Rocky Mountain Mornings (Roberts of Silver Springs Book 1) Read online

  He glanced up, a slow smile spreading across his face. “It’s good. I’ll be done this month as promised.”

  “That’s good, because I don’t want to have to search for another contractor. I have no time for that nonsense.”

  He walked over to her, one hand braced against the wall beside her head. “Other contractors wouldn’t have everything you need.”

  “What do I need?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.

  “You need someone to kiss your off-kilter lips.”

  “Off-kilter?” she asked. She knew what he meant. The entire Roberts family had smiles that were slightly off center. It was odd. People in town knew her family immediately by their smiles.

  “Yeah, they kind of list to the left. Makes them lots more fun to kiss.”

  She laughed. “I’m glad you think so!”

  “Because you like my kisses and can’t live without them?” He leaned down and brushed her lips with his.

  “You know, we can’t be doing this at work. I need to get the next room painted.”

  He sighed. “I guess not, but how am I supposed to look at you without wanting to kiss you?”

  Bri grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck, knowing she was contradicting what she’d just said. “Oh, I want you to want to kiss me. I just need you to refrain at work.”

  He groaned. “And that’s why we need to get married.”

  She shook her head with a laugh. “I don’t marry men I’ve known for only a day. I don’t think it’s a particularly wise thing to do.”

  “And my Brina makes a habit of always being wise…I can see it already.” He kissed her once more. “What are we having for lunch today?”

  “You really expect me to feed you every day?”

  Anthony gave her his best puppy dog eyes. “Yes!”

  “I’m going to make a big pot of creamy vegetable soup.”

  “That sounds good. And fresh bread?”

  “You expect me to bake fresh bread?”

  He nodded, his eyes wide. “Does it take a lot of work to do that?”

  She shook her head. “I’ll do it. Lunch is at eleven-thirty sharp.”

  “I’ll follow my nose to the kitchen!” He watched her as she walked away, heading for the downstairs. He knew he was adding to her workload, but who could eat soup without fresh, hot bread?

  Bri hurried into the kitchen and pulled a loaf of frozen bread dough from the freezer. She’d let it rise on the counter and pop it into the oven at the same time she started the soup. She wouldn’t have made the bread for just her and Bekah, but she knew they would both enjoy the treat as well. Having a man working there was going to cause extra work for her, but he was so worth it.

  *****

  Anthony started to smell the bread baking shortly after eleven, but he forced himself to keep working. He didn’t want to delay the bathrooms being done when Bri was feeding him so generously.

  Five minutes before she’d told him to be in the kitchen, he washed his hands and headed down. He was disappointed to see Bekah with her already. He nodded to both of the women, taking his seat at the table, which had already been set for three.

  “Are you eating lunch with us every day?” Bekah asked with a lopsided grin. The smile was the only way he could tell for sure the women were blood related.

  Anthony nodded. “I can’t go and pick up McDonalds after having Bri’s cooking. It would be like spending my whole life drinking champagne and suddenly being forced to drink a watered-down cup of apple juice.”

  Bri laughed. “You trying to sweet talk me, Mr. Black?”

  His eyes met hers, and he was surprised when she looked away shyly. “Not trying to sweet talk anyone for anything, except my lunch. Every day ‘til I’m done with those bathrooms. I may even take a bit off the price if the lunch is always as good as it was yesterday.”

  “No need for that. You’re welcome to eat with us.” Bri served three bowls of the creamy, light orange soup, and put a pile of slices of the fresh bread, already sliced, in the middle of the table on a plate. A stick of soft butter was placed beside it.

  Anthony didn’t have to be told twice. He grabbed a knife and spread the butter in a thick layer on the bread, and all but moaned as he took a bite. “My grandmother used to make fresh bread all the time until her arthritis got to be too bad for her to knead it.”

  “I’m happy to bring back old memories then.” Bri sat down at the table, taking a sip of water.

