A Home by the Sea (22 page)

J
ILLY WAS IN THE KITCHEN
cooking when Noah and Grace finally wandered downstairs, looking very satisfied—and very hungry.

She made a point of not mentioning the beard burn on Grace's neck. She also made a point of not mentioning the nail marks across the Noah's neck, just above the edge of his T-shirt.

They had definitely had an interesting night. She was pleased that she was only a little bit jealous. “So, what will it be, blueberry and sour cream pancakes or huevos rancheros? Everything's ready to go. I stocked up yesterday.”

Noah glanced at Grace, one eyebrow raised.

“The eggs sound wonderful. I know how great you make them. Then again your pancakes are amazing too, Jilly. How about…both?” Grace ran a hand through her hair and smiled crookedly. “I have the most outrageous appetite this morning.”

Jilly managed to bite off the smart-ass reply that shot to her lips. No point in embarrassing Grace. Or Noah. “You've got it. Have a seat. I brought a folding table down from the attic and set it up in the front
room, overlooking the harbor. It's still a little cloudy, but the worst of the storm is past. And I've got some great news.”

She whirled an apron deftly around her waist and flipped a hand towel over her shoulder. “My contractor friend has already been here. He says the hole is contained, and the whole storage room needs to be gutted, but structurally things are sound. He doesn't think it's going to be a big problem. The sooner we get it done, the better, so he's working up a complete bid today. I should have a figure soon. You may want to pray, however. We're going to need it.”

“That sounds reassuring.” Noah slid his arm around Grace's waist. “Isn't there something I can do to help?”

“Yeah. Go sit down. No one interferes when I'm cooking.” Jilly made shooing motions with her towel.

They walked out hand in hand and Jilly saw Grace tilt her head up for Noah's kiss.

Oh, Jilly remembered how it felt.

Heaven one minute and hell the next. As far as she was concerned, being in love was highly overrated. Fortunately, she wouldn't be in love again any time soon.

When she finished cooking, she served plates of food nonstop, dishing up a stream of cooking anecdotes that were largely humorous at her own expense. Next came her ongoing problems with sub-contractors and repairmen. Lawyers came in a close
second. “And don't get me started on the food critics.”

Soon she had Noah and Grace laughing until they were red-faced, unable to believe the bizarre disguises that food critics used to hide themselves in a restaurant where they were known, as well as the crazy lengths that chefs went to in order to court those same food critics. Her entrance into the food world had been an eye-opener, and Jilly certainly had battle wounds from encounters with food critics.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Noah and Grace were holding hands under the table. What mattered most to her was that Grace looked radiant, calm and rested.

Duffy barked suddenly. Feet stamped across the back wooden stairs. The big puppy launched into a mad charge straight through the kitchen in a flurry of excitement when Gage opened the door and held it for his wife. With the skill born from experience, Gage moved in front of Caro, cutting off Duffy's crazy charge before the dog could leap against her chest.

Gage sank down on one knee, rubbing the puppy's head. “Hey there, Duffy. Are they giving you enough steak? You look a little run-down today. I've got Bogie and Bacall out in the car. How about you and Bogie and I take a run on the beach while Mom here puts her feet up?”

Jilly could have sworn that Duffy knew the names
of Gage's two pets, because the puppy threw back his head and howled happily.

Gage laughed. “I'll take that for a yes, bud.”

While he snapped on Duffy's leash, Gage shot a look through the door at Noah. “Everything okay in there?”

“Excellent,” Jilly said. “You want me to introduce you?”

“After our walk. Bogart has been all wound up this morning. I'll wear them out and then you can make the introductions.” He frowned, studying Noah's head.

The air seemed heavy. Testosterone popped. Men sizing up other men, Jilly thought, rolling her eyes.

Gage opened the door and let Duffy outside for their walk. “Catch you in a few minutes,” he called back. “Don't let Caro start cleaning cabinets or going up and down stairs, Jilly. Her feet and back are bothering her again. Make her sit down and rest.”

He closed the door fast, before he could hear his wife's sharp protest.

Smart man, Jilly thought. But then it would have taken a smart man and a very good man to capture her friend's heart.

