Savor (14 page)

“Until tonight.” She kissed me on the forehead in a gesture that seemed so unlike her. “See you for breakfast.” She slipped out of the room closing the door behind her.

I dragged myself out of bed and toward the attached bathroom. At least I wouldn’t have to walk down the hall with my tent pole. I’d been right. One night with Vera wasn’t nearly enough. She was addicting, and staying away was going to be hard—if even possible. At least she seemed to want the same thing for now.

I turned on the water to cold. I hadn’t been kidding. The cold water helped, but not nearly enough. I cleared my head and reminded myself I’d get another chance tonight.

Breakfast was as awkward as one would expect. I was seated at the table with the girl I’d just spent the night with—and her parents. It was perfect really.

“Can I get you more coffee?” Some sort of servant asked.

“Sure, that would be great.” Usually I tried to limit my caffeine intake, but it was having a bit of a calming influence on me at the moment. “The food is delicious.” I was never comfortable having someone wait on me. I preferred to do things myself.

“I’m glad you think so.” Taliana smiled. “We didn’t know what you two liked so we had Ria make a little of everything.”

I put another piece of sausage on my plate. “It’s perfect.”

“I have to agree.” Vera sipped her coffee. She’d barely eaten, and I hoped it had nothing to do with regretting things with me. She was also being quieter than usual. Then I remembered. She was probably trying to take my advice and listen.

“Don’t you want to try the French toast?” Taliana asked her. “It was always your favorite.”

“I’ve cut back on carbs.” She didn’t mean for any sort of weight loss. I’m sure discovering her shifter side had made her more of a meat eater.

Taliana seemed to understand. “Then how about some more ham?”

“I’ll take another piece of bacon.” She picked up a piece with her hand and took a slow bite while locking her eyes with mine. So much for regretting anything. She was teasing me.

“I hope you two got some sleep last night.” Gareth set his gaze on me as he spoke. “We have a busy day planned.”

“Oh yeah? What are we doing?” Vera finished the bacon and returned to her coffee.

“Touring more of the island and making your formal introduction.”

“My formal introduction?” Vera paused with her cup halfway to her mouth.

“Yes. There will be a ceremony, of course. We did an informal one with Casey, but your mother and I will need to plan yours out more thoroughly.”

“Ceremony?” She coughed on her coffee.

“Yes. Ceremony. As my daughter, it’s customary.”

“And what happens at this ‘ceremony?’”

I laughed at her use of air quotes.

“Let’s leave that as a surprise, why don’t we?” Gareth suggested.

Vera slammed down her cup. “Not a chance in hell.”

“I’ll fill you in, honey.” Taliana touched her daughters arm and glared at her husband.

“You better.”

“Is that the way you talk to your mother?” Gareth rolled up his sleeves.

Vera gritted her teeth. “Whoa. No way. You can’t start lecturing me.”

“This has nothing to do with your position as my daughter. It has to do with respecting your mother, and my mate.”

“My ‘position?’” The air quotes weren’t as cute this time. She was close to bubbling over.

“What’s the first stop on the tour?” I hoped I could keep everyone’s tempers at bay. It looked like Gareth was starting to show his less than pretty colors. I was relieved to be there with Vera. Maybe she wasn’t as safe as her mother had assured us. There went the protective instincts again.

Taliana forced a smile. “It’s a beautiful morning, so I thought you might want to start with the gardens.”

“Are they working gardens?”

“Absolutely. We produce all of our own food here. We strive to be completely self-sufficient.”

“Only strive to?” Vera was in rare form.

“I’m still waiting for you to apologize to your mother.” Gareth glared at her.

“Why?”

“Because you were rude. She deserves respect.”

“Then she can ask for it herself. She doesn’t need you speaking for her.”

“Vera…” Taliana bit her lip. The woman was worried and for a second I saw through the façade. She was holding something back, and I needed to find out what.

“I’m sorry, Mom. This whole situation is so stressful and new that I’m speaking out of line.” Her words were laced with sarcasm, but the sarcasm wasn’t for her mom.