  Anthony said little while he ate, applying himself to the meal in front of him. He worked hard, and he burned a lot of calories. He needed to pay full attention to his meals—especially when they tasted this good!

  “What are you doing this afternoon?” Bri asked Bekah, watching Anthony as he ate. She wasn’t sure why it felt so good to see him tucking into her food the way he did, but it probably had something to do with her homemaker mother.

  “Finishing up the garden plans,” Bekah responded, looking amused. “I haven’t decided for sure what I want to grow alongside the sidewalk that leads to the hot springs.”

  “How long does it take to walk to the springs from here?” Anthony asked, taking a big swig of his drink.

  “About five minutes,” Bri said. “They’re just barely off our property. This is our ancestral home, and the family has always wanted to be as close as possible to the springs.”

  “And there’s a sidewalk that leads there?”

  Bri nodded. “Yeah, it was one of the first things we had built.”

  “Too bad I wasn’t around then. I would have insisted on an old-fashioned boardwalk. Wouldn’t that have looked good? Maybe a gazebo halfway there.” Anthony hated the idea of their pretty house completely surrounded by concrete.

  Bekah and Bri exchanged a look. “That’s what we wanted, but we were told it was ridiculous and would take too much to maintain.”

  “Maybe, but it would really help with the ambience. You could probably charge extra. Not for the ugly green room maybe, but for the rest of them.”

  Bri wrinkled her nose. “Why do you have to be difficult?”

  Anthony grinned. “I’ll take a look at the sidewalk. Maybe I can either take it out or build the boardwalk over it.”

  “Better do it today,” Bekah told him. “We’re supposed to get at least six inches of snow tonight.”

  Bri frowned. “I guess I’m running on the treadmill in the morning.” She’d get her run in and have coffee there at home instead. She hated when her routine changed.

  “Will do,” Anthony told them. “I’ll check it out right after lunch.”

  “Thanks.” Bri wasn’t sure they could afford a boardwalk, but she agreed with him about the look. Maybe it would help. The more projects they gave him the more she got to see him. How could there be a loser in that situation?

  Chapter Four

  Just before quitting time that afternoon, Bri heard a female voice calling her. The B&B wasn’t officially open, but people in town still felt like they could just walk in to find her or Bekah. Well, some of them did. Since the house was a work in progress, she didn’t mind terribly much.

  She turned, cringing when she saw Jennifer Olson, her nemesis since kindergarten at Silver Springs Elementary. “Bri, there you are! I need you.”

  Bri sighed. “What can I help you with, Jennifer?” She couldn’t stand the girl. Their antipathy for one another had started when Jennifer stole Bri’s crayons and told her that she had an ugly smile. Bri had always been slightly self-conscious about the Roberts family smile. All of the cousins and their fathers had the same slightly off-center smile their grandpa had.

  “I’m planning a twenty-fifth anniversary party for my parents,” Jennifer said with a grin.

  “That’s great, Jennifer.” Bri kept right on painting. Jennifer had gone to college there in town, just as she and Bekah had. The difference was, Jennifer had never worked a day in her life. Her parents owned the hotel that bordered on the B&B property, and she’d never felt the need to do any
thing but look for a man.

  “We’re going to have it in the banquet room at the hotel, of course, but I was hoping you’d cater it.”

  Bri wanted nothing more than to tell her no, but truthfully, she and Bekah could use the start-up cash. She hated taking out a loan, and she’d had to do that last week. A good catering job would help her a lot. And she and Bekah had done a few while they were in school, so she knew they could handle it. “Why don’t you just use the hotel’s restaurant?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “You know how my dad is. He always wants to eat things like sausage rolls and pigs in a blanket.” She rolled her eyes. “You’ll cater to his unique tastes in food.”

  “So will the hotel restaurant. He owns it.” As much as Bri needed the money, working for Jennifer would make her miserable for weeks.

  “It won’t be the same, though. Will you do it?”

  Bri bit her lip. “When’s the party? We open in two months, and there’s still a ton of work to be done.” The more she played up her lack of time to do it, the more she could charge. She had no problem charging Jennifer an arm and a leg, because it would take that much to make it worth her time.