Concerned for Caro, Jilly launched into action. She cleared a place at the table, set out a steaming pot of herbal tea and glared until Caro sat down. After making introductions, she stacked food in front of Caro and tapped her foot until her friend took a bite of everything.

“You're just as good a cook as you always were,” Caro said. “These pancakes are killer, don't you think, Noah?”

“No doubt about it. Probably that explains why I just ate seven of them.”

Caro took a sip of tea, looking thoughtful. “Maybe we should have a special breakfast at the café here. An early-bird menu, with knitting on the side for people who have a busy day ahead. You know, a workout for your fingers before the day begins. Those pancakes would be amazing, Jilly.”

“Good idea. I'll put it down in my BlackBerry. I've got some ideas for publicity, too. I thought every Friday between noon and one we could have some dessert item heavily discounted at three for the price of one. But the clincher is, they have to bring two extra people. That's an easy way to bring in bodies. One person pays and two of them eat for free. Who would say no to that?”

“Not bad,” Caro said. “You really do have a promotion brain up there, hidden behind the chef's toque, don't you?”

“You make it sound like a social disease,” Jilly snapped, huffing back to the kitchen.

Caro shot to her feet and followed her. “I didn't mean it like that, Jilly. We know you're doing twice the work of any normal person. We couldn't do this without you.”

After a moment Jilly sighed. “Sorry. I'm a little prickly worrying about that floor repair. But you
need to go back and sit down, remember? Go keep Grace and Noah company while I finish in here.”

Caro rubbed her back. “As if they'd notice. Love is in the air,” she said with a quiet laugh. But she pulled out her knitting bag and went back to the table.

By the time Gage returned, the three were deep in a discussion of vintage stair rails and crown molding.

Thick as thieves, Jilly thought.

Gage was carrying his other pet, Bacall, a beautiful white cat with striking blue eyes. Bogart, his golden retriever, charged off after Duffy to explore the house.

“They're definitely wound up today.” Gage sauntered into the front room and leveled a searching look at Noah. “I'm Gage. Nice to meet you.”

More of that undefined testosterone, Jilly noted.

“Do you want to have a look at the power box? It's going to need a major overhaul, and I've been kicking around some ideas with the electrician.”

Noah nodded and pulled on the sweatshirt hanging behind his chair. “Sounds good to me.” He leaned over to kiss Grace and then followed Gage through the kitchen. The two were deep in a discussion of transformers and wiring specs when the door closed.

Jilly sniffed. “First they'll go look at the wiring. Then I give you odds they'll stop at Gage's truck. They'll discuss the carburetor or the fuel injection
system or the antilock brakes and they'll probably be out there for an hour. Men,” she muttered.

Grace stood up and stretched lazily. “But they do have their uses.”

“That's obvious.”

Grace flushed. “Stop looking at me that way, you two. Noah is nice—no, he's fabulous. When I'm with him I feel wonderful. But it's too early. Don't start ordering place cards for a wedding reception.”

“Wouldn't dream of it.” Jilly smiled broadly at Caro. “Wait—what's that sound I keep hearing?”

“I don't hear anything.” Grace leaned close to the window. “Just the wind.”

“The wind…and the sound of wedding bells,” Jilly said firmly. As usual, she had the last word.

 

“N
ICE JOB ON THE CARBURETOR
.” Noah leaned an elbow on the hood and studied Gage. “And you can stop checking me out. I'm going to do what's best for Grace. I won't hurt her.”

“Glad to hear it. She's had a tough time. She doesn't need another upheaval.” Gage reached down, muttering as he wiped a drop of oil off his sock. “I knew I shouldn't have worn these. Caro knitted them for me. They're my favorite pair.”

“No kidding. Grace hasn't offered.” Noah rubbed his neck. “Those look comfortable.”

“Like walking on air,” Gage said proudly. “By the way, it's too bad that she hasn't heard about that big
digital project yet. It would be a great fit with her research skills.”

Noah's eyes narrowed. “She heard. And she got it. But she opted out because she was worried about her grandfather.”

