CHAPTER
THIRTY
Kyle put on his best face as the VIPs started rolling in.
Brooke had arranged for world-famous guests from the fashion world who invited big press and had huge followings. They all raved, calling it aonce in-a-lifetimeexperience. Madison had merely rolled her eyes when he’d shared the news, so he decided to keep his excitement to himself.
Reservations reached epic levels after the Brazilian model Bruna shared with her four million followers that she’d fasted for four days to enjoy the meal and said it was worth every minute. Dean had to reinforce their reservation system again.
Thursday brought a party of chefs from some of the top cooking and food shows, as suggested by Rico. If Anthony Bourdain had still been alive, Kyle liked to think he would have joined the party. As it were, he’d rounded up people who defined travel and food for millions around the world, and he believed every one of them when they said it was one of the best meals they’d ever eaten and heaped overflowing praise on the bread pairings.
Friday boasted Jacqueline’s contribution—a carefully selected group of guests from the top wine groups from her alma mater, the renowned Court of Master Sommeliers, andmembers of France’s famedInstitut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité, who handled the tony Designations of Origin related to wine and other agricultural products. While all of them were very formal in their manner, they conveyed their pleasure with half smiles and graciousness. Jacqueline heard effusive feedback the following morning.
That finally cracked Madison’s protective walls.
And then her favorite Latin singers dined at Nanine’s on Saturday night and enjoyed their meal so much they invited her to visit their private table upstairs so they could compliment her on the meal.
When Madison got home that night, she threw her arms around Kyle’s neck, all smiles, and said, “Okay, you’ve got me. Having those guests eat at Nanine’s tonight is now at the top of my list.”
You’d better believe the ice cream came out after that.
Sunday rolled in with a surprising March snow shower, and he wrapped his arms around her as they stood in the doorway of the house watching Spike leap into the air at the falling snowflakes.
“He really is a cute little guy, isn’t he?” she commented wistfully, leaning back against him, all soft and warm. “I’m becoming something I would have bet a million dollars I’d never become. A dog lover. Pierre was kinda like my gateway animal.”
Kyle kissed the side of her throat, thinking today was like their own personal slice of heaven. The rest of the world felt far away—even though the Michelin stars would be announced in two weeks. He shoved that thought back into a corner. For today and tomorrow, he had Madison away from work, even though her tension was evident. He planned to enjoy every minute with her.
“What would you like to do today?” he asked, chuckling when Spike shook snowflakes off his nose. “Before we head to Dean and Jacqueline’s for Sunday dinner?”
She glanced back. “Are you going to want to take a romantic walk in the snow?”
He snuggled closer to her. “I don’t need to. Do you want to watch a movie on the couch?”
Her hands tightened on the arms he had around her. “I could do that.”
If she wasn’t fussing with something in the kitchen—because you really could never take the chef out of the kitchen—she actually enjoyed sitting down for a movie. Usually, it took her about ten minutes to completely relax. Action flicks were her favorite. They’d discovered a shared love for Denzel Washington’s movies. Kyle suspected she liked them because the actor usually played a character pursuing justice. Good typically won out in the end, even if it was a little bloody. His Mad did love her cleaver.
“How does the nextEqualizermovie sound?”
“Perfect.” She laughed when Spike started pawing at the snowflakes on his nose. “How do you feel about popcorn? I have this recipe that involves butter, Tabasco, and cayenne.”
He thought of the BBQ she’d made him the other night. While he knew it had been an apology—unnecessary, to his mind—he’d loved the thoughtfulness of her choice. “You know I love spice.”
“I do now.” She turned in his arms and linked her hands behind his neck, the strain on her face harder to ignore every day as the announcement loomed. “You also love Tex-Mex and everything I can dish out from Miami.”
He wished her golden eyes would crinkle more from smiling. “Well, I’m from Austin, and I love food. All kinds, but yours most of all.”
Her kiss was short and fast, like she was still testing the depth of their affection outside the bedroom, where they usually tore each other’s clothes off. Madison gave more hugs now—endured them mostly—with him and his roommates, but it was light years ahead of where she’d been when he’dfirst met her in Paris. She was still a badass rebel, but he was in her inner circle, along with the rest of their family.
And my how he loved her…
“Days like this feel almost perfect,” he commented, kissing her softly again.
“People really go nuts for snow.” She looked up, giving him the tantalizing line of her cheekbone to rub his lips against. “I mean, I’m from Miami, so I can see why it’s cool. Then again, if white stuff started falling to the ground in Miami, people would think it was cocaine from some dirigible that had exploded in the sky.”
He puffed out a laugh. “God, you’re so funny. I might have to pick you up and carry you inside to show you how much I appreciate that.”
She braced as he lifted her, scowling. “Ah… Carrying me is a little weird.”