“It’s fine. I understand. Let’s finish up. The fresh air will help.”

“Sounds great.” Vera ate a strawberry and pushed back her chair.

“Thanks for breakfast.” I addressed Ria. I assumed she’d done the cooking.

“My pleasure.” She smiled slightly and bowed.

“Jared, I’m sure you’ve seen gardens before. I have a few other things I’d like to show you.” Gareth finished off his coffee.

I glanced at Vera to make sure she was on board. She nodded.

“Sure. I’m up for that.”

“Great. If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll be ready.” He stood.

I nodded and watched him walk away.

“Thank you, Jared.” Taliana smiled.

“What are you thanking me for exactly?”

“Your presence.”

I knew her words meant a whole lot more than they sounded. “I hope you ladies enjoy the gardens. If you remember, grab a tomato for me.”

“I’ll remember.” Vera smiled. It was strained. My feeling had been right. Something was going on, and Gareth was planning on putting both Vera and I in the center of it.

“You ready?” Gareth returned with a satchel-type bag.

“Yup.” I got up. “See you later.”

“Bye.” Vera forced another smile.

I followed Gareth out of the room, hoping Vera could manage to keep herself out of trouble for a few hours. I really didn’t want her getting on Gareth’s bad side, and even though he wouldn’t be with her, he’d hear. As he’d told us, everything would get back to him.

“I
f you weren’t already annoyed at me, I’d point out how sexist this is.”

“What’s sexist exactly?” Mom swung her arms at her sides. She seemed so much lighter and more comfortable once we left the house.

“That we’re going to see some gardens, and Gareth is taking Jared somewhere presumably more male.”

“The key word is presumably. What if they were headed to the spa?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not a chance.”

“I’m just saying, it’s not prudent to jump to conclusions.”

“Where is Gareth actually taking him?”

Mom looked away. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?

“I don’t know for sure.”

“You sent my friend off with him, and you don’t know where he’s taking Jared?”

Mom smiled. “Where’s all this concern coming from?”

“It’s not concern.”

“It’s not?” She raised an eyebrow. “If it isn’t, then I don’t see why you’re upset.”

“I don’t want someone messing with my friend.”

“Don’t you think Jared can take care of himself?”

“Of course he can, but not if he’s ambushed.”

“Ambushed?” Mom stopped in her tracks. “Why on earth would anyone ever do that?”

“I don’t know. I can’t figure out anything that’s going on here.”

“What makes you think anything is going on?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Mom, remember who you’re talking to.”

“I’m trying.”

“Then you’ll realize you can’t get anything past me.” I stopped. I was doing the exact opposite of what Jared suggested. I was supposed to be listening.

“Vera?” Mom watched me carefully. “What are you over thinking?”

“Nothing.”

“I am your mom. That means I know you better than anyone.”

The name Chris entered my head, but I wisely kept that to myself. No reason to rub salt in any wounds or get anyone in trouble.

“Have you talked to Casey?” It seemed like Casey was a safer topic, although she probably shouldn’t have been. Gareth seemed to be taking her existence incredibly well.

“Not since you got here.”

“I need to call her.”

“You girls used to be close.”

“Emphasis on used to.” Leaving with Murphy had changed everything. Casey could pretend to be over it, but I’d hurt her, and that kind of hurt takes years to heal.

“You can still change that.”

“I hope that’s true.” I missed Casey. She may have been the younger sister, but I needed her as much as she’d ever needed me. “I care about her so much, but I’m not sure if that’s enough.”

“Of course it’s enough. What more could someone want?”

“I left her. I left her when she needed me.”

“You left because you believed you had to.” Mom stopped. “I understand that now, and my guess is that Casey does too.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean she should forgive me. I’m her big sister. I had a duty to protect her.”

Mom put her hands on my arms and looked right into my eyes. “You were young and upset. We can’t spend our entire lives regretting our decisions. We’d get nowhere.”