Can’t wait.
Don’t show anyone else that ankle.
It’s all mine.
He was still hot, but her texts made him smile.
* * *
Jesse found Delfi at their usual table next to the terrace window. They had brief conversations every day, but once a week they sat down to a meal, for a random sampling of that week’s menu. It helped keep things fresh for the guests and gave Jesse time to process his thoughts before he and Zach met with their executive chef, Brit.
“Sorry I’m late. I got an email from Senior.” He took a seat and looked at the eight glasses filled with various beverages on the table.
Delfi flipped open the cover of her tablet and leaned forward. “Major is thinking about selling Gulch.”
Jesse smiled and grabbed the glass closest to him. He smelled the golden beer before he took a sip.
“Not bad.”
“Soul Sisters Brewery out of Oakland. I like what I’ve seen and tasted so far. You’re not gonna say anything about the Gulch?”
“How did you find out?”
“You know I have my whisper network.”
“Graham emailed Senior.” Delfi frowned at that too. She got it. “He’s thinking about selling to us. Or to Senior, and he’ll just give it to Zach and me to play with.”
“I’ll keep my two cents to myself until you speak to Zach.”
“No, please. Go ahead.”
“I mean, I don’t see a downside here. You get to expand and take on a well-established relationship with a ranch that’s more kidandbachelor-party friendly. It’s far enough away that it won’t feel like it’s encroaching on Big Rock, but you and Zach can get there in four hours by car. Three if Corie drives. And aside from what Senior thinks, I imagine positive expansion is what your grandfather would have wanted for you. Screw what Senior thinks. Talk to Miss Leona.”
Delfi was right. Big Rock had been his grandparents’ dream from the beginning. Senior wanted nothing to do with it. Jesse needed to remember that and save what he felt about that email for Dr. Brooks and his next brother-to-brother-to-brother talk with Sam and Zach.
“Now, you could also promote me again, give me a nice little raise and a new title and I’ll happily oversee both places for you.” She flashed him a toothy grin as one of those longtime servers, Hillary, brought out a plate of truffle Brussels sprouts and the chicken-and-chili frittata Britnay had just added to the Breakfast by the Pond menu. Jesse thanked her and took a forkful of the frittata.
“Damn,” he said as he reached for another bite. “Britnay doesn’t miss.”
“It’s why I married her,” Delfi replied.
They continued on with their meeting, discussing ranch business while sharing eight different dishes as Hillary brought them out. Jesse finished half of them and he knew he’d be hungry again by six. They needed to hire two more housekeepers and one of their valets; Will had given his notice. He was moving with his girlfriend to Texas. A stupid guest had jumped off a horse, trying to show off for his teenage son, but he’d walked away injury-free and accepted the thorough scolding he’d earned from Felix, who’d happened to catch the whole spectacle. No earth-shattering news, which made Jesse happy. Basic personnel changes Lilah could handle on her own.
“That’s all from me. You have anything else before you go back to the kitchen and tell Brit yourself how much you loved that frittata?”
Jesse chuckled and put his napkin back on the table. Brit did enjoy some positive reinforcement and she deserved it for that dish.
“What’s too extravagant of a gift?” he asked.
Delfi’s eyebrow rose. “Business or pleasure?”
“Pleasure.”
“Just so we’re clear, I’m gonna go ahead and believe the rumors. You and Lily-Grace LeRoux are a thing now?”
“There is something there, yes. No labels yet.”
“Well since it’s pretty fresh I think you can hold off with the labels for a little while. I barely remember her from middle school, but you gotta admire a woman who can bust up a meeting, threaten your life, and then have you half in love with her inside thirty days.”
