Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
What in the world did he put in this stuff?
I gestured toward the bottle of Merlot on the table. “What does that pair with?” I asked.
“The oxtail empanadas, chef,” Eddie replied, pouring me a glass. My head chef, Sammy, placed an empanada on a plate. They handed the items to me, and I grudgingly accepted the samples. As I tasted the pairing, I swore my soul entered a far, far away place filled with fireworks and happiness.
I grimaced and arched an eyebrow toward Lee. “How did you do this?”
“The Lang secrecy of wine. It has the Honey Creek special touch.”
My annoyance peaked because there was no way I could go without Lee’s wines in my shop. Beyond that, I knew I had to sign a deal with him to have his bottles in my other restaurants, too.
“Leave your business card,” I directed. “And everyone else, get back to work. We open in a few days.”
Tatiana smiled at Lee and nudged him. “That means he’s gonna say yes.”
“Tatiana,” I scolded.
She placed a hand on her hip and raised a brow. “Yes, young man?”
The strength of every mother in the world powered her hand on the hip. I didn’t have enough nerve to tell her to stop sending people to my restaurant for partnership. “A word alone.”
I walked over to a table and took a seat. She pulled out the chair across from me, sat, and combed her hair behind her ears. “Yes, chef?” she asked.
“You can’t keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Telling everyone in this small town I can partner with them.”
“I’m not doing that. I’m only telling the ones I know you’ll partner with.”
I grumbled, “You don’t know that for a fact. And you’re creating false hope for these people.”
“It seems Nathan and Lee didn’t deal with false hope.” She shrugged her shoulders and seemed detached from my trying to scold her.
“Tatiana.”
“Alejandro.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. I thought she would call me chef or Alex, not my full damn name. “I hired you because—”
“Because I am a true asset to the team with my connections to the small town. Let’s be honest, Alex. You aren’t small town. You don’t give off that energy.”
“I’m not trying to be small town.”
“Well, you have to try, at least. Otherwise, this restaurant will not make it. And I’m the cross point to make it easier for you. If you get the small-town people to like you, you can make this place successful.”
“I don’t care if these people like me. People will come from out of town.”
“Yes, and then they will return to their homes, leaving you with us. You’ll need us just as much as we’ll need you. You’ll need friends. That’s the thing about this small town. It’s a community. You might as well join it instead of being an outsider. I noticed the harassment some of these people have been giving you.”
“You want me to give in to the bullies?” I groaned at the simple idea.
“No. Of course not.” She shook her head and reached out for my hand. She patted it and gave me a sense of comfort I didn’t ask for. That was…annoying.
And…kind.
Whatever.
“You don’t join the bullies of the town, Alex. You join the community. Then the community will be there for you to shut up the bullies. You can’t do this alone and shouldn’t want to.”
I sighed and pulled my hand from her touch. It bothered me that her words felt true.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Tatiana?”
“Yes?”
“No more bringing talented people into my restaurant, all right?”
“Oh, but Carol from the chocolate shop down the way—”
“Tatiana.”
She tossed her hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay. No more partnerships for now.”
“Or ever.”
“Never say never. It closes off the possibility of miracles.” She stood from her chair. “I’d love to keep talking, but I must get to work. We’re opening soon, you know. I have to make sure things are in order ’round these parts.”
She excused herself from the table, and I sat there, a bit thrown off about who was in control of our conversation. For some reason, it felt like Tatiana was my employer, not the other way around.
As everyone returned to work, I glanced out the restaurant's front window to the dog shop. I crossed my arms and watched the owner interact with her customers and their dogs. I wasn’t sure who was more excited to deal with her—the humans or their pets. Either way, laughter and smiles were spread from that woman as if her middle name was Giggly.
I grumbled as I studied her. She had her hair down and her curls bounced whenever she laughed. She wore a flowy blue dress, and the widest smile I’d ever seen. It was a beautiful grin, and she gave it to everyone who crossed her path. That felt ridiculous to me. Not every person deserved such a genuine smile, which made me think it was…ingenious. Maybe. I didn’t know.