Page 41 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Greer

“Did we interrupt you earlier?” Martha asks as she stacks three books on the coffee table.

Olive borrowed them from the library last week.

“I handed my phone to Olive so she could call you about the kitten. Bruce was watching her outside the market while I ran in to get some fresh veggies. I had no idea she tried to call you as many times as she did.”

I reassure her with a comforting pat on the middle of her back. “You could never interrupt me, Martha. Olive couldn’t either, or Bruce. You’re all way more important than anything else.”

The soft smile she gives me in return melts my heart. One of the best things that came out of my failed marriage is my relationship with Martha and Bruce. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of them. The fact that they love taking care of Olive and me feels like a gift.

I’ll never be able to repay them.

“You’re very important to us, too.” She kisses my cheek. “I know things with Aaron were a mess, but we see you as our daughter.”

That hits the center of my heart in the best way. I swallow hard to chase away a rush of emotions that I know have the potential to make me cry.

“Olive is up in the craft room making paper kittens with Bruce.” Her gaze catches mine. “She chose our menu for dinner tonight.”

“Let me guess.” I tap the center of my chin. “Hot dogs and mac and cheese?”

Her head shakes. “Our sweetheart wants grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and a garden salad with cherry tomatoes on the side. Blueberry pie is on the dessert menu.”

Surprised by that, I furrow my brow. “That sounds more like Bruce’s favorite meal than Olive’s.”

“I think she wants it because he does love it so much.” She sighs. “He was talking about dinner on our way home from the play. Olive decided that she’d request that menu to make him happy.”

“It makes me happy, too,” I say, although I’m still full from the food I ate at Holden’s.

“Were you at work when Olive called?”

I swear, sometimes it seems as though she can read my mind.

“I was meeting with the man I told you about,” I admit.

Her face lights up with a brilliant smile. It reaches all the way to her eyes. “Meeting or meeting ?”

The subtle difference in how she says meeting the second time makes me laugh out loud. “Martha!”

“There’s no law that says a young, beautiful, single mom can’t have some fun, Greer.” She glances at the stairs leading up to the second and third floors. “You deserve to have as much fun as you can as often as you can.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Why not?” she spits both words out quickly. “You’ve devoted your entire life to Olive since the day she was born, and the business takes up so much of your time, too. I know you want to fulfill Celia’s dreams, Greer, but…”

“Who had a dream?” Olive comes racing around the corner.

It looks like my little sneak took the back staircase to get to this floor. That’s her usual trick when she is on the hunt for a candy before dinner since that staircase leads straight to the kitchen.

“Is that a cinnamon chew in your mouth?” I ask to change the subject.

Her tongue darts out to show me what’s left of the small candy. “They are so good, Mom. They’re the best.”

“I agree.” Martha’s hand dives into the pocket of her dress to scoop out three of the brightly wrapped candies. “I always keep a few right here in case I need a little hit of spice.”

“Mommy is the best candy maker in the world.” Olive runs toward me with her arms outstretched.

I take her in for a hug, holding tightly to her.

“One day, I’ll be the best candy maker in the world, too,” she whispers. “I’ll go to our store every morning. I’ll tell people how great our candies are, and everyone will keep coming back for more.”

Martha smiles softly at me as I cling to my daughter. “Sweet Indulgence is a very special place.”

It is, and it’s part of my family’s legacy now.

I’m not sure I have the strength to let it go.

I rap quietly on the door to Krista’s apartment.

She lives in a two bedroom on the third floor of a walk-up in Brooklyn.

Her apartment is a testament to the best this city has to offer.

Her neighbors are phenomenal, and the view is as New York as one can get, with the skyline of Manhattan in the distance.

I’m not sure how she’s going to leave this all behind, but she will. I realized earlier as I heard my daughter talk about a possible future at the helm of Sweet Indulgence that I can’t let the company go.

What I can do is let my surviving best friend go.

I can encourage her to chase her dreams.

Krista swings open the door with a wide grin on her face and what looks like a spot of pink cloud on her nose.

I fall into laughter immediately. “You have cotton candy on your nose.”

“Oh, fuck.” She swipes her hand across her nose. “I was craving it so badly. I sent Howie out to get me some earlier.”

I lift a hand in greeting to her fiancé. “Hey, Howie.”

“Hey, you!” he calls from where he’s sitting in an armchair reading a book. “There’s plenty more cotton candy on the table.”

I take a step in and glance at their small dining table. It’s covered by an array of see-through containers. Each holds a different shade of spun sugar.

“I’ll pass.”

“Smart move.” He slides to his feet. “I’m going to take my book to the pub across the street. I indulged my fiancée’s cotton candy craving, so it’s time to satisfy mine for a cold beer.”

He scoots past us, stopping to kiss Krista on the cheek before he hugs me. “You love each other. Never forget that.”

“We won’t,” we whisper in unison as he walks out of the apartment.

As soon as the door is closed behind him, Krista looks into my eyes. “You said you needed to talk tonight, Greer. I take it that means it’s important.”

“It is,” I say, waiting for an invitation to sit since my knees are quaking.

“I’ll get us some water and we can talk.” She hugs me tightly. “Whatever it is, I’ll always love you.”

“I’ll always love you, too,” I whisper. “Always.”