Waking Up To Love (Lakeside Porches Book 4) (7 page)

“Good way to look at it. And he’s been to London several times with Justin. Would I be safe sightseeing by myself?”

“I’m sure you would, but why not let me arrange a guide for you? I’ve someone I recommend to clients when they visit with their spouses. Steve will show you exactly what you’re interested in, and you’ll learn so much more than on your own.”

“That would ease Joel’s mind. Thank you.”

“Now, if you’ll wave just to the right of Houses of Parliament, you’re waving at the famous statue of Winston Churchill Joel mentioned. You can’t really make it out from here, so you must put it on your itinerary.”

“Okay, I will.”

Manda’s grin was so much like Lyssa’s, Kyle nearly cried. He drew out his phone. “I’ll see what Steve can do on short notice.”

He reached his old friend and arranged for him to be on call for Manda and Joel the next day. As he turned back to speak with Manda, she blinked back tears.

“If you don’t want to do this, it’s no bother. I’ll make it right with Steve, no worries.”

“No, I do want to. I just wish Joel felt up to it, and I feel so bad that I dragged him here, only to find Lyssa gone.”

“Well, it’s purely selfish, but I’m glad to have met Lyssa’s sister and a relative of Justin’s. And I feel certain that a long rest and time at the spa and the pool will put Joel in good form for your flight home.”

“And, meanwhile, I’ll see London.” She looked embarrassed to ask the next question. “Would Steve show me some places to shop?”

Kyle laughed. “He’s a pro at finding the best possible shop for whatever it is you’re hoping to find. I actually think it’s his favorite thing to do.” He spied the waiter setting down their lunches. “We must get back before Joel eats everything. Give some thought to what you want to see and what blocks of time will work for you. I’ll give you Steve’s number, and you can ring him yourself to set it up.”

Manda’s deep blue eyes sparkled, just the way Lyssa’s did.

Lyssa is your dream
.
Chase her.

While Joel and Kyle attacked broiled scallops with vegetables, Manda tucked into a chopped salad with grilled salmon. “Did Lyssa always order a burger here?”

Kyle chuckled. “You certainly know your sister. However, I hear the two of you have not spent much time together lately. You can change that now that she’ll be in Tompkins Falls.”

“Which is wonderful. But I think she’s crazy to have left you behind.”

Kyle’s throat knotted and he took swallow of water. “She had no prospects for a job here, Manda, and she did search hard.” He turned to Joel. “What did you especially like in Ireland?”

Joel answered for them. “Besides the warm welcome everywhere, I’d say the spectacular scenery. The southwest was my favorite.”

Kyle brightened. “Me mum’s from West Cork—Bantry.”

“Joel’s grandmother Bridey came from Kerry,” Manda said.

“We actually started our tour at Bantry,” Joel told him, “then enjoyed the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. We spent time around Listowel where Bridey was from.”

Manda picked it up. “Then we went all the way up the west coast, saw the entire coast of Northern Ireland, and finished in Dublin, where we crashed for a day.”

“I don’t wonder. Even with a driver, that’s a demanding trip.”

“I’m stuffed.” Manda set down her fork and pushed her salad bowl away. “Joel, Kyle knows a guide who can take us around. Or take me around, if you want to hang by the pool.”

“I’m on board with that, if we can fit in a play one afternoon. Kyle, is there a particular play we should see or a restaurant we shouldn’t miss?”

“Honestly, the shows are such high quality, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Just mind the descriptions and pick one that appeals. As for restaurants, if you’re not on a budget, your concierge will steer you right. Lyssa and I often came here on a Friday night and ate in on Saturday. Karin’s beau Tommy is a grand cook. Lately, though, we’ve spent most weekends in Cornwall at Pennington House, so I’m not your best source for London restaurant recommendations.”

“Cornwall.” Joel sat back and eyed him. “Are you the photographer Justin talks about?”

“I am that. When he lived in London, Justin and I spent many a day rambling around Cornwall and various beauty spots in the UK. He’s quite good, you know.”

Joel’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “He says he learned everything from you.”

Kyle’s cheeks heated. “It’s all true.”

