father rose from his chair when he got there. “Mr. Talbot.”

He regarded the outstretched hand, and after a slight hesitation, took it. “Good morning, sir.”

She smiled at him. “Pull up a chair.”

A waitress brought him an extra chair, and he ordered coffee.

“Hey.” Joey leaned over Brandy to get at him. “Are you Cammy’s boss?”

“Yes.” Though Mason was pale and tapping his fingers against the napkin holder, he was obviously trying, looking over at her brother. “And you must be Joey.”

He grinned wide. “I am. I’m Cammy’s brother and Brandy’s brother and Carly’s brother and—”

“You don’t need to go through everybody, Joey,” Camilla said quickly with a laugh.

“I know all their telephone numbers, too,” he said. “Maybe I can have yours? What did you say your name was again?”

“Mason.” Louder this time.

Brandy snuck a pinch of Joey’s sweet roll, knowing that would get his attention, and he laughed, slapping her hand away. “Hey, that’s mine! You get your own.”

He went back to chomping on his breakfast before his sister could try to get to it again.

Mason tapped a fork against the table edge, then his coffee cup. An intense study of the salt shaker was next.

“So,” her father tried to keep the conversation going, “you’re CEO of your own company?”

“Yes.”

“How’s that?” her mother asked as everybody but Joey stared at Mason.

“Fine. Just fine.”

“Dad and Mom were teachers,” Brandy offered.

“Mmmm.”

The waitress poured his coffee and he drank it, both hands clutched around the cup, blowing on the steaming brew, taking his time and devoting all his concentration to it as if it were the most difficult production problem he’d ever encountered.

Brandy caught Camilla’s eyes, and they smiled at each other, a joint recognition of how nervous Mason was.