“But she told Caro—” Gage stopped, tossing the cleaning rag from hand to hand. “I see. She wanted to protect her grandfather. She didn't want him to know and feel bad about the choice she made. Women are something.” Gage glanced at Noah. “They can be very complicated sometimes.”

Noah decided he liked this Marine. “Tell me about it.”

 

“A
RE THEY STILL OUT THERE
?” Jilly emerged from the kitchen, up to her elbows in flour. “I thought I heard the sound of wrenches banging.”

“Still out there. They've got the hood up on the truck now. Gage took something out, wiped it with a rag, and Noah put it back in.”

“Men,” Jilly muttered. “Show them a
Playboy
magazine or a carburetor cap and their brains turn to mush and ooze out their ears.” She raised a hand abruptly when Caro started to stand up. “
You. Sit.
Anything that needs to be gotten, Grace or I will get it. No arguing.”

Caro sat down in the big rocking chair near the window. She closed her eyes and rubbed her back.

“How much does it hurt?” Grace asked quietly
after Jilly vanished back into the kitchen, banging pots and baking trays. “The truth.”

Grace had seen her friend's frown. It was clear that Caro was feeling all the discomfort of the last weeks of pregnancy.

“It only hurts when I breathe,” Caro said. “Some days are better than others, but I take it as a good sign. It won't be long until I have this baby.”

There was a firmness and certainty in her voice that made Grace feel a quick, sharp pang of envy. Caro was glowing, looking every inch the way a healthy and confident mother-to-be should. What would it feel like to be carrying the child of the man you loved? Grace wondered.

And what would it feel like to know he was leaving within hours, going back to war?

The thought left her sick with worry, but she hid her feelings. After pouring Caro another cup of herbal tea, Grace pulled out the scarf she had been working on for Jilly. “I mangle one more stitch, I'm tossing this thing out the window. It's rated as an easy pattern, nice mindless knitting, but I seem to make a mistake every other stitch.”

“You're just distracted, and it's easy to see the source of your distraction standing outside. He is one gorgeous man. So enjoy it. Relax and go with the flow.”

Grace gave a dry laugh. “It's not easy. In my family, going with the flow was not a prized state of mind. I love my grandfather and respect all his
years of work and dedication, but an easygoing man he is not.”

“Then it's time that you helped him start. Give him a few lessons. He's going to have to learn to relax when he comes home from the hospital,” Caro pointed out quietly.

“I know. I've already talked with your grandmother about how we're going to keep him busy. Andy, from the clinic, has already set up a little woodworking shop in our garage. I know that's the one thing my grandfather always wanted to do. Now he won't have any excuses.”

“That's a great idea. I'm sure you could convince Andy to spend some time with him, too. I'm not sure that either one of them has much of a social life outside the animal clinic,” Caro added.

More pans rattled in the kitchen. Jilly emerged, wearing a smile of triumph. “My new French
macarons
are done. After they've cooled, I'll add the ganache filling. Trust me, you haven't known temptation until you've tasted an espresso-filled
macaron.
” She leaned toward the window. “Are those idiots still out there under the hood?”

Grace followed her glance. “Now they've got parts from the motor lined up along one fender. They'll probably be out there quite a while.”

Duffy raced into the room, came to a halt beside Jilly and whined sharply. “What is with you, Duffy?” Bogie trotted up beside him. “Not food time yet, fellows. I'll take you for a walk later. But
for now, get this.” She tossed a rope toy and the two raced off.

“Seriously, I'd like your opinion on the
macarons,
” Jilly said. “I want to see if I used too much dark chocolate.”

After a short pause, all three women laughed. “Too much chocolate?” Grace grabbed Jilly's hand towel and flicked her with it. “Impossible. You should know that by now.”

Duffy shot back through the room as the kitchen door opened. Gage scratched the puppy's head. “What's with him?”

“Don't have a clue.” Jilly took the rope toy from Duffy and tossed it again, smiling as the dogs raced off again.

Gage sniffed the air. “Something smells good.” He crossed the room to his wife. “Honey, the electrician is downstairs. He found some old blueprints of the house that he wants to show me. They're back at his office. It could make a difference in the renovation plans.” Gage leaned down, touching his wife's cheek. “Will you be okay here for an hour?”