Seducing Mr. Grumpy

16. Supporting Summer. [Part 1]

Summer Cooper's message vault to Dominic Pauls:

Nic, I have a boyfriend! I hope you get to discover someday just how wonderful it feels to fall in love.

Sincerely, a hopelessly-in-love Summer.

16. Supporting Summer.

Dominic.

A week after our trip to Dubai, I find myself at Summer’s culinary school, walking through the main courtyard where there's a sort of fair showcasing desserts to the public. Everything is made by the students themselves, and of course, Summer wasn't exempt from the assignment. She made over a hundred trifles with a custard cream that turned out delicious. I know because last night, while I was working in my office, she came in every five minutes to make me taste them.

I check my watch—sure I’m not that late—but the place is already packed. I pull out my phone to text her, but get distracted when I catch sight of a very familiar head of blonde hair.

I frown and walk toward it.

“What are you doing here, Archie?”

“Dom!” he greets me enthusiastically, as if we hadn’t seen each other just an hour ago.

“What are you doing here?”

“Supporting Summer, of course.”

I make a face that I’m sure perfectly expresses my confusion, and just as I’m about to ask for further clarification, another voice chimes in behind him—“This is delicious.”

Dakota appears, holding a bowl of strawberries and cream. She’s eating them like it’s the first food she’s had in days, so focused she hasn’t even noticed me.

“Archie, I left you in charge of the company so I could come here,” I say.

“I left Dakota in charge.”

“When did you leave me in charge?” Her confusion makes my jaw tighten.

“If you two are here, then who the hell’s running the company?” Neither of them answers. “Don’t tell me you left Laney in charge of everything.”

Archie whistles, glancing off to the side. Dakota goes back to her fruit, avoiding eye contact.

These idiots.

I sigh and step aside to call Laney. Seriously, I don’t pay that girl enough—she not only has to put up with me (which I know isn’t easy), but also with these two clowns.

I talk to her on the phone while walking past each booth, looking for Summer.

“Oh, who’s that guy with Summer?” Archie asks once I hang up.

“Where?”

“There.” He points, and I see her. Smiling, as always. Maggie’s with her—I knew they were sharing a stand—but I didn’t know her grandson would be there too. And there he is, handing out the desserts while Maggie handles the cash. Summer’s helping too, smiling and chatting with the crowd. That doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is that i***t standing next to her, shoulder to shoulder, like they’re some kind of team.

“Dakota,” I call.

“What?” she yells, still eating those damn strawberries.

“I’ll give you a thousand pounds to keep that guy busy.” I point at him.

She wrinkles her nose and follows my gaze, then shakes her head indignantly. “I’m not a prostitute.”

“Ten thousand.”

“I’ll be a prostitute.” She hands her strawberries to Archie, adjusts her top, and struts over to where George is smiling at Summer.

“Dominic, seriously?” Archie stares at me wide-eyed.

“I didn’t tell her to sleep with him.”

“I know she’s not going to sleep with him. What amazes me is how far your jealousy goes.”

I glare at him.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Nooo,” he drawls like a moron.

“I’m just looking out for her. Summer’s family.”

“She’s not in danger. Look at that guy—he’s harmless. What’s he going to do, ask her out?”

“He’s not going to ask her out,” I growl. “Besides, looks are deceiving. That one could be a full-blown psychopath hiding behind a sheep’s smile.”

“Look at you, quoting my grandma,” he laughs. “At this point, I think you’re beyond saving.”

I ignore him, focused on Dakota’s attempt to charm George. She’s being outrageously flirty, which seems to be creeping him out more than anything.

Summer’s now looking at Dakota like she just grew a second head. That’s when I decide to step in.

“Nic!” Summer spots me and comes running out of the stand into my arms.

“Hi,” I whisper in her ear.

“What’s up with Dakota?” she whispers back.

“Why?”

“She’s acting weird.”

“She’s always weird.”

“I mean weirder than usual.”

I glance over Summer’s shoulder—Dakota is sucking frosting off her finger while eyeing George like he’s a piece of meat.

I wince, almost feeling secondhand embarrassment.

“Archie,” I call out, still holding Summer.

“What?”

I point toward Dakota, silently telling him to take over. He nods and walks over to her. I watch him introduce himself and quickly start a conversation that spares poor Dakota from humiliating herself further. She doesn’t deserve a single pound—for someone meant to distract him, she scared him off.

“Nic,” Summer places her hands on my chest and steps back. That’s when I realize I’d been holding her for far too long—longer than necessary.

“You okay?” she asks.

“I’m fine,” I nod. “Did you sell everything?”

“Almost.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to the booth. “Look, I saved this one for you.”

Summer hands me a picture-perfect trifle, noticeably bigger than the rest. I go to pull out my wallet to pay, but she stops me with a sharp, “Don’t even think about it.”

“It’s only fair.”

“Don’t. Even. Think. About it,” she repeats, her stubborn eyes daring me to argue.

When the others notice me, they all go silent, staring. I shift awkwardly until Summer breaks the tension with introductions.

“I spoke to you on the phone, remember?” the older woman says. The way she looks at me isn’t exactly warm.

“Yes, ma’am. You’re Maggie, right?”

“Mmm…” she clicks her tongue. “You’re a lucky one.”

Summer slips her arm around my back and leans against me so naturally that I instinctively return the gesture. I breathe in the scent of her hair and look down just as she lifts her face with a bright smile.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Summer,” George says as he walks over, his kind face and polite tone grating on my nerves.

“Oh no, he’s just a friend,” she rushes to say. “We grew up together, right, Nic?”

“Nic,” Archie sings, “a second ago you said Summer’s like family. What is she, your sister?”

“You told him I’m family?” Summer’s eyes light up. “Aw, Nic, I didn’t know you could be so sweet.”

Sweet?

“I didn’t…”

“I love you,” she says, hugging me tighter and resting her cheek on my chest.

George watches us with a smile, like we’re some touching family portrait.

I glance at Dakota and signal her again. She really needs to start earning those ten grand right now. She nods and makes an “ok” gesture with her fingers before running back toward George. I’m not entirely sure, but I think she grabs his ass because she says playfully, “Oops, wrong cake.”

The poor man looks like he wants to disappear.

Oh God, we’re about to get hit with a harassment lawsuit.

I look at Archie again, silently begging for help.

“Dakota, sweetheart, how about we go find something else to eat?”

“But…” she looks at me and I shake my head, ashamed that she’s my employee.

That’s it—she’s not cut out for this.

“Come on, let’s go,” Archie starts dragging her away.

“But tell him he owes me my ten thousand pounds!”

Archie leads her off as she mumbles about money and everyone watches her like she’s a circus act. I clear my throat, shifting the attention back to me.

[1/2]