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“Tough. He gets top dollar for his work here, free accommodation, the winters off to spend with his family in France. He’s not hurting.” Connor accepted the phone, waited till she’d clicked a button on the console. “Hello, Pierre. I understand you’re resigning.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Esther leave the room, gray head shaking. Connor sat down, tilted back in his chair. He listened for about ten seconds, then cut in.
“You’re not sure? Well, I’ve got an ad waiting to run. I can’t wait for you to dither back and forth. I want all my staff in place at the end of April. My uncles are counting on me to have the place in top shape for our first booking and I have no intention of letting them down. So will you be here or do I consider your contractual agreement broken?”
Connor listened, smiled and eventually hung up. One chef hired.
“The meat company is on line two,” Esther told him, “complaining about the distance they have to travel to get here. They’re talking a major delivery surcharge.”
He thought for a moment. “Is there a butcher in town, Esther?”
She blinked. “John Purdy. He and his family own the local grocery store.”
“Get me their number, will you, please? And tell the meat people I’ll call them back.”
“Yes, sir.” A glint of humor lit up her round face. “Would you also like the name of a cattle rancher I know who raises his animals organically?”
“Thereby allowing us to advertise that we use only organically raised beef.” He followed her line of thought with delight. “Good thinking. Yeah, let’s talk to him, too. The uncles’ figures from last year will help us estimate how much we’ll need. You don’t happen to also know a chicken supplier, do you, Esther?”
She shook her head, but her eyes gleamed at the challenge.
“I’ll check around, but John might be the best resource for that, too. You wouldn’t have to pay shipping fees and he’s got tons of freezer space. If he comes across a deal, he could buy ahead.”
“Esther, you’re a genius!”
Her smile faded. “I wish Henry thought that.” She handed him a stack of résumés then padded out of the room.
Connor stared after her. A case of unrequited love for his stodgy old uncle? He shook his head.
“I can fix a lot of things around here, but that isn’t one of them,” he said to himself.
By the time he emerged from the office it was after five. Rowena and her men were still hard at work, this time on a lower section his uncles called the dale—as in “over hill, over dale.” Connor had to admit she’d made amazing progress.
“I’m leaving now.” Esther glanced out the window. “They must be tired and half-frozen after the day they’ve had. It’s too bad the old house at the nursery’s in such a state. I expect it needs a lot of work after all these years. I’m sure Rowena hasn’t got extra money to spend on that.”
“Oh?”
“Piper Franklin told me Rowena came back earlier than she’d anticipated because her father isn’t well. She thinks it will help if he can get back on the land. He always did love that nursery.”
“But he sold it to my uncles.”
“Didn’t have a choice after a storm nearly wiped him out. I think it almost broke his heart. Hers, too.” Esther frowned. “Several of us have invited her for meals just to give her a break. Ida Cranbrook went up there to drop off a pie for the girl. She said the place is practically falling down around her ears. Apparently she can’t even use the kitchen, it’s so bad. Just a hot plate.”
Which meant that she was paying restaurant prices for her meals. That would cut into her nursery’s start-up capital.
“Someone ought to do something about that house,” Esther said with a dark look in his direction. She snugged her plastic rain bonnet around her permed curls. “It should never have been passed on in that condition. It’s a bad reflection on Wingate and I intend to tell Henry so when I see him next. Good night, Mr. Wingate.”
Connor didn’t even hear her leave. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Pierre and his demand that the freezer be emptied of old stock before his arrival, ready for zee fresh ingredients.
There were steaks in that freezer, thick ones that men like those working outside would enjoy—far too many steaks for one great-nephew to consume.
Tobias nudged his nose under Connor’s hand, gargling a noise somewhere deep in his throat.
“You want to go for a walk?” Connor translated. The dog woofed his agreement. “You’ll get filthy again and I’ll have to bathe you again.”
Tobias didn’t have a problem with that. His tail thumped the floor eagerly.
“Go get your leash, then. I think we’re having company for dinner.”
“You didn’t have to do this,” Rowena murmured as she tossed the salad.
“What? Thaw out some meat?” Connor grinned. It changed him from a severe-looking boss to a cohort in this scheme. “Not so hard. But you should know that’s all I’m doing because I don’t cook. You’re totally on your own.”
“Not a hardship. It’s a dream kitchen,” she murmured, glancing at the gleaming stainless steel surrounding them. “A bit intimidating, though.”