  “Well, that’s the thing. I want to do it a week from Saturday. I won’t have a problem getting the hotel space, but the restaurant can’t handle us on that short of notice, because there’s a wedding that weekend.”

  Bri closed her eyes and shook her head. “You forgot about their anniversary, didn’t you? So you’re throwing together a party really fast so they won’t realize it.” She wished she didn’t know Jennifer so well, but she did. The girl thought only of herself.

  Jennifer laughed. “As if I’d forget my parents’ anniversary.” Her eyes didn’t meet Bri’s, though, and Bri knew her guess was dead on.

  “I know better. It’ll cost you double what I’d charge anyone else because of the short notice. How many people?” Bri knew Jennifer could afford it, and she’d be spending some late nights getting everything prepped and ready to go. Bekah would help, but she wouldn’t enjoy it.

  “Two hundred or so.”

  Bri had expected as much, but it would make for some late nights. She hated being up late. She named a figure, and Jennifer wrinkled her nose.

  “Fine. Party starts at six. I’ll expect you to have at least six servers.”

  “Shouldn’t be a problem. There are always college students looking for work.” Bri finished the wall and put her paint roller down, stepping back to take a look at her handiwork. “Let me wash my hands, and we’ll go down to the kitchen to iron out a menu.”

  “Are you going to let me sample everything beforehand? Kind of like a test run?” Jennifer asked.

  Bri shook her head. “Absolutely not. You’ve eaten my cooking. You know what it tastes like.” Jennifer had been to parties that she and Bekah had catered together more than once.

  “Fine.” Jennifer trailed behind her as Bri headed for the kitchen. It would be the easiest place for them to work, and Bri could start supper while they talked.

  “I’ve never understood why all the girls in your family work,” Jennifer said as she followed Bri down the stairs. “Your family certainly doesn’t need the money.”

  Bri shook her head. “Our family believes in women being independent. My mom was a homemaker, but that didn’t make her any less strong. She taught us that we shouldn’t have to depend on a man to survive.”

  “Uh huh.” Jennifer walked in and sat at the small table in the middle of the kitchen. “Since I’m a customer, we should be doing this in the parlor, shouldn’t we?”

  “If we do that, then I can’t multitask and make supper at the same time.” Bri pulled some carrots from the fridge and began peeling them. “There’s paper and pen in the middle of the table. What do you want me to fix? Are you just wanting snacks? Or am I doing a whole meal?”

  “The price you gave me was for a whole meal?”

  “The price I gave you was for three different appetizers for two hundred people. If you want a real meal, the price doubles.”

  Jennifer glared. “You’re trying to gouge me!”

  “I’m not. I simply expect to get paid for the work I do. A full meal is a lot more work than three appetizers.”

  “I need a cake too. I want a big wedding cake.”

  “I can arrange for that, but it will cost you. Why don’t you run to the bakery yourself and have them make one for you? If I take my time to go to the bakery, and I won’t bake it myself no matter how much you beg, I’m going to charge you for that time. Save yourself some money.”

  “You’re really being a pain, Bri. Why can’t you be nice to me? I’ve seen you be nice to other people.”

  Bri rolled her eyes and kept peeling. “Let’s get this done so I can get started prepping.”

  “You can’t prep now! The food will go bad!”

  “I have a huge commercial freezer in my basement. I can prep most of it and freeze it, and then finish it up the day of the party.”

  “Oh.” Jennifer frowned down at the pen and paper in her hands. “My dad went to a party where you served sausage rolls, and he talked about nothing else for three weeks. Can you make those?”

  Bri nodded. “Write it down.” Sausage rolls would be easy to prep in advance. In fact, she should probably just tell Jennifer how to make them herself and save the time, but she wanted the extra money. Maybe she could get that board sidewalk out of this.

  Thirty minutes later, they’d decided on five appetizers, a type of punch, and a final price. “If you want alcohol, you’ll have to provide that and a bartender yourself.” Bri slid a pork roast into the oven before turning around to look at Jennifer.

  “Fine.” Jennifer handed her the notebook she’d made notes in.

  “And you’re going to take care of getting the cake baked yourself?”

  “Yes, I’ll do it, but I still think it should be your responsibility.” Jennifer got to her feet. “I probably shouldn’t be giving money to my parents’ competition anyway.”

  “We’re not going to be competition for the hotel. We’re going to be working together. The hotel is always sold out. This will give another option, and my guests will get a pass for the hot springs facilities. Your dad and I have spent a lot of time ironing things out, and trust me, this will be for the best.”

  “Fine. I’ll check with you in a week to make sure you’ve got everything under control.”

  “And if we don’t you’re going to do the work yourself?” Bri kept her tone light as she asked the question, but she knew Jennifer would be annoyed with her.

  “You know I don’t work!” Jennifer turned to leave and stopped short when Anthony appeared in the doorway. “Well, hello!” As Bri watched, Jennifer’s eyes traveled over Anthony, making it clear she liked what she saw.

  Anthony nodded at Jennifer. “Hi.” He smiled at Bri. “You’re cooking?”

  Bri laughed. “You’re always hungry. Don’t you have a dog to go home to? You should get a dog.” She couldn’t let Jennifer see how much she liked Anthony, or her efforts to take him away from her would double. She was childish that way.

  Jennifer looked back and forth between the two of them. She’d stolen more boyfriends from Bri than she had from anyone else in town, and she had the gleam in her eye again. “Introduce me.”

  Bri frowned, not wanting them to meet. Jennifer was known for flirting with every man in town, and she didn’t want the competition. “Jennifer, this is Anthony. He’s the new contractor in town, and he’s turning a bedroom into two bathrooms. Anthony, this is Jennifer, the girl who stole my crayons in kindergarten.”

  “And every boyfriend she’s had since,” Jennifer added, a smile on her face. She offered her hand to Anthony. “Since you’re new in town, I could show you around.”

  “Town’s not that big,” he replied. “I’ve seen it.” He didn’t even want to look at the woman. Something about her made his skin crawl.

  “Well, it’s obvious you’re hungry. You should come
to the restaurant for dinner tonight. On me.” Jennifer had never been one to give up easily.

  “Sorry. I’m eating here. Bri’s cooking is too good to pass up.” He hadn’t been invited…yet, but he had no desire to go anywhere with the woman in front of him.

  Bri turned away, hiding her grin. She knew it wouldn’t last, but at least for now, Anthony was choosing her over Jennifer. Without thinking, she plucked the ingredients for a cake out of her cabinet and began mixing everything together. For his loyalty, he’d get cake for dessert.

  Jennifer took a step closer to Anthony and whispered, “Bri is boring. Come spend the evening with me.”

  Anthony shook his head. “I have plans. Thanks anyway.” He turned his back on the pushy blonde and walked over to where Bri was cooking. “How can I help?”

  Bri shook her head. “You can stay out of the way for now.” There were few times when she was willing to share her kitchen space with someone else, and she’d never cooked with a man underfoot.

  “I’m going to go home and shower, and I’ll be back for dinner. What time?”

  Jennifer frowned. “I’m going to go then. I’ll be back.”

  “I know you will,” Bri said under her breath. Jennifer always came back, no matter how little she was wanted.

  “What was that?” Jennifer asked.

  “Nothing meant for your ears!” Bri responded.

  Anthony laughed, leaning down to kiss Bri’s cheek. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  “Dinner’s at six. If you’re late, you don’t get to eat,” Bri told him.

  He walked around Jennifer who was standing in the kitchen gaping at them. “How long have you two been going out?” Jennifer asked as soon as he had shut the front door.

  Bri looked over her shoulder. “Are you still here? We’ve only gone out once. Still easy for you to steal him.”

  “You know I will. No man will stay with you when I’m around.”