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Kaylee shook her head. “You’ve already been far too generous with your time today. Tomorrow is soon enough.”
“I won’t hear of it.” Isabelle’s tone was resolute, and he echoed the sentiment. This needed to happen today.
“Just give me a call. We have lunch reservations.”
“We do?” Kaylee asked as Isabelle plucked the precious gem from its metal cradle and slid the empty setting from her finger.
“At the Bourbon Brasserie.”
Instead of smiling her delight, Kaylee folded her arms, silently expressing her opinion of his choice. Was another argument brewing between them?
After finishing up with Isabelle and Jean Claude, he and Kaylee stepped outside the store, and he addressed her reaction straight up. “Do you have objections to my choice of restaurant?”
“Besides the price and stuffy atmosphere?”
Despite himself, a smile tugged at his lips.“Stuffy?The place is one of the most highly regarded in the Crescent City.” And boasted a Michelin-rated chef. He’d called himself to get the reservations instead of having Jolly take care of the booking.
“I’d rather go somewhere else.”
Greta had loved being seen at Bourbon Brasserie while the beautiful, defiant woman in front of him provided one surprise after another. But practicing being the thoughtful husband his grandmother would expect, Frost overrode his instincts and instead asked, “What would you prefer?”
“Grandma’s Kitchen. Do you know it?”
“I’ve been there once.” For the premier of Mason and Hannah Sullivan’s home improvement show. The historic restaurant was a locals’ favorite, famous for its homestyle cooking in a laid-back atmosphere. Wasn’t his first—or even second—choice after visiting a high-end jewelry store and selecting an engagement ring, but having Kaylee Robbins in his life meant he had to learn to compromise.
“Well, then you know how good it is.”
He couldn’t argue with that. It was also noisy and crowded, and it certainly wasn’t a foodie’s delight like the Bourbon.
Since the restaurant Kaylee wanted wasn’t within walking distance, he sent a message to Jennings before tapping a button on his Bonds watch and instructing his chief of staff to cancel their lunch reservations.
Kaylee tipped her head to one side.
“My other assistant,” he explained. “Known as Jolly.”
She laughed. “In honor of Christmas?”
“No. It’s not a name I would have ever selected.” He preferred something a little more elegant. “I’m afraid that’s another of Bonds’s attempts at humor.”
“Bonds? As in Julien Bonds? The genius himself?”
After his experiences with Jolly’s personality—such as it was—Frost wasn’t sure he’d call the man a genius. “He’s an acquaintance, nothing more.”
“Who are you, Mr. Frost? A man of mystery?”
“That’s why we’re spending time together.” Intentionally he leaned toward her. “So you can find out.”
Her breath caught, and the sound elated him. Last night, he’d uncovered a few of her secrets, and he planned to discover even more.
When they reached the restaurant and exited the vehicle, Kaylee invited the driver to join them for lunch. “I think you’d enjoy it, Mr. Jennings. The desserts are amazing.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Jennings tipped his hat. “But I already ate.”
In a million years, it wouldn’t have occurred to Frost to ask that question.
The interior of the restaurant was loud, with Zydeco Christmas music rocking through the atmosphere. Though the place was ridiculously crowded, the hostess greeted Kaylee by name and gave her a huge hug before grabbing two menus.
“You finally break away from that asshole boss of yours long enough to sit down for a while? I swear you’ve lost weight since he took over.”