A burst of laughter from the room across the hall interrupted.
“Sounds like they found a good show to watch.”
“It was nice of you to let them. I think it’s been a while since they’ve had much time to just enjoy each other. Kent told me the business they ran together went under. That’s hard on a relationship.”
“Where are they staying?”
“Above the florist.” She shrugged. “It’s probably a little cramped but at least they’re dry and close to work. Quint told me that when it warms up he wouldn’t mind camping out.”
“Why?” Connor shuddered. “I camped out once. I remember it vividly.”
“Once?” She giggled. “Wow! Mr. Worldly.”
He shrugged. “I don’t do nature. Numbers are my thing. The stock market’s always been my element.”
“But you sold your business.” Rowena blushed, turning away to study the steaks sizzling on the grill. “Your uncles mentioned it.”
“I wish now that I hadn’t,” he admitted quietly.
“Why?” The potatoes were finished so she switched off the oven. Connor had set places at the kitchen table. Everything was almost ready, and he still hadn’t answered.
Too late she remembered his fiancée.
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was too personal.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just that since Cecile’s death, I’m not sure what to do next. I’m in this kind of limbo state. No good for someone like me,” he explained with a self-derisive laugh. “I need to be busy.”
“I imagine Wingate Manor will take care of that once the season starts.”
“I guess. It’s the future that I was thinking about.”
“Only God knows what comes next for any of us.” She smiled to encourage him. “You’ll have to talk to Him about it, though I’m not sure He always gives us the whole picture. In my own case all He usually lets me see is into the next day. Sometimes that’s enough, don’t you think?”
Connor tossed her a veiled look that hid whatever he was thinking. Judging by the downturn of his mouth, they were not happy thoughts.
“Dinner’s ready. Will you get the others?”
They made a boisterous group. Father and son teased each other without rancor, setting a light note for the meal. Soon barely a crumb was left, which made Rowena feel good. It had been a long while since she’d cooked, and never in a kitchen as well-appointed as this.
“That was great!” Quint smirked a cheeky grin. “If this landscaping thing doesn’t work out for you, Rowena, maybe you could hire on here as a chef.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
“What’s not to work out?” Kent snorted as he gathered their plates. “She’s got degrees in horticulture, has won more than fifteen awards, including some big-name trophy for a rose garden gig she did in England.” He turned to glance at Rowena. “Right?”
“The Chelsea Flower Show,” she admitted, surprised by his knowledge. “How did you know?”
“My son’s the television addict, not me. Serenity Bay has a library and they have a computer linked to the Internet.” He shrugged. “I checked you out, wanted to see where else besides Toronto you’d worked.”
“Oh.” She hid her surprise.
“Dad has a thing for England. My mom was from there. I told my wife we’d spend our twenty-fifth anniversary there. Tell us more about it, Rowena.”
“Well, it happens in May when the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea come alive with the finest collections of flowers in the world.” She could close her eyes and smell those heady fragrances even now. Rowena could have so easily stayed in England, continued her work there—if it hadn’t been that her father needed her here.
She realized Connor was staring, so she hurried on.
“The show gardens are created by some of the world’s leading garden designers.”
“Sounds pricey,” Connor mumbled.
“Not necessarily.” She thought of a daisy garden that had won awards several years earlier and immediately wondered if the idea would work in the roughest terrain here at Wingate. “I came away with memories that still awe me. It’s the best place for inspiration.”
They sat silent for a moment, then Kent resumed clearing the dishes, assisted by Connor.
“My wife loves flower gardens. Losing the business almost broke her. I hope she gets to see Chelsea one day.” Quint’s words were so quiet Rowena wasn’t sure the others heard.
“I’m sure she will. You seem like a person with a lot of determination.”
“So do you. Getting the nursery running—that’s a mighty big goal.”
“I guess. I’m hoping my dad will move back soon, and be able to help out a little.”
Conscious of Connor listening intently to their conversation, Rowena decided to change the subject from her personal life. But Quint wasn’t finished.
“The place wasn’t kept up very well,” he said. “The trees—most of them wouldn’t meet retail standards. You’re basically starting from scratch.”
“I know.” There was no point in denying the obvious. Rowena shrugged. “But hard work doesn’t scare me.”
“Good thing. You’re going to have lots of it.” He moved to help the others with the dishes.
