“Of course. I know better than to try to serve you someone else’s recipe.”
So, maybe Grandmother isn’t the only person he likes to do little things for.
“You know”—Grandmother places her cup and saucer on the table between us with a thoughtful expression—“I am chairing a charity ball, scheduled to take place this weekend. It’s for the Children’s Hospital. There are bound to be a few heavy hitters there.”
Why does Peter look so relieved?
“That’s a good idea. She could go with you.”
She turns to him with a frown. “My, it didn’t take long for you to arrive at that conclusion.”
Whoops. Something tells me there’s been trouble in paradise, and I walked right into it.
I take a second sandwich just for the sake of having something to do. Good thing they’re so yummy.
“Don’t be offended.” He pats her hand with a gentle smile. “But we’ve had this discussion. It would be better for you if someone other than myself attended the ball with you.”
Oh, of course. Yet another issue that won’t magically go away. The fact that Grandmother has already cut people out of her life for being anything less than thrilled when they found out she and Peter started a relationship. I can only hope I’m as kick-ass as she is someday.
And I very much wish I’d been there when she told off her number one frenemy, Whitney.
I clear my throat. “I’m always up for a ball.” This is a lie. I don’t love going to these fancy-schmancy events. Usually wondering in the back of my mind how long it’ll take before I do something awkward.
Not if do. When I do. It’s pretty much inevitable.
If it gets Peter off the hook though, I’ll gladly go. Not only has he taken care of her all these years, but he’s also made her so happy since they got together after her heart attack a few months ago. Life events like a heart attack tend to put things into perspective and show us what we otherwise were missing.
Plus, I do need to find a cowboy. Hayley made a good point. Wealthy, old men generally have wealthy grandsons, and it’s the grandsons I’m interested in.
Grandmother seems to shake herself a little before turning to me, like she forgot I was here. Too busy staring daggers at her boyfriend. “Well, dear, since it would appear I’m suddenly going solo, I would love to have you there. And even if we don’t land you an oil magnate, there are bound to be scads of wealthy, young men there.”
I glance at Peter. “Hey, it doesn’t matter if they’re wealthy. I don’t care about that.”
Like he needs to hear her going on about money right now. Sometimes, she just doesn’t think. I love her to pieces, but she’s not always sensitive to how her comments might be taken.
It strikes me—and not for the first time—that Peter has to be a brave man. It’s one thing for him to deal with her social circle being a bunch of snobs, but then he has to deal with her, and that can’t be a walk in the park.
At least he’s used to her ways. He wouldn’t love her if he wasn’t.
Why does that immediately bring Matt to mind?
Keep reading Kitty Valentine dates a Cowboy