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“This is beautiful,” I whisper.
“Do you really think so?” she asks, her blue eyes searching my face. “I want it to be inviting but not pretentious. It needs to feel like an escape from the frenzy of Manhattan.”
As the door shuts behind me, the city’s noises are muted.
I turn toward her. “It’s exactly like that.”
“Good.” She rubs her hands together. “I’ve prepared a little bite of everything that will be on the menu. I hope you’re hungry.”
I glance around. “I’m starving. Where is everyone else?”
A light laugh bubbles out of her. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“I’m lost.” I let out a nervous chuckle. “All I know is that I received an invitation to come here, so I showed up.”
Her hand leaps to my shoulder. “I’m so happy that you did. Rome will be too.”
Rome.
Is she talking about Roman?
I open my mouth to ask the question but slam it shut immediately when I see someone move in the kitchen. I only catch his profile, but I’d recognize him anywhere.
Roman turns just in time to catch the smile that’s sliding over my lips.
I wave a hand in the air. “Hey!”
“Bianca,” he calls my name out with the slightest growl in his tone. “I’m so glad you made it.”
I am too.
Chapter 23
Roman
“Cousins?” Bianca’s brows perk. “You’re cousins?”
I swear I hear the faintest hint of relief in her tone.
Annalise nods. “We’re business partners now too. I’ve always wanted to open my own restaurant.”
The first I heard about it was when the guy Annalise was supposed to marry broke it off right before the wedding. It was a wake-up call for her. Not only did she realize that Myles, her ex-fiancé, wasn’t right for her, but she also reevaluated her career choice.
Until that time, Annalise had buried her dreams of being a professional chef beneath her success as a model. She’s graced the covers of magazines worldwide and appeared in the runway shows of some of the biggest names in fashion.
All of that changed when she hit restart on her life. She enrolled in culinary school, went to work in the kitchen of Nova as a sous chef, and crafted out a plan for her own bistro.
I wanted to invest. Annalise has rare skills in the kitchen. She intuitively knows how to create food that is not only delicious but a feast for the eyes. I expect some bumps in the road, but Lise has a shot at finding a spot in New York’s crowded culinary market.
Bianca’s gaze travels the intimate space. “I think you’ve got something special here, and judging by what I’m smelling, the food is going to taste as good as this place looks.”
Annalise motions toward the single table that’s set for dinner. “Feel free to take a seat.”
She opted for a yellow rose centerpiece that’s set in a short round vase. The dinnerware is white with silver trim around the edge of the plates. The glassware is simple but elegant.
I never saw myself becoming a silent partner in an eatery, but I’m glad I opted in. I’m proud of this place and happy that I could play a small part in helping my cousin turn her passion into a career.
I motion for Bianca to lead the way. She does just that as her ass sways beneath the dress she’s wearing.
She’s stunning. The fact that she didn’t know what she was walking into speaks of her curiosity and willingness to dive headfirst into an adventure.
We’ve got that in common. I’ve embarked on my share of adventures in the past that I went into without a clue where I was headed.
All of those worked out well for me.
I hope to hell tonight does too.
***
“When do you officially open?” Bianca questions Annalise. “I’m going to tell everyone I know to come here.”
Annalise’s face brightens with a wide smile. “Seriously? You’d do that?”
“I need to.” Bianca laughs. “Anyone who doesn’t experience the food here is missing out. I can’t describe how good everything tastes.”
“Try,” I bite out.
Her gaze darts to me. “Superb? Phenomenal? Out of this world?”
“Sublime?” I offer.
Annalise cups her hands to her chest. “You’re both being too kind.”
Bianca points at the empty plate in front of her. “I ate every last bite. It was all that good.”
We were served sample portions of at least a dozen dishes that Annalise plans on offering. She’ll circulate them out every few weeks to keep patron interest high, but anything that’s in demand will earn a permanent spot on the menu.
She’s explained all of this to me time and time again. I’ve listened closely, but at the end of the day, I signed off on giving her control of the day-to-day operations. I may have bankrolled part of this endeavor, but Annalise is the captain of this ship.
“When we have the actual soft launch, you’ll come?” Annalise asks Bianca. “It won’t be for another month, but I’m putting the guest list together now. Can I add you?”