“You look tired.” Connor handed her a cup of coffee, spoke to father and son. “Since we cooked, we’re going to watch TV while you guys clean up.”
“If you’re sure we won’t break anything,” Kent teased.
“Or take too long,” Quint added with a wink at Rowena.
“You do and I’ll forget about any more steak dinners.”
“Come on, Dad. Work faster.”
Connor laughed, leading the way out of the room. Rowena followed. He wanted to talk to her privately—she got that. But about what?
The television lounge looked more like a library. A plasma screen sat above the big marble fireplace but Connor didn’t bother to turn it on. Instead he motioned her to one of the red leather wing chairs in front of the fire and sat in the other himself only after pushing the door so it was almost shut.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m really concerned about the time frame of the projects,” he said, his face troubled.
“Connor—”
He held up one hand. “Hear me out. You’ve got the rest of the cutting to do, reworking the grounds, plantings, borders and a whole lot of things I’m sure I don’t know about. Putting that fountain on hold until another year only makes sense.”
“It doesn’t make any sense.” Rowena braced herself for the argument. She had to do this, had to make this first project in Serenity Bay a showstopper, because it was going to be the showcase for everything that came after.
“That fountain is the grand finale at the bottom of Wingate’s gardens. It’s the perfect place for a fireworks display on Canada Day or after a big party. In the evening, with the fountain running, it will be a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding ceremony. It’s the culmination of all of the rest of our work. And I’m not putting it off until next year.”
He studied her for several tense moments, then rose.
“Wait here for a minute.” Connor left the room. When he returned he held out a Toronto newspaper. “I’m planning a spread like this for the grand reopening. I’ve already blocked out coverage and a reporter for the end of May,” he told her. “They’re sending someone who’ll take a ton of pictures, do a write-up and feature the place in their weekend edition. I had to sign a contract. There’s no way I can cancel without losing a lot of money. If we’re late—”
Rowena took the paper, glanced at it, then set it down. She drew a deep breath. “We’re not going to be late, Connor. We’re moving along as planned. We’ll be in fine shape by the end of May.” I hope.
“You’re sure?” Connor’s hard look pierced through her bravado, searching for some indecision.
Rowena refused to show any doubt. “I always make my deadlines,” she told him softly.
He heaved a sigh. “You’d better.”
“So we have our goal, we have our plan. Now we just need time and no more nasty comments to pull it off.” She glanced at Connor. “We’ve got enough pressure. I don’t need you adding to it by constantly reminding us of what has yet to be done. I warn you, when I’m on a deadline I can be very intense. If you don’t stop pushing, things are going to get heated between us.”
“I’ll survive.” His dry humor echoed the sloped grin he wore. “Feel free to tell me whenever I’m becoming obsessive.”
“I will,” Rowena promised. She paused in the doorway, saw that Quint and Kent had left. The kitchen sparkled. “Looks like those two know their way around a kitchen.”
“Yeah.” But Connor was watching her.
Rowena shifted uncomfortably under that scrutiny, grabbed her ringing cell phone like a lifeline. “Rowena Davis.”
“Hey, Row. This is Ash. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Just finished dinner.”
“Not at home, because I stopped by ten minutes ago. Where are you?”
“I’m at Wingate. Connor treated Kent and Quint and me to a steak dinner. It was delicious,” she added, lifting one eyebrow as she glanced at him.
He bowed from the waist like a well-trained maître d’.
“Oh, good. If he’s there with you, you’ve just saved me a phone call.”
“Really?” A wiggle of dread tugged at Rowena. She didn’t need Ashley to start matchmaking. “How can I help?”
“Michael and I are making dinner for Piper and Jason tomorrow night. We want you to come. It would be nice if you could bring Connor with you. We’d like to get to know him better.”
Rowena stalled, trying to think of a way out.
“Unless of course there’s a reason you don’t want him to come?” Ashley’s voice took on that hint of suspicion that Rowena knew better than to ignore.
“Don’t be silly, Ash. If you’ll hold on a moment, I’ll ask him.” She put her hand over the phone. “My friend Ashley and her husband are having some people over for dinner tomorrow night. She’d like to know if you’d be available to join them.”
“Tomorrow.” He studied her with those intense eyes that didn’t miss a thing. “For dinner?”
“Yes. For dinner. It’s not a big deal, just them and another couple, I think. Piper and Jason Franklin. I don’t know if you’ve met them.”
“No, I haven’t. But I’ve heard about him—he’s the mayor, right?”
