A Place to Rest Part 16

"Have you called him?" Sawyer regretted reminding her of Taylor's loser father.

"No."

"Do you-want me to?"

"No. He knew I was pregnant and never bothered to get in touch. There's no point now. I don't need him. I've got you guys."

"That's right." Sawyer squeezed Erica's hand. She hadn't always had such a positive att.i.tude. The fi rst four months Erica was pregnant, her anger had been palpable. Sawyer had been worried until the fi rst time Erica felt the baby kick; then love pushed out her rage. Now Erica seemed to experience only brief glimmers of hurt, which she clearly tried hard to hide.

"I'm going to stay at Paige and Brady's for a couple more weeks, and then Taylor and I are going home. But you're welcome * 133 *

to stay as long as you want, provided you don't mind a newborn crying in the middle of the night."

"We'll work that out when the time comes." Sawyer hadn't expected to miss Matt so much. Every day after work, she went upstairs and fl opped down in the chair and stared at the empty sofa. She was still adjusting to living alone and hadn't yet considered what she would do when Erica returned.

"Mom called this morning. She and Dad are on the way up and should be here this afternoon. Are you going to Drake's?"

Sawyer laughed. "Can you ever stop thinking about work?"

Erica's expectant silence was answer enough.

"Yes, I'll be at the restaurant, but fi rst I'm going home and try to grab a power nap, since I was up all night waiting for Miss Taylor to appear."

"Up all night, my a.s.s. Paige said she saw you and Brady sleeping in the waiting room."

"We were resting our eyes," Sawyer shot back.

"Brady was drooling."

Sawyer smiled. "He's been taking pictures of Taylor through the nursery window to show everyone at the restaurant."

"Will you tell Jori and Chuck I expect them to come by Brady's and visit?"

"Sure."

"And if you see Derrick Ames, please tell him-well, never mind."

"So, you and the lieutenant, huh?"

"I don't know what I'm thinking. I mean, look at me." Erica fl uttered the edge of the sheet covering her.

"What are you talking about? You just had a baby. No one expects you to be a beauty queen."

"Gee, thanks, Sawyer."

"Oh, you know what I mean."

"That's my point. Even if I'd let myself believe he could be * 134 *

interested in a pregnant woman, now I'm the mother of an infant.

How s.e.xy is that?"

"He asks about you every Monday. And I got the impression you two had been in touch."

"We have."

"Obviously he was into you before, and so far the idea of a baby hasn't scared him off. So why not give him a chance?"

"You're probably right."

Sawyer feigned shock. "Could you say that again?"

"Okay, I said you're probably right. Enjoy it, because who knows when it'll happen again. Why are you so smart about my life, but when it comes to your own-"

"And that's my cue to leave." They'd been getting along and Sawyer didn't want to ruin that. "I'm heading home for that nap."

Jori pressed a ball of dough against the fl oured metal counter in front of her, then picked up a solid maple rolling pin and began to fl atten the ball. She had already prepared the fi lling for the blackberry cobbler.

"Hi, Jori," Chuck called as he entered the kitchen. He pulled an armload of vegetables from the subzero and carried them to his station, whistling as he began to prepare them for the day's menu. "You hear about the baby?"

"Yeah, Paige left me a message this morning. Do you have any kids, Chuck?" Jori realized that in the months she'd worked at Drake's, she hadn't learned much about her coworkers. Brady and Erica were easy to know, because they shared a bit of the same outgoing nature that Sawyer had in abundance. They brought their family life into the kitchen and Jori couldn't help but learn about them. But Chuck was more reserved.

* 135 *

"One daughter. She's fourteen. She lives with her mom."

"Do you see her much?"

"Every other weekend, although lately she's more interested in going to parties with her friends than hanging out with her dad."

Having never done much of either, Jori didn't know how to respond.

"Ah, I guess that's just part of growing up." He shrugged and started whistling again. "I'm going out back for a cigarette before Brady gets here." Brady had been after him to quit, and while he showed no signs of doing so, he had cut back and tried to get them in when Brady wasn't around.

