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Ariel tried to sound nonchalant as she answered. “I inherited it from my father. Well, my sister did, and it was passed to me when I decided to renovate and open the business—the Seaside was my ultimate goal. I come from a culinary background.”
“That’s interesting,” Emily said, nodding. “My dinner last night was out of this world. Is that the kind of cuisine you specialize in?”
Ariel was caught off guard for a moment. She didn’t usually talk about her background with guests, especially not with nosy ones like Emily. But she decided to go along with it. Maybe Emily would slip and reveal whether or not she was here with the knowledge that Ariel and Miles were a thing. Right now, it was still a mystery.
“I studied French cuisine in culinary school, but I’ve worked in all sorts of kitchens since then. I spent the last huge chunk of my career at a frozen foods company called Opulent Ice, until they decided that my quality concerns were no longer welcome in their product lines. It’s one of the reasons I came here to open my own place. My rules. My standards. At the Seaside, we focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.”
Emily folded her arms loosely across her chest, smiling at Ariel. “What’s your favorite dish to make?”
Ariel thought for a moment before answering, relaxing slightly. It felt more like she was talking with a friend than an enemy. But was that calculated—something to throw Ariel off? “I’d have to say bouillabaisse. It’s a classic French fish stew that we make with whatever fresh seafood we can find that day. We’re having it as the starter for tonight, along with a swiss chard and roasted garlic salad.”
“That sounds amazing,” Emily said, clearly impressed. “I’ll have to try it when I come for dinner.” Emily paused before asking, “Listen, I have another reason I came to find you.”
“Oh?” Ariel stood from her work, tensing again.
“Yes. I took a walk around the gardens yesterday, and you have some beautiful flowers. But there’s one big section near the back that’s an old vegetable garden. Have you seen it?”
Ariel had. In fact, it was on her list of to-dos to get it weeded and amended and start to grow her own herbs and things for the café. “I know it,” Ariel answered.
“Can I work in it?” Emily asked. “I know it’s an odd request, but I’m actually a horticulturist by trade, and I would love to see what’s gone wild out in that plot.”
“I suppose,” Ariel said. “There’s a garden shed at the back, too. Shovels and other tools in there. You’re welcome to use any of it. I’ve never had a guest ask to work before.”
Emily laughed. “I’m a plant nerd, what can I say?” She gave the doorframe a tap. “Well, I won’t keep you from your renovations any longer. I’m sure they’re going to turn out great.” She was still smiling. “I’m looking forward to trying your bouillabaisse.”
Ariel gave her a tight smile. “Thanks.”
As soon as she vanished, Ariel sighed inwardly. It seemed like there was no getting rid of Emily. Ariel would just have to deal with her curiosity and hope that she didn’t pry too much—or that she wasn’t just gathering information for Stanton.
Ariel was relieved to hear the ringing of her phone. The screen showed Miles’s name, and Ariel snatched up her device. She answered the call and put on her best cheerful voice.
"Miles! What's up?" Ariel said, trying to sound casual.
"I just wanted to check in and see how everything's going," Miles replied. He didn’t sound anything other than normal—which sent a wave of relief through Ariel.
“I was worried about you,” Ariel admitted. “I texted this morning.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m actually—I’m really embarrassed by how I ran off when I found out Emily was there. I should have just gone out and confronted her instead of bolting. I mean, how juvenile.”
Ariel thought better of her plan to tell him about her and Charlie following Emily to the marina. “It’s okay. I was freaked out, so you had to be majorly freaked out. Are you really okay, or are you just saying that to be macho and manly and not share your feelings?”
He laughed, and the sound reverberated through her and warmed her. “Either way, I promise not to pull a track and field from your house again.”
“Good,” she said.
“And that’s because…” he continued, trailing off and pausing before finishing. “I don’t feel comfortable coming back up to Leeside as long as Emily is staying there.”
“Miles! What about how you should have been brave and marched out there and confronted her? She could be a plant, you know. She could have been sent by Stanton to mess with me. And she’s just here gathering all sorts of intel on me. Maybe Stanton figured out what would cause me the most stress, being without you, so he found a spy that could get the inside scoop all while driving my blood pressure through the roof.”
“Sweetie, Stanton is evil, but he’s not evil enough to go as far as digging up my ex-wife to come and get between us.”
“No? He’s gotten between Katie and Connor,” Ariel said, giving him the short version of what had transpired between Connor and his father.
“Yikes. How are you guys dealing with that?”
“Katie is watching lots of reality TV in my room, and I’m starting the reno on that back bathroom with the ugly wallpaper.”
“Oooh, a tough one. How’s it going?” There was regret in his voice—and Ariel could tell that he felt guilty for not being at Leeside to help her. Whatever his aversion to confronting Emily, it was strong enough that his normally white-knight personality had given way to whatever this new reluctance was.