She nodded.
“Sounds interesting.” He nodded. “Sure. I’d be happy to accept. I can drive us both there.”
Rowena swallowed her refusal, pulled her hand from the phone and told Ashley, “Connor says he’d like to come. What time?”
She got all the particulars, agreed she wouldn’t be late and finally hung up. Connor was frowning. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Just sorting things out.” He gazed at her, his forehead pleated in a tiny frown. “You said Masters. Any relation to the florist where your employees are staying?”
“Mrs. Masters is Ashley’s mother-in-law,” she told him, surprised by the funny smile that suddenly appeared. It made him look far less forbidding. “What?”
“Just thinking about the connections. They say everybody knows everyone else and their history when you live in a small town. I guess it’s true.”
The odd glint twinkling in his eyes made her nervous. Rowena struggled to maintain her equanimity. “Yes, well, I’d better get on home. I’ve got some stuff to do tonight.”
“You have something going almost every minute of the day, it seems,” he mused quietly, an edge to his tone. “Reminds me of someone.”
She lifted her freshly washed jacket from the second dryer in Wingate’s big laundry room, glad she wouldn’t have to go to the town Laundromat tonight.
“Who could I possibly remind you of?” she asked, only half paying attention.
“Me.”
That brought her head up. Rowena couldn’t read the expression on his face. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Definitely bad.” His eyes sparked a warning she didn’t understand.
Rowena straightened, struggling to understand what he wasn’t saying.
“Aren’t you the guy Wall Street applauded for never sleeping?” she asked. “A new deal every day?”
Surprise flickered across his face for an instant before he grinned. “The small-town rumor mill?”
She shook her head, chuckling. “Nothing so juicy. The Internet.”
“Ah.” He nodded. The serious look returned. “Work addicts don’t make for pleasant people, Rowena. Believe me, I know that better than most.”
She didn’t know how to respond. “If you’ve got a bag I’ll put my coat in it, take yours home with me and wash it. I’ll bring it back later, I promise.”
“It wouldn’t be much of a loss if you didn’t,” he mumbled but he handed her a plastic bag from a drawer. Rowena stuffed her coat into it, walked to the door. Her filthy boots sat outside, still covered in muck inside and out.
“Can I borrow those rubber boots of Dad’s back?” she asked.
“I’ll go you one better. These look like a better fit.” He handed her a pair that had to belong to one of his uncles. “I’ll pick you up at six-thirty tomorrow evening, shall I?”
“I can drive,” she told him, refusing to look at his face.
“Yes, but why should you when I’m already driving?”
“Okay. Thanks.”
He waited while she pulled on the jacket he’d lent her, gathered up the bag and pulled open the door.
“I won’t be around much tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Apparently I have to inspect the animals who are to be featured on Wingate’s menu.”
“Oh.” She turned up her nose.
“Exactly my opinion. But it seems the farmer wants to prove I’m getting a very good quality of beef.”
“Have fun.” She giggled, then pulled open the door.
“Rowena?”
“Yes?” She paused; when he didn’t speak she looked at him. All gaiety had leached from his face.
“Stay away from the terraces,” he ordered so softly it could have been a whisper.
“I will.” Something in his eyes compelled her to add, “Thanks for saving my life.”
Before Connor could respond, she scooted down the stairs and hurried over to her truck, squishing her way through the mud.
In spite of herself, she found herself looking forward to tomorrow evening.
Chapter Five
“You look lovely.” Connor couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous woman who’d just stepped through the rickety front door.
Tonight Rowena looked like anything but a landscape designer. She wore an exotic skirt in some kind of orange-red-gold pattern that wrapped around her hips and fluttered down to her toes peeking out from flat leather sandals.
Her red top made her hair come alive as it framed her face and accented her big hazel eyes.
“Thank you.” She stepped into his car with an easy grace that came not from some past schooling in ballet, but from an ease and lithe comfort with her own body.
He closed the door and got in beside her, grateful that the car’s interior gave him a close-up look.
“The seat belt is here.” His hand brushed against her skirt as he showed her the catch. “It’s a great fabric. Silk?”
“Thai silk. A friend who is a textile designer gave me a few meters when I left Thailand several years ago.”
“He’s very talented,” Connor said, noticing that she didn’t correct his assumption that her friend was male. He found himself curious about her past. “Did you spend a lot of time overseas?”
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