Rico shot her a glance before she could speak. “Chef Garcia has had a long and taxing day,” he said first in English and then French. “Call the restaurant tomorrow with your demands. Now, we must go.”
Taking Pierre’s cage, he grabbed her elbow and led her down the street. A few people called out after them, but thankfully no one followed.
“A taxing day?” She gave a short laugh. “Are you taking poetry lessons instead of cooking lessons now?”
“I’m almost envious of you, Madison,” Rico murmured in Spanish, ignoring her joke.
“Don’t be. Now, we’ll need another plan for stalkers and pushy journalists.”
“Success is its own mistress,” Rico said smoothly, “and I am happy to be wrapped in her embrace. Do you want me to call you a car or walk you home?”
He hadn’t walked her home before. She’d made sure not to lead him on when they’d gone out dancing a couple times before she and Kyle became a couple. “No, I’m only a couple of blocks away. Rico, thanks for coming and for understanding how things are. I didn’t want things to be weird between us.”
Handing her Pierre, he gave a Gallic shrug. “Neither do I. Good night, Madison.”
“’Night, Rico.”
“Here’s wishing you get your star.” He reached up to the Paris night sky as if plucking one down and holding it out to her. “And that I garner another. Good luck bringing Chef Marcel to Paris. It would be great to have him here, where I could beat him head-to-head.”
“Seriously, Rico?”
“The student always wishes to beat his master to know when he has truly come into his own,” he only replied. With a wry laugh, he gave a slight bow and headed across the street.
She stood there a moment, smiling even though she didn’t agree with his logic. But keeping him as a friend was a win.
When she arrived at home, she stopped short at the note taped to the front door and set Pierre’s cage down.
Great. First, she’d had people waiting for her outside the restaurant. Now this…
The handwriting was Kyle’s, she noted with a warm feeling in her chest.
Everyone is inside, waiting to celebrate. Didn’t want you to be surprised. Love, K
She practically sighed like a schoolgirl at the wholeLove, Kpart before closing the note. Had he thought she might start undressing at the door again? Heck, it had been tough not being able to rush across the kitchen earlier and give him a big whopping smooch, but she’d needed to remain professional.
Letting herself inside, she heard the happy laughter and sparks of conversation from her found family. Walking to the kitchen, she found everyone sitting around the island with a beverage in hand. Kyle was laughing as Phoebe gestured wildly in the air with her hands, Sawyer grinning beside her.
Then Kyle looked over as if sensing her, and his warm smile made her heart explode in her chest.
“There she is!” Dean shot out of his chair like a rocket, spilling his champagne. “All hail the conquering heroine.”
She lowered Pierre to the floor and did her best to evade her friend’s way too enthusiastic hug and kiss. Then everyone else was surrounding her, and it was like the holidays all over again. Hug Fest was back, and right now, it didn’t seem so bad.
Kyle was last, she imagined on purpose, and when he leaned in to embrace her, his arms loose and casual, he whispered, “Congrats! I’m so happy for you.”
She gave him a hearty squeeze, wishing she could do more. “Me too, but it’s a zoo. There were people waiting for me outside the restaurant after I locked up.”
His entire frame went rigid as the conversation died down around them.“What?Are you okay?”
Waving a hand, she scoffed. “Please. I grew up in Liberty City. Besides, Rico was with me. He came by after the restaurant closed to congratulate me. But I don’t like thinking about people harassing the staff. I want us to hire security for the front and back. Only temporarily, and only around closing. I don’t want diners thinking there’s a reason to be scared.”
The happy light in his blue eyes was gone, along with his smile. She knew it wasn’t jealousy of Rico that had done it, because the same was true for everyone else. She’d killed the party.
“I’ll find someone tomorrow,” he said without missing a beat. “I’m glad you weren’t alone tonight. I’ll also arrange for cars to take staff home. Tell them a new plan will be in place by the start of the dinner hour.”
At times like these, she wanted to kiss him in front of everyone. He always understood. Even about Rico. “Thank you. It’s going to die down. I’ll call a couple of chefs I know who’ve dealt with the media circus and see if they have any other ideas for how to handle things. But you’re here to celebrate. Where’s the champagne?”
Nanine brought her a glass, her roommates and their Plus Ones parting, like a spoon through whipped cream. Like her, Nanine was wearing all black, but the color was elegance personified on Nanine. Her long and curly white hair was a striking contrast, but it was the love in her big brown eyes that had Madison freezing in place.
