Chapter 9

Annie stood in the foyer waiting for Katie. “Kitchen. Now.” Okay. Kitchen worked. There were chairs in the kitchen and she needed to sit down. She followed Annie, noting the chef’s very baggy sweat bottoms and oversized T-shirt. Today’s apron read: WARNING-COMPLAINTS TO THE CHEF MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

In the kitchen, Annie handed over a plate loaded with lasagna, bread, and salad. “Sit. Eat.”

Katie’s hands were still trembling, but unfortunately no panic attack had ever stifled her appetite. She managed to stuff a bite into her mouth, then moaned in sheer pleasure.

“Yeah?” Annie asked, staring at her.

“Oh, yeah. Seriously, it’s great. It’s-”

“Yeah, yeah, I cook like an angel. Listen, I have a question.”

“Okay.”

“Did you see any of the guys today?”

Okay, so Annie had seen Cam hug her. “It’s not what you think.” Even if Katie wanted it to be exactly what Annie thought. “He was just…comforting me.”

“You mean Cam. You and Cam?”

“Well…yeah. What did you mean?”

Annie was frowning. “He’s not your type.”

“No,” she admitted. Her type was the laid-back LA guy who couldn’t be bothered to tell her he already had a wife, or the guy who didn’t call for a second date when he said he would. “He’s more alpha than I’m used to. And a bit dark and broody. And-”

Annie arched a brow. “And?”

“And nothing.” Shut your mouth, Katie. “Nothing. Subject dropped, sorry.”

Annie stared at her for another beat, then visibly shook it off. “Okay, when I asked about seeing any of the guys today, I meant Nick.”

Hey, good going. “I haven’t seen Nick today at all. About that Cam thing, I-”

“Forget it.” Annie looked like she was going to do her best to do the same. “Nick flew Stone and a group for a heli-ski, but they came back an hour ago. He usually comes into the kitchen to see me.”

“But didn’t you tell him not to talk to you ever again?”

“Well, I didn’t mean it, did I?” Turning away, Annie started rinsing dishes. Her hair, in a loose knot on top of her head, vibrated with tension. “This is so…asinine!” She poured enough soap into the sink to wash all the dishes in California. “He stopped seeing me, you know. He stopped looking at me.”

“Because you’re divorcing him?”

“No, it’s why I’m divorcing him-if he ever signs the damn papers. I told him to either look at me or find someone else. And he said he saw me just fine. He saw me standing between him and the damn TV. So I said get the hell out.” Her face went from anger to hurt bewilderment. “And he did. He moved into his own cabin.”

“Oh, Annie. I’m sorry.”

“Asinine,” she repeated.

“Maybe you could fix it.”

“How?” Annie waved her sponge and bubbles rose in the air between them. “The man didn’t see me! I’ve had a thing for him since second grade. I love him more than…more than cooking.”

Katie tread carefully, knowing how proud Annie was, which actually seemed to be a universal Wilder trait. “Maybe he needs your help to see you.”

Annie looked at her. “What? How hard is it? I’m standing right here.”

“I know, but sometimes guys need to be hit over the head, so to speak. They’re visual creatures.”

“Oh, Christ on a stick. Don’t say I need a damn makeover or some such shit like that.”

“How about new clothes?”

Annie looked down at herself. “There’s nothing wrong with these.”

“No, not if you’re a six-foot, two-hundred-pound teenage boy. You have such a great figure, but you hide it.”

“I’m chunky.”

“You’re curvy,” Katie corrected. “And if you dress for something other than the rumble in the parking lot, you could show it off a little. And-”

“Ohmigod. There’s an ‘and’?”

“A very little one. Makeup.”

“I’m getting hot flashes these days. I’ll just sweat it all off.”

“Just a swipe of black mascara. And maybe some gloss. That’s it. Maybe pick his favorite flavor.”

“Peach.” Annie sighed and went back to washing dishes. “His favorite flavor is peach. The damn skinny fool.”

“I have some peach gloss, I’ll give it to you. But it’s not just the clothes and the gloss.”

“I’m not doing anything crazy like Botox. I want to be able to look pissed off.”

“I was going to say it’s all in the attitude. And not a bad attitude.” She nudged Annie’s shoulders back. “Stand like you’re worth something. Walk the walk, talk the talk.”

“But I want him to see me without all the bullshit. The UPS guy manages to see me just fine.”

“Because you smile at him,” Katie pointed out. “You flirt. You don’t do that with Nick.”

Annie took that in a moment. “Well, hell. You just might be right about that.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you using this technique on my nephew?”

“Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing with your nephew.”

Annie’s brow crinkled in worry. “You’re only here for another two weeks.”