“You
have
to come to the Finger Lakes,” Manda said. “We live on Chestnut Lake, but all the lakes are beautiful.”

“Please come,” Joel seconded. “It’s a different kind of beauty, more like the lochs of the Scottish Highlands.”

“I want to very much. In fact, toward that end, I’m working intensely right now with my second-in-command, who’s told me, loudly and clearly for months, that he’s ready to take the helm from time to time. I plan to visit Lyssa, though she doesn’t know it yet.”

“Good,” Manda said.

“What is your business, Kyle?” Joel asked.

“I provide über secure networks for financial wizards like Justin. Very select client base, very exacting in their demands and willing to pay for cutting-edge security.”

“Your own protocols and encryption?” Manda asked.

“Exactly.”

“So, in short,” Joel said, “you’re the genius my uncle knows from his days at University of Chicago’s London campus.”

“Quite right.” Kyle met Joel’s penetrating gaze. “I was a young pup when we met. I’ve no idea why we hit it off, but we’ve been fast friends ever since. With the possible exception of—” His phone chirped. “Bother. I need to run.”

He signaled the waiter, slid a business card across the table for Joel, and a second for Manda. “Manda, yours is for the guide I mentioned, Steve.” He reached across the table to shake Joel’s hand. “Let’s be in touch after you’ve returned to Tompkins Falls. Enjoy your stay in London.”

Manda watched his retreating form. “I have no idea why my lamebrain sister would leave a great guy like that.”

Joel sat back and kneaded her neck. “He’s hurting. I wonder if she is, too.”

“Justin, I apologize for the meltdown last evening and the impact on your household.” After saying exactly the fourteen words she and Gianessa had rehearsed, Lyssa shut her mouth.
I will not justify, excuse or repeat that mistake today, no matter how mad he makes me. God help me.

“No harm done, Lyssa. I hope you came this morning because you’re still interested in the job we’re offering you at Tompkins College.” Justin tapped one finger beside his placemat.

“Yes, I am.” Lyssa moistened her lips.
He’s as nervous as I am
.

“I can repeat the terms I laid out last evening if that would be helpful.”

“Not necessary, but thank you. If the offer still stands, my answer is yes, I accept.”

“Very good.” He placed two sets of documents on the table and pointed to the lines for Lyssa to sign and date. When he’d added his own signature, he gave her one copy and tucked the college’s set in the inside pocket of his suit coat. “Done.”

“Are you ready to order?” The waitress stood a few feet from their table and looked tentatively from Lyssa to Justin and back.

The nametag identified her as Haley. She had chocolate-brown eyes in an arrestingly lovely face.

“Yes, actually,” Lyssa said, “I’m famished. How are your omelets, Haley?”

Haley’s answering smile was wide and white. “Almost as good as my Aunt Gwen’s.” She stepped forward and slipped an order pad from her green-and white-striped apron.

“I knew you looked familiar,” Lyssa said. “I’m Lyssa Doughty. I saw your aunt in London last November. With Justin.”

“So, I
am
hearing a British accent. I thought so.”

“Indeed. Please say hello to Gwen from Lyssa, if you think of it.”

“I will. Good morning, Justin. Are you having your usual?”

Justin nodded. “Lyssa, order whatever you want,” he said. “Everything’s good.”

“In that case, I’d like the two-egg omelet with spinach and tomato. No toast. Do you have fresh-squeezed orange juice?” At Haley’s nod, she ordered a small one. “And keep the coffee coming, please.”

As Haley headed toward the kitchen, Justin raised his mug to Lyssa. “To a successful and enjoyable three years at Tompkins College.”

Lyssa squared her shoulders and raised her mug with a shaky but sincere smile. “I look forward to it.” She dared to make eye contact as she delivered her next sentence, also rehearsed with Gianessa’s coaching. “And I have a few busy days ahead finding a place to live and leasing a car.”

“In that regard, Gianessa and I agree you should look at Joel’s old apartment at 14 Lakeside Terrace. It’s a one-bedroom with a grand view of the lake. We can swing by after breakfast, if you’d like to see it.”

“Love to. Thank you.”

