“You’re three powerhouses,” Whitley said, smiling. “I believe you’ll find them in the cafe, plotting to take over the world.”
“Yes, we are,” she said, laughing. “Don’t tell anyone.”
Whitley had always been courteous and helpful with a subtle sense of humor. She couldn’t imagine the Majestic without him.
Jo walked through the hotel, admiring the plush furnishings her customer, Deb, had chosen. Junie worked at her own shop on the grounds, and Maileah was managing a special promotional project for Ryan and his team. That is, when she wasn’t managing Sailor’s promotional appearances.
Maileah and Sailor were engaged, and Jo knew they’d worked out problems in their relationship. They seemed happy now. They were nonconformists, living the lives they wanted, so maybe they weren’t bothered by what others thought.
The hotel’s ocean-facing patio hummed with summer crowds. Families lingered over late lunches, and children chased each other between the tables. A group of women in chic swim coverups were sharing stories and laughing.
Beyond the terrace, the Pacific Ocean glittered under a clear sky, and sailboats tilted in the wind. On the beach, kids in colorful rash guards paddled on surfboards in the shallows. Sailor used to teach those lessons. Now someone else ran them, just as someone else managed the bike rental concession he’d handled for his father. Sailor had moved on to bigger waves, and the island had filled in behind him.
Sort of like she had with Cuppa Jo’s, which had once been called Island Break. She’d changed the name to make it hers.
Jo spotted Junie and Maileah at a table under a marine-blue umbrella. Junie had her laptop open, and Maileah was typing on her phone, likely managing something for Sailor’s growing profile.
“Give me one more minute,” Jo told Junie and Maileah, heading toward the kitchen.
She found Chef Gianna in her office reviewing a catering job menu. The executive chef was from the Amalfi Coast, and she ran the Majestic’s kitchen with precision, high standards, and little patience for excuses. Her dark hair was wound into a bun, and her white chef jacket was spotless.
“Hi, Chef,” Jo said, tapping on the open door to her office. Sometimes Gianna came to Cuppa Jo’s late at night for a Stilton cheeseburger with sautéed onions. Her guilty pleasure, she’d told Jo. “Do you have a minute?”
Gianna looked up. “For you, I’ll make it two. What’s up?”
Jo placed a small burlap bag on the counter. Inside were three sample pouches, each labeled in Jo’s handwriting. “I’d love your honest opinion on these new coffees. No rush. Whenever you have time.”
Jo briefly told her about each one and her plans to offer them at Cuppa Jo’s.
Gianna picked up the bag and looked at the labels. “People always say they want my honest opinion. Then they don’t.”
“I do. I need your blunt assessment, so I don’t make a fool of myself.”
Gianna held each bag to her nose. “Hmm, very flavorful. All right. I’ll try them and tell you what I think.”
“Fair enough. Thank you.”
Jo understood. Running a kitchen staff required tough skin and clear judgment. Gianna wouldn’t sugarcoat her opinion, and that was exactly what Jo wanted. If the coffee was good enough for the Majestic’s chef, it would be good enough for Jo’s customers.
Sometimes Jo liked her cooking too much. Like the tropical banana burger that failed miserably. None of her customers could understand fried bananas on a burger. She didn’t want to delude herself on a project she would sink so much time and money into.
“You’re back,” Junie said. “Have a seat. We’re drinking mojito mocktails—cocktails without the alcohol. Want one?”
“Sure, I still have work to do,” Jo replied, placing Rocky’s folder on the table.
Maileah poured one for her.
The chilled blend of muddled citrus, soda, and mint was cool and refreshing.
“Is that the project you and Rocky were going over at the sushi place?” Junie asked.
Jo was surprised. “You heard about it, too?”
“Small island, but I told her,” Maileah said. “Rocky mentioned it later when he returned to Sailor’s house. He thinks you have a great plan. That means a lot coming from him. He was a whiz kid at university.”
“I didn’t know that,” Jo said. “Surely he had some job offers, then.”
“Rocky is looking for a unique opportunity,” Maileah said. “He’s a smart guy.”
