But before I could speak, Gigi turned to me. “You’d better sell the café quickly, so you can go to LA with Kade.”
Of course that’s what she’d assume, that I’d drop everything in my life for Kade. Did it even occur to her I might want to do something other than follow him around? Because Kade was a TV star with a glittering career, did that make my dreams worthless?
I frowned, acting dumb. “Why would I go to LA with Kade?”
“Surely you wouldn’t let your fiancé go alone?” She put her hand to her mouth, seemingly horrified by the suggestion.
I blinked cluelessly at her. “Why not?”
“Well, you might lose him.”
“You think he might get lost in LA? Don’t worry, he’s been there lots of times. He knows the way.”
Butch narrowed his eyes at me, looking annoyed. “You need to sell the café, but your price is too high.”
I lifted my chin, clenching my jaw. “Emmy says the asking price is fair.”
Butch shrugged. “I’m telling you, this place ain’t worth half what you’re asking. Look around. It’s a dump. And we can’t even fix it up.”
Gigi nodded earnestly. “You’d be a fool not to go to LA with your darling man. If you let this hunk go, you’ll be sorry. There are models and starlets in that town who’ll snap him up if you’re not there to stop them.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. If she’d offered me a thousand dollars to produce a single word, I might not have been able to make one come out. I was too busy wrestling with my emotions.
Disappointment. Annoyance. Frustration.
Intense psychopathic rage.
The café’s asking price was just to pay off the loan. And sure, being a historical building made things tricky, but couldn’t they appreciate how great Mack’s Place had always been? For forty-two years, it had been the heart of San Dante. Dad would be furious to hear Butch call it a dump.
I clenched my fists, dragging in a deep breath. Behind us, Kade’s fans sat in rapt silence. We’d obviously let our voices get loud enough for them to overhear our conversation, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“If you want to negotiate, talk to Emmy,” said Kade. His tone was determinedly friendly. “She’s the selling agent and needs to be part of this discussion.”
Even through my anger I could appreciate him trying to give me some breathing space. I nodded. “That’s right. Talk to Emmy.” My tone was less friendly.
Gigi tucked her hand into my arm as though we were best friends. “But we’re trying to rescue you. We’re the cavalry.” She gave my arm a squeeze and her long nails dug into my flesh. “You only need to drop your price, and you’ll be free to follow your man.”
I yanked my arm free. “The. Price. Is. Fair.”
“You’re lucky we’re offering you half what you’re asking,” growled Butch. “Be smart and take the money before your fancy chef leaves and you’re so broke you have to close the place down.”
Kade leaned in, his eyes hard and his smile gone. “I already told you, as long as I’m here, Mack’s Place will never close.”
“But that’s exactly the point. You won’t be here, will you darling?”
I ground my teeth, picturing a gory new murder scene for my novel.
“Nat will always be my first priority.” Kade put his arm around my shoulders. “Don’t think I wouldn’t give up my TV show for her, because I would. I’d do anything for her.” He stabbed his finger at them. “That’s what love is.”
I tried not to grimace at his words, which basically summarized everything I didn’t want.
Mom had given up her dream for Dad. I wouldn’t do the same, and I’d hate anyone to do it for me.
But one of Kade’s fans must have appreciated the sentiment, because from behind me I heard somebody start clapping. First there was one person applauding, then another and another.
Soon every person in the café was clapping, and the sound was building quickly, with some people whistling and stamping, and others holding their phones high to get a better angle. Then people started surging to their feet, and the entire café gave Kade a standing ovation.
Gigi huffed and Butch’s lip curled. When the customers started crowding around us, congratulating Kade on his apparently awe-inspiring declaration of love and sacrifice, Gigi and Butch stormed out. Even if I’d wanted to, it would have been hard to go after them. Kade and I were surrounded by smiling people, intent on shaking our hands. Fan after fan congratulated me on being the recipient of Kade’s inspirational, powerful, self-sacrificing love.
The love he was only pretending to feel.
And apparently, I was the only person in the world who thought the idea of Kade saying he’d give up his career for me was the opposite of romantic.
Chapter Twelve
Kade
After Butch and Gigi left the café, Nat was quiet and withdrawn. I plowed through the chore of signing autographs, then moved into the kitchen for the rest of the day.
At least we were so busy, neither of us had time to dwell on what had happened. I focused on the work of cooking meals for hungry diners, and while flipping pancakes and simmering sauces, inspiration struck. I added two new recipe ideas to my list.
By lunchtime, Nat had regained her smile. When we ate a quick lunch together, she was back to her normal sunny self, making me laugh by telling me horror stories about her old chef and complaining about the way her clothing attracted food stains.
I didn’t tell her she had a large crumb clinging to one of the wisps of hair that had escaped her ponytail.
She was adorable.
That evening while I was walking Nat home, I realized if Gigi and Butch hadn’t offered Nat such a low price for the café, it would have been a very good day.
Nat unlocked her front door and turned to me. “You
