Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“He is a sissy sometimes, isn’t he?”
What the hell? “I’m not a sissy.”
“Right? Surprised he didn’t ask for a straw to drink his draft beer.”
How the hell is this turning into a bash on me? “Jesus, you know what—”
Mindy slaps my chest and walks up to Fay, wrapping her in the biggest hug. “Just kidding. Your boy toy is a great guy. I’m jealous you found someone so perfect. But I agree. You need a time-out. So tonight, no more meal planning or whatever the fuck you do. Tonight, we’re watching movies and eating whatever Hot Stuff over there orders us.”
As Mindy pulls her into the living room, Fay turns and mouths, “I love you.”
The loud music pulls me out of my memory, and I unlock the door to the penthouse. My dick jerks in my slacks at the aroma. Whatever the hell she’s cooking smells amazing. I find Fay in the kitchen, surrounded by a pile of plated dishes. From the looks of it, she started the second I left.
“Hey,” I call out, but she can’t hear me over the loud music. She has flour in her hair and a smear of something green across her cheek. “Hey!”
She jumps, turning my way. “Hey! Oh my god, you’ll never guess the day I’ve had.”
“Looking at the kitchen, I’d say an eventful one.”
“Well, yes. That too. But guess what!” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “I finally figured out the sauce for the duck!” She dips a spoon into her saucepan and walks over to me. “Try this.”
She lifts it to my mouth, and my tastebuds practically orgasm at the first taste. “Damn, that’s good.”
“Right? I was trying to stick to the norm. But then I started thinking. . . if I just changed a few things, swapped out the truffle oil for Alba white truffle oil, it would pair better with the saffron and bring out the tartness of the cherry wine. It’s perfect.”
“I think Amy’s going to love it.” The restaurant isn’t set to open for another six months. She and Fay have become inseparable. Amy’s boyfriend proposed a few months ago, and Fay offered to throw her an engagement party at the restaurant. She said it would be a good test run before she opened the doors to the public.
“I still can’t believe she said yes to letting me do this.”
I kiss her forehead. “She’d be crazy not to.”
Amy became a constant in our life when my father died. After I stepped down from MIC, I started an LLC, working with investors who wanted to sell land. Instead of buying it, I was helping companies, investors, and real estate moguls search out the best deals to make them a long-term flow of money. When I walked away from MIC, with Fay’s wise advice, I took Amy with me. I hate to admit it, but I took her twat friend, Kyle, too. He’s become an asset to my company, but I keep that to myself.
Within the first three months, I had a full clientele and waitlist. And when Fay calms down, I’m going to share that my small group of trustworthy shareholders has agreed to expand, opening two additional offices.
“God, I hope she loves the dishes I chose. I mean—if she doesn’t, how will the general public? What if—”
“Stop. Self-doubt doesn’t look good on you. You’re amazing, and you know it.”
My girl shrugs, trying her damnedest to hold back her smirk. “You’re right. I am. I want it all to be perfect. It’s not every day someone says yes to catering their engagement dinner. I don’t think she actually said yes. More like I told her. Shit, what if she really doesn’t want this?”
I cup her cheek. “She wants this. She won’t shut the hell up at work about how excited she is. I’m about to give her a pay cut if she doesn’t—”
I chuckle when she whips me in the gut with a dish towel. “You’ll do no such thing. It’s just. . . I’m hosting seventy-five people!” There’s fear and excitement mixed in her voice. “What if the liquor license isn’t approved in time?”
I pull the envelope out of my suit coat. “Good thing it got approved today, then.”
“Gah!” She squeals and jumps into my arms. “Holy shit! Why didn’t you tell me?”
I kiss her chin and her cheek and bring her lips to mine. “It was delivered right before I left.”
She returns the gesture, kissing me back. “Amy’s going to be so relieved. Can you imagine seventy-five people, not to mention mixed family members, trying to make conversation sober?”
“The travesty.” I take my thumb and rub it down her cheek. “You have green sauce on your face.”
She looks up at me, and the glimmer in her eyes makes my heart swell.
“I probably look a mess.”