“That’s why he was so good at running the café.”
“He talks about the café a lot. He misses it.”
“It’s going to break his heart when I sell the place.”
“Oh, you’re selling it?” The nurse’s brow wrinkled. “He didn’t mention that.”
“No, he wouldn’t. I think he’s in denial. But once I get a job, I’m hoping to have a wheelchair-adapted kitchen installed in his apartment. Hopefully being able to make food for his friends might take a little of the sting out of losing his café.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s a brilliant idea! You can do that?”
I nodded. “I’ve found a company that’ll put in low cupboards, a low, side-opening oven, and a stove with space underneath so he can get his wheelchair under it.”
Her eyes were wide. “That’s wonderful. I’ve often thought it’s a shame the apartments don’t have proper kitchens, but I guess they thought the residents would eat all their meals in the dining hall. I’m sure your father will get a lot of joy from being able to cook again.”
Before I could answer, Dad called for me, and I turned to see him motioning me to the table. As I hurried toward him, thinking he might need something, he lifted his water glass that was now full of a liquid that looked suspiciously like sparkling wine. The other residents mimicked him with varying degrees of deftness, some slopping wine onto the table.
“A toast!” Dad exclaimed. “To my beautiful daughter, who’s proving how clever she is by marrying a chef. May their table always be laden, their stomachs always full, and may she soon have a bun in her oven!” He winked at me.
My face felt like it was about to catch fire. I mumbled ‘thank you’ as they all cheered, and took a step back to escape into the kitchen.
But Dad wasn’t done yet. Raising his hands theatrically, he silenced the cheers.
“Mack’s Place is my gift to you, Natalie.” His booming voice bounced off the walls. “With Kade in the kitchen and your smiling face greeting customers, the heart of San Dante will keep beating. Mack’s Place will thrive for another forty-two years. You’ll be as happy as I was, and my legacy will live on!”
As the cheering started again, I turned and fled into the kitchen. Kade was picking up some platters of food, about to start carrying them out.
“Did you hear that?” I slumped against the counter. “Dad thinks we’re going to run the café together.”
“We’ll talk to him after he’s eaten, let him down gently.”
“And everyone in the world is convinced we’re engaged. Any minute, we’ll get a congratulatory telegram from one of those remote villages in the Amazon where they shoot arrows at airplanes that get too close.”
“Don’t worry, we can come clean.”
I shook my head. “It’s too late, there’s no way to get out of it. Now we need to get married, have a dozen children, and work in the café until we die. We have no choice.”
Carrying two large platters out of the kitchen, he paused just long enough to give me his incredibly sexy, leg-weakening, tingle-generating grin. “Okay,” he said. Then he disappeared.
I sucked in a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment.
Joking. He was only joking.
Only my trembling legs hadn’t got the memo, and when it came to Kade’s smile, my muscles had no sense of humor.
When I had all my limbs back under control, I picked up another big platter and carried it into the dining area. Putting it down in the middle of the table, I started helping the nurses to get food onto everyone’s plates.
Kade was helping too, and when everyone’s plates were full, he pulled up a chair next to my father.
“It’s just like old times,” Dad told him. “The two of us back here.”
“Except for this.” Kade tapped the arm of Dad’s wheelchair. “I remember how you never used to sit down. Full of energy, morning to night, and I could barely keep up.”
“The worst thing about this damn chair is how much harder it is to cook. But Nat said she can get me a stove that’s this high.” Dad drew a line with his hand at chest height.
“In the meantime, I’ll cook you all the dishes you taught me. Every one of your favorites.”
Dad wagged his fork at Kade. “I’ll hold you to that. Besides, you have to make amends for leaving to go to that fancy job in Paris. Was it even half as good as Mack’s Place?”
“It wasn’t. But you had another apprentice chef to take my place.”
“That idiot couldn’t have barbecued meat if his kitchen caught fire. He didn’t have your talent.” Dad used his fork to prod Kade’s shoulder. “But don’t let the compliment go to your head. Nobody likes a cocky chef.”
“You sure about that?” Reg leaned into their conversation. “There was that naked chef, wasn’t there? A cocky chef could be a hit. You should try it on one of your shows and see how much fan mail you get.”
Kade’s gaze found mine, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he promised Reg.
“I may have caught one or two of your shows,” said Dad. “You made your eggplant risotto too oily, and you should have seasoned it with sage. As for those chicken cutlets with onion—”
I took a chair opposite them, because it was my turn to lean in and interrupt. “Tell Kade the truth, Dad. You’ve never missed a single show.” I motioned around the group. “Dad makes sure they all watch. He couldn’t be prouder.”
“Hey,” my father growled. “Don’t make me sound like a fan. Kade’s head is big enough as it is.”
“Dad, you are a fan. Stop acting like a grouch.”
My father rolled his eyes at Kade. “Next you’ll expect me to beg for your autograph.”
Kade nodded, his expression serious. “I planned on signing a napkin for you, but I figured you’d want to have it framed.”
Dad chuckled,