“And, just a thought, when Joel returns, you might want to talk to him about buying his VW Passat. He’s been looking at new cars, and, between you and me, Joel is a very conservative driver, so you’re assured the car is in excellent condition.”

“That sounds like a plan. Where is Joel? Is Manda away, too? When will they be back?” Manda hadn’t answered her phone last night.

“He and Manda left on their wedding trip to Ireland the morning we heard about the grant, so they weren’t aware of your trip to Tompkins Falls. They’ll be back home in a couple of days. Manda will be thrilled to have you here.”

“Why do I think you left something out?” Lyssa raised one eyebrow.

“You see right through me. That can make you either a dangerous adversary or a cunning collaborator.” The rumble in Justin’s tone warned her to take the statement seriously.

“I’m no adversary, Justin, although I will speak my mind, as you’ve seen. As for cunning, my intentions are good. I’m excited about the work and about what I see at the college. And so far I like Tompkins Falls very much.”

“That will serve us well.”

“And the piece you left out of your comments about Joel and Manda’s travels?”

Justin sat back. “Today, they had planned to surprise you in London.”

“And I’m not there for them.” Lyssa shut her eyes against the regret that rose in her. “Joel has had such a long recovery from that accident. I’m sorry they’ve traveled so far for nothing.”

“Thank you for saying that.” Justin reached across the table and rested his hand on hers. “I am concerned for the same reason.”

“Is there any way I can reach them? I could suggest a few low-key fun things for them to do.”

Justin patted her hand. “Joel called me just before I picked you up to say they’d had lunch with Kyle, who was at your flat helping to box up your things.”

Lyssa’s heart hammered.

Justin continued, as if he hadn’t seen her distress. “You had evidently left some things at Pennington House that he thought you might want. Joel said he and Manda are planning to take it easy, see a matinee and sample some restaurants. Manda will probably do some shopping and sightseeing with a guide Kyle suggested, while Joel enjoys the pool.”

“So.” Lyssa had trouble breathing.
I left my heart at Pennington House. How’s he going to wrap that for transport?
“Then it’s not a total disaster for Joel and Manda.”

“About Kyle . . .”

“We will
not
talk about Kyle.” Lyssa’s eyes blazed, and Justin averted his gaze.
I’m making trouble for myself.

A movement caught her eye. Haley had backed away from the table and stood with a steaming carafe in hand, her eyes wide.

“I’m very sorry, Haley.” Lyssa held out her mug. “I’d love a hot up.”

“What did you call it? A hot up?” Haley smiled as she poured.

“Exactly.” Justin held out his mug. “In one pour, you’re heating up what’s left in the cup and raising the level of the liquid. A hot up.”

“I’m going to start using that with customers and see how it goes over. Your food will be right out.”

Once she’d left, Lyssa asked, “Justin, what can you tell me about Rand Cunningham? I believe he’s—”

“Among our newest faculty, very well liked. Poet in the Communications Department, very active in online communities that promote young talent.”

“Married?”

Justin paused with his mouth open. “I don’t believe so. But for all his social presence, I know next to nothing about his personal life. Why do you ask?” The question came out a growl.

Lyssa shrugged. “I ran into him, quite literally, at the start of my interviews.”

Haley was back with their breakfast. She offloaded a bowl of yogurt and fresh fruit for Justin and placed Lyssa’s omelet in front of her. “Anything else?”

Justin shook his head, and Haley retreated.

Lyssa’s fork hovered over her crisp-sided omelet. “Rand invited me to chat, and I plan to take him up on it soon. He can help me meet the faculty in a social setting. And once my boxes arrive from London, I may ask him to help me settle in.”

Justin speared a chunk of honeydew melon with his fork and made a rude noise in his throat.

I’m moving on, Justin.

“Did you get any good advice from our friends last night about how to get your sweet Lyssa to the altar?” Chrissie handed her brother a tall mug of coffee and sat across from him at the table on the deck.

“Lots of it. And a couple of proposals.”

She hooted. “Spill. Who from?”

“Cute little Angelica. And I think the other’s name is Melissa.”

“Angelica has always been hot for you. Melissa must be someone’s friend. Were you tempted?”

Rand wrinkled his nose.

“Anyway, what’s the best advice you got?”