“If now’s not a good time, I can come back later.” Suzette, the owner, didn’t normally cook.
“Nope, it’s as good a time as any. I gotta talk to you. What are you doing, going and getting a bank loan without talking to me first? I thought we parted on good terms, you and I?”
“Of course we did.” I hadn’t seen her as much since leaving, but she’d done a lot for me. Taken time to teach and promote me. “I just, I guess, I don’t, I mean—”
Her chuckle cut me off. She waved her hand, dismissing me, and led the way to an out of the way table by a window. “Don’t worry. I got you. You thought I’d take some sort of offense? See it as competition?”
“You taught me everything I know.” Well, not everything. I’d worked at plenty of restaurants before finding my way to Suzette at nineteen, but she’d been the first person who gave me promotions. Even paid for me to get my bartender’s license.
“About that.” She settled into her chair and stretched out her legs, exposing black tennis shoes with thick soles. “I taught you a lot, but not everything. I want to see you succeed. Will told me your plan.”
That weasel.
“I like it. I’d like to talk to you about a partnership. I’ve been wanting to expand. The secret in the restaurant business is to own multiple locations. And, if your idea works, maybe we can expand to other resorts. And I’ve been wanting to open a second location, but not on my own.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Are you open to a partnership?” Thad had encouraged me to consider a franchise so I could leverage the corporate knowledge base, but with Suzette working with me, I’d gain her experience. Unlike an investor, I wouldn’t be taking her money. We’d be working together.
“Yeah. I think I’d really like that.”
“Good. Now, take me through this pitch of yours. I’ve got about an hour before I need to be back in the kitchen for lunch shift. Gary called in sick. If we have time, I’d like to take you up and show you a lot that’s for sale.”
Our meeting flew by. There was no hesitation on her part. With a brief hug, we sealed our agreement. She said she’d draft paperwork. My mind whirred with my to-do list, which included revising a loan application to include my new partner, making posts, and searching Instagram for subscriber leads.
When I returned home, Gabe sat on my front porch, reading his phone.
“I thought you were busy today?” I asked as I approached.
“I am. But what I needed to say, I needed to say in person. My objective is to build your self-esteem. I get that handing you money won’t do that. So, I’ll follow your lead. You tell me what you need. I want to be supportive.” His teeth sank into his lower lip, and his hair was all ruffled, and my reason for leaving in a huff fell right out of my head.
“Okay. Thank you.”
He stepped up and dropped a quick kiss to my lips. “I’ve got to get running. Dinner tonight? Delphina’s? We can go or order in? Decide later?”
I barely nodded. Satisfied, he winked at me and put his phone to his ear, speaking to whoever he dialed. His shorts hugged his tight ass, and I shamelessly soaked that beautiful sight in.
Absolute perfection. And…he’s leaving.
Chapter 24
Gabe
“Can’t believe you talked me into dawn patrol.”
“Whatever, dude. Don’t try to tell me you sleep in.” Tate strapped the leash around his ankle and picked up his board.
“I had to put on a wetsuit. And it’s pretty flat. We should’ve gone paddle boarding.”
“Suck it up, Chesterton.” In response to his snark, I pointed my middle finger up and cursed under my breath as brisk water hit my ankle.
We pushed the boards atop the dark, cold water until we reached the beach break, the place farther out where the mack waves crashed on the sandbar. By the time we reached the sandbar, I’d built up a low level of perspiration pushing against the current.
I straddled my board. The sun rose behind our backs, and random seagulls flew overhead, our only company out this early. I leaned back on my board and closed my eyes. Water splashing nearby informed me of Tate’s presence. Under normal conditions, we’d drift apart on a slow morning like this. He’d actively be on the lookout for a wave. I’d meditate.
“I hear things are going well between you and Poppy.”
I laughed out loud, not at his comment, but because now his push to bring me out here made sense.
“Surfing, my ass. You’re on a fact-finding expedition.”
He slapped the water with his palm. “So…spill.”
“Things are going good. Or they were. She got a little pissed about something ridiculous, but she’ll get over it.”
“What’d you do?”
“Nothing.” I stretched back on my board. He gave me a look. “I paid someone to help her with her business plan. That girl is fiercely independent. You gotta respect that, I suppose. Is that what you’re asking about? Is she still upset? It’s over and done.”
“Luna’s scared you’re going to hurt her.”
A wave rose, and I paddled hard to take it, but I bogged it. As I made my way back to Tate, another wave crested. Tate passed on it. I climbed on my board next to him.
“Okay. So, what does Luna need to know? Let’s get this over with so we can go get the paddle boards and get some exercise in. It’s too flat this morning.”
“Luna didn’t mention a fight. She told me Poppy’s stressing about moving into your place. Luna doesn’t know what advice to give her.”
“Tell her to move in. What the fuck? Why isn’t Poppy coming to me if she’s got concerns? Luna’s living with you.”
“Yeah, but I’m all in with Luna. She’s it for me.”
I splashed