Jori smiled and continued to work the dough. She loved the bustle and din of the kitchen during service, but she also savored these quiet times before the rest of the staff and the customers arrived. She did some of her best thinking during the peaceful pre-open period. And today her thoughts were fi rmly on Sawyer Drake. If she was being honest, Sawyer had been logging a lot of hours in her mind lately.

During the concert and later that night at home alone, she had rehea.r.s.ed how she would let Sawyer down easily. She simply couldn't get involved with someone she worked with.

But Sawyer wouldn't hear it; every time she tried to bring it up, Sawyer suddenly got busy or just fl at-out left the room.

The memory of past mistakes still stung. Once before, she had ignored the voice that told her a relationship with her boss was a bad idea. She'd vowed not to put herself in that situation again. And until she'd met Sawyer, she'd had no problem keeping that promise. But the constant arc of energy that surrounded Sawyer drew her in. Being in the spotlight of that energy was exhilarating, electrifying, and dangerous. Sawyer could almost make her forget her resolve, and losing Drake's would be even more painful than losing the last job. Jori had to admit, though, if she hadn't already been burned once, she probably wouldn't be trying so hard to avoid her growing feelings for Sawyer.

* 136 *

In addition to their attraction, she was beginning to respect Sawyer's burgeoning work ethic. She was much easier to resist when she was just a slacker. But now Sawyer was spending long hours in the restaurant, often not going upstairs after the morning deliveries. Instead, Jori found her in the offi ce when she arrived every day. Sawyer had made the accounting changes they'd discussed and had also inst.i.tuted a computerized scheduling system for the employees to replace the handwritten ones Erica used to post.

She wondered why it pleased her so much to see Sawyer investing her time in Drake's, though it certainly didn't take a rocket scientist to fi gure that one out. She was obviously hoping Sawyer would stick around after Erica returned. As much as Jori wanted to ignore the thought, she couldn't deny its truth. She wanted Sawyer to stay. She enjoyed seeing her every day. And even though she wasn't ready to admit that she wanted more from their relationship, she wanted Sawyer to want more. She'd never met anyone who could excite her with just a wink or a smile.

Sawyer shoved through the swinging door, as if Jori's thoughts had conjured her. When she saw Jori, she smiled widely.

"h.e.l.lo."

"Hey. You look tired." Fatigue smudged Sawyer's eyes, and Jori suppressed the desire to touch her cheek.

"I just took a nap." Sawyer tugged on her earlobe. "I thought I looked better. You should have seen me in the middle of the night."

Jori could imagine how Sawyer would look if awakened in the early morning hours for one more round of lovemaking.

Desire would fl are behind the sleepiness in her eyes, and Jori's body warmed at the thought of that desire focused on her.

"Did you bring baby pictures?"

"Brady's got them. Erica will be going home tomorrow or the next day. Well, actually, she'll be staying with Brady and Paige for two more weeks. But she expects you to stop by and see the baby."

* 137 *

Jori nodded.

"Okay." Sawyer rubbed a hand over her face. "I guess I better get to work." By the time she'd got back to Drake's she'd managed only a thirty-minute nap. But despite her sluggish mind, her body was still sharp enough to react to Jori, and she didn't rein in the impulse to touch her. She brushed her hand down the outside of Jori's arm and tangled their fi ngers.

When she didn't pull away, Sawyer was encouraged. Certain she could make Jori forget her reservations, she drew her close and kissed her. Heat fl ashed through her when Jori allowed her tongue to possess her, then tentatively stroked back. How was it possible that she'd missed the taste of Jori's kiss after only one? She held Jori's face in her hands, then slid them behind her neck. When her fi ngers encountered the knot of her bandana she worked it loose, balled the fabric in one hand, and buried the other in the back of Jori's hair.

