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He talked a little more about Aiden’s spices and sauces that were selling online now too. Right now they were made and bottled in the kitchen, but there were talks about finding space to do it elsewhere.
It was still amazing to him how big his cousins’ business had grown since his uncle started it years ago as a pub.
When four thirty rolled around, they were done with their meeting, Ella was getting ready to leave, and Kendra was shutting down her computer.
He was in her office. “I thought we could have dinner in the restaurant tonight.”
“We don’t have to do that,” she said. “The pub is good. It’s not open yet either.”
“It will open in thirty minutes,” he said. “We go have a drink at the pub and hang out with Brody, then get in right away to the restaurant. On a Tuesday and being here early we’ll be in and out.”
“It’s too expensive,” she said.
He laughed at her. “Stop. Let me splurge on you. I don’t need my family riding my butt on being cheap again.”
She moved away from her desk and closer to him, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “You’re not cheap. You’re practical and frugal like me. But you know what? I’m going to take you up on eating in the restaurant because I’m dying to try it. It used to be so hard to work up here and smell the food daily, but now I’m used to it.”
“I’m not sure how I’d feel smelling it all the time. I think that is why I used to eat before I came here so I wasn’t hungry.”
He always thought he had a lot of willpower, but his cousin’s cooking might get him every time if he was hungry.
“Did it work?” she asked.
“Most times.”
They left the office upstairs and then went to the bar after telling the hostess they were here for dinner in the restaurant.
“Sweet,” Brody said. “I’ve got it that my mother will show up before you sit down to dinner.” He was rubbing his hands together. “What can I get you to drink?”
“You’ve got twenty-five minutes then,” Kendra said. “We are eating in the back.”
“Ivan, you’re opening your wallet tonight,” Brody said.
“Asshole,” he said, laughing. “I’ll take Mason’s brew with the bourbon in it. I should try it since I’m working on it.”
“One Twisted Fierce coming up,” Brody said. “This one should have been named after my mother.”
“That’s not nice,” Aimee said, coming from the back. He knew Aimee didn’t always man the bar but did more paperwork and scheduling. She was gone by five most days so expected she’d be leaving. “Your mother is only having fun. And I’ve got her before you sit down for dinner too. Why do we always think alike, Brody?”
“Because you love me and get the vibes and signals I send out to you. Guess we’ll have to split it if we win. Cade made me pick a time since he said before dinner too. I’ve got four-fifty. What about you?”
“Five,” Aimee said. “I’ll stay an extra five minutes and then I’m out of here. Cade had four thirty, so he lost. What did everyone else have?”
“Ella had after we were home tonight. She wanted to be different,” Ivan said. “Kendra has during dinner and I picked dessert. Aiden called Nic, who picked during dinner too, but before the meal was served. Aiden said after dessert, before the bill. That your mother would deliver the bill to us. I forgot what Liam and Margo had.”
“That’s oddly specific,” Brody said. “I wouldn’t put it past Aiden to set it up that way.”
“You’re being a good sport about this,” Aimee said to Kendra.
“It’s fun. I feel almost accepted in a way rather than anyone being mad we kept it from you all.”
“We’ve all been there and knew it was going to happen,” Brody said. “Sorry, and don’t tell my mother this, but she’s right on every time. It’s only a matter of when it starts, not if.”
Ivan shook his head. They had their drinks and talked until five, then were seated for dinner.
Aiden came over to say hi; Liam popped his head out too to wave. It was comical in a way that Ivan was center stage.
He’d been in the building now for a few hours and was shocked his aunt hadn’t shown up before now.
