Chapter 25
Bruno smoothed moisturizer into his freshly shaved jawline and then dressed in his black tuxedo. He made a final check in the mirror, brushing a piece of lint from the jacket.
While Marissa had gone to the West Coast office of Executive Match, Inc., he had visited hisrestaurants. Had his brother been in L.A., he would have spent time with him, but Ignacio was out of town doing publicity for a project. Bruno and Marissa had only seen each other briefly when they returned to the house, but he couldn’t wait to see what she looked like in formal wear and the jewelry she purchased.
He’d had his jeweler contact her before they left to make sure she had the right jewelry for the trip. She had protested, of course, but after he explained the importance of having those final pieces to complete the outfit, she acquiesced.
Luckily, he didn’t have to wait long to see the final result. When he exited the bedroom, Marissa came down the hall from the guest room at the same time. He stopped to watch her walk toward him in a one-shoulder, red satin sheath dress with an overskirt attached at the waist. The design showed off her womanly shape, and the red color looked amazing against her skin. Red was definitely her color.
She wore her hair down in a tumble of bouncy, full curls and wore gold and ruby teardrop earrings in her ears and the matching bracelet on her right wrist. She stopped several feet away, a gold clutch in her hand.
“This is what your money bought. What do you think?” She turned in a circle and gave him the full view.
Of course her ass looked fantastic. He bit his bottom lip.
“Money well spent,” Bruno said.
He extended his arm to her, and they took the stairs to the first floor. He decided to drive tonight, so they took his candy-red Ferrari 812 GTS.
“My brother is going to die when I tell him I’ve ridden in this car,” Marissa said, as he held the door open for her.
Bruno went around to the driver side. As he settled in the seat, he asked, “Is this his dream car?”
Marissa nodded, smoothing a hand over the leather seat. “A Ferrari is his dream car. He knows everything about them and has drooled over the new models every year, saying that one day when he suffers from a midlife crisis and his kids are grown, he’ll mortgage the house and buy one.”
Bruno chuckled as he started the vehicle.
“Nice cufflinks.” Marissa traced the gold and black pearl design.
“Thank you. Rose gave them to me when I was nominated for my first James Beard Award years ago. I won for Best Emerging Chef. It’s become a tradition for me to wear them to every award ceremony.”
“So, they’re sort of your lucky cufflinks?” Marissa asked.
Bruno rested one hand on the steering wheel and let his eyes trail over her, taking in the exquisite image of her in the seat—the big, sexy hair, the red dress and red lips, the jewelry.
“Yes, and I’m hoping I get lucky tonight.” He revved the engine and pulled out of the garage.
When they arrived at the venue, a formal red carpet with photographers was waiting. Bruno couldn’t help but feel proud of the woman on his arm. Marissa looked incredible. She had decided not to wear her glasses tonight. He told her she could, but she insisted she could see fine without them.
On the red carpet, she leaned on his arm, smiling for the photographers before Bruno took her hand and led her inside. Once inside, they circulated among the guests, and he introduced her to other chefs and restaurateurs. One in particular he was happy to see. Esteban Galiano, from Miami, with his wife, Sonia—a well-known sommelier and a golden-skinned beauty with a pixie cut.
“I thought you weren’t able to come this year,” he said to Esteban, a native of Argentina and his competition for Outstanding Restaurateur.
“I didn’t think we would, but our plans changed, and now, here we are.”
“Hello, Sonia.” Bruno leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Introductions were made and then Esteban and Bruno stepped aside to discuss business while the two women talked. Bruno asked his friend’s opinion about a particular investor group interested in doing business with him since he knew Esteban had done business with them in the past.
As he and Esteban talked, his gaze drifted to where Sonia and Marissa were chatting. A warm feeling filled his abdomen at the sight of her engaging with the other woman. She was naturally a good conversationalist because of her work as a matchmaker, but that’s not why