Jori leaned against her, grasping her collar almost desperately, and one of them moaned. While Sawyer was losing her mind, Jori must have been gathering herself, because in the next instant she tried to jerk out of Sawyer's embrace, but Sawyer caught her around the waist.

"I can't do this."

"Sure you can." Expecting no resistance, Sawyer trailed a line of kisses along her neck.

"No," Jori insisted, and this time when she stumbled back, Sawyer let her go. "I thought I was clear. I won't get involved with you."

Sawyer bristled at the accusation in her tone. "I didn't imagine your tongue in my mouth. You're sending some pretty mixed signals. Or are you really just a tease?"

Jori fl ushed but Sawyer didn't know if she was embarra.s.sed or angry. Her jaw was tight and she avoided Sawyer's eyes.

"I've got baby pictures," Brady called as he strode into the kitchen, followed by Chuck.

* 138 *

Sawyer stepped back, giving Jori room so she and Chuck could ooh and ahh over the photos. Brady handed over the stack, then went to the sink to wash his hands.

The door to the dining room opened and a female voice said, "What does a person have to do to get service in this place?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We're not open yet." Sawyer turned and grinned at her mother.

"That explains why the front door was still locked. Luckily, I have a key."

Tia's hair, the same shade as Erica's, fell in waves to her shoulders, brushing against the fl owered dress that fl owed around her slight frame. Sawyer's father, Tom, towered behind her. His dark hair was liberally peppered with gray and had begun to recede years ago. His neat mustache and wire-rimmed gla.s.ses made him appear academic.

Brady wiped his hands on the towel at his waist and crossed to her. "h.e.l.lo, Mom. Dad." He kissed Tia's cheek and hugged Tom. "Have you been to the hospital yet?"

"We just came from there. Erica was resting so we decided to stop by here before we check into the hotel. Come give me a hug, Sawyer."

"Hi, Mom." Sawyer accepted Tia's embrace. "You guys can stay upstairs. I'll sleep on the couch."

Tia waved off the suggestion. "No one could sleep on Erica's couch. You wouldn't be able to walk in the morning."

"That's true," Brady said. "But you don't have to stay in a hotel. We've got room at our place."

"Okay, dear."

"It's settled, then. I'll call Paige and let her know to expect you."

"I understand you've been making some changes to my restaurant." Tia looked around the kitchen as if she would be able to see the difference.

Sawyer laughed. "You and Erica should get together and * 139 *

decide whose restaurant it really is, because I can handle only one possessive woman at a time."

Tia ignored Sawyer's comment. "Show me what you've done."

"Okay. But fi rst"-hesitantly, Sawyer touched Jori's shoulder-"let me introduce you to our pastry chef. Jori Diamantina, Tia Drake and my father, Tom."

Jori smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Drake."

"Please, call me Tia. My daughters rave about your desserts."

Jori blushed.

"Jori makes an awesome lemon-meringue torte." Sawyer rested her hand at the small of Jori's back, but her posture remained rigid and she didn't meet her eyes.

"A great pastry chef is hard to fi nd." Tom smiled at Jori.

"Please, don't let my children run you off."

"Oh, don't worry, Dad. We don't plan to let Jori get away.

Do we, Sawyer?" Brady said with a wink.

Tia looped her arm around Sawyer's. "I'd like that tour now, dear, before you get busy with opening."

"Okay, Mom."

Sawyer allowed her mother to lead her away, glancing back at Jori as they headed down the hall to the offi ce. We don't plan on letting Jori get away. Brady had purposely been trying to pique Tia's interest with the comment, but their mother had been too distracted to notice. Thank G.o.d. Because if Tia caught on to Sawyer's interest in Jori, she wouldn't hear the end of it. Tia had always fancied herself a matchmaker for her children, and Sawyer was no exception.

Every time she split up with someone, Tia told her she was going after the wrong type of woman and that she should just let her fi nd her a suitable mate. And when Sawyer implored Erica to stop telling their mother who she was seeing or not seeing, Erica only argued that it was Sawyer's own fault for going through women as if they were disposable.