As I help her move tables around the dining area, I wonder how everyone will fit in here, then remember the rocking chairs and tables on the back porch.
Once we’ve set the desserts out, Maize puts the serving utensils in each dish and directs me to find the dessert plates. Then I grab the whipped cream and start the coffee maker as ordered. Once I’ve done what she’s asked, I head out of the kitchen and hear her talking to someone.
“Elle! It feels like it’s been forever.” Maize hugs her, and I immediately see the Bishop resemblance. Elle has long, dark hair and features similar to Maize.
“Came to see if you needed help, but I see now that I’m interrupting…” Elle looks me up and down, and Maize quickly turns around.
“No, no. Gavin’s training horses with Jackson and Kiera. Mom invited him to dinner.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Nice to meet you, Elle. I’m Gavin.” I hold out my hand, and she quickly takes it.
“A pleasure. I’m Elizabeth, but only our grandmother calls me that.” She smiles.
I chuckle. “Noted.”
“Elle works with Dr. Wallen,” Maize explains. “Which is why I hardly ever see her anymore.”
“I met him shortly after I started here. Seems like a nice guy. I bet you’re learning a lot from him,” I say to Elle.
“Yeah, well…” She inhales sharply. “We don’t call him Dr. Dickhead for nothing.”
My eyebrows raise in curiosity.
“Speak for yourself,” Maize chimes in. “The rest of us call him Dr. VetDreamy.” Maize chuckles, giving Elle a hard time, but the thought of her thinking he’s good-looking annoys the fuck outta me.
“Do not call him that,” Elle warns. “Just because he’s good-looking doesn’t take away the fact that he makes my work life miserable.”
“It can’t be that bad.” Maize waves her off.
“Not for you, maybe. You have a great view.” Elle smirks at me, and Maize gives her a dirty look.
Deciding to play along, I step next to Elle and wrap my arm around her. “Glad to see someone appreciates me ’round here.”
“Is Maize being rude to you?” she asks.
“If by that you mean she ignores and tells me off, or straight up groans any time I speak, then yeah, I guess so.” I shrug, giving Elle my best puppy dog face.
“Maize Bishop!” Elle scolds, folding her arms over her chest. “I know your mama taught you better than that. Be nice to the new trainer. He seems sweet.”
Maize perks a brow, and her nostrils flare with rage. “I’m plenty nice.”
“That’s you being nice?” My eyes widen with a grin. “Shit, I’d hate to get on your bad side then.”
“Keep talkin’, and you will be,” she snaps.
“Okay, I’m sensing some kind of…tension here, so I’m gonna go find me some pie,” Elle says, then quickly walks away.
“Unbelievable,” Maize mutters before storming off.
I don’t let her get too far before following her into the kitchen. “You ever gonna tell me what your problem with me is?” I ask as she grabs something from the fridge.
“My problem is you’re always around. I’m not interested, and you aren’t getting the memo.” She slams the door and turns to face me.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” I hold up my palms to stop her before she runs off. “You’re not interested? I didn’t ask you out or anything.” The last time I offered to take her on a date was a couple of months ago.
“I can read between the lines, and I’m good with body language.”
“Is that so? Enlighten me then. What am I insinuating?”
She sets down the container and puts her hands on her hips. “You’re intrigued by me and want to ask me out again even though I’ve given you a million signs I’d say no. Yet, here you are.”
“The only thing that intrigues me is you refusing to admit we’ve met before. Why is that?” I cross my arms.
“Because we haven’t.” Her upper lip twitches, and it gives her away. It’s obvious she’s full of shit. It’s only a matter of time before she confesses the truth. The sooner, the better.
“Okay, have it your way then.” I shrug and walk away. Before going through the door, I look over my shoulder and smile. “I have a feelin’ you’ll be remembering very soon.” Then I flash her a wink and leave.
The B&B fills up with Bishops, and for the next hour, I eat Maize’s delicious desserts and chat with everyone. I hear her talking to someone behind me, but fight the urge to look since I can feel her eyes on me. She may not like that I called her out, but too damn bad.
“Gavin,” Grandma Bishop sing-songs my name as she opens her arms and wraps me in a tight hug. Though she’s not my grandma, it’s what everyone calls her.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I say, squeezing her back.
“How was your dinner at John and Mila’s?”
“Delicious. Maize didn’t disappoint one bit,” I emphasize her name, knowing she’s listening close by. “Her desserts are even better.”
“She’s a precious gem, ain’t she? We’re lucky to have her.” Grandma Bishop smiles proudly. After another minute, she excuses herself to make her rounds.
“You keep talkin’ about me, then wonder why I think you’re obsessed with me,” Maize quietly says so no one can eavesdrop.
“Obsessed? You keep avoidin’ me and say there’s no reason for it,” I retort. “Our night together is nothing to be embarrassed about, Maize.”
“You’re absolutely delusional.”
I take my time and check out her body before meeting her intense gaze. “Then why do you always have goose bumps when I’m around? Coincidence?” I pop a confident brow.
She narrows her eyes while simultaneously rubbing her bare arms. “Shut up. I don’t.”
I chuckle, bringing a hand to her shoulder and sliding it down to her wrist, feeling the bumps against the pads of my fingers. “Right. I believe you.”
Maize groans, creating space.
“Stop denying it, sweetheart.”
“You’re so full of yourself. Even if we had met before, I doubt it would’ve been anything memorable. So perhaps my mind did me a favor and blocked it out.” She flashes an eat shit grin, then stalks off.
Moments later, Grayson comes over and pats my shoulder. “Wanted to officially welcome you to the Bishop wrath.”
Chapter Six
MAIZE
FIVE WEEKS LATER
After an insane and busy Christmas, I’m excited I get to spend New Year's Eve with my cousins because I’m not working for once. I did an enormous dessert bar on Christmas Eve and then served a special brunch on Christmas Day. Since I gave my employees the holidays off, my mother and Kenzie helped. Having them around is always fun since we love baking cookies together, but it took four twelve-hour shifts to prepare everything.
Having Gavin at our house for Thanksgiving was awkward and tense. Thank God that pregnancy test Rowan made me take months ago came back negative, or shit would be hitting the fan right now. Giving him a tour and then him later confronting me was irritating as hell. I don’t understand why he won’t drop it and put the past behind us. It’s been four months, and if I have to see him every day, I’d rather him not have the satisfaction of knowing I do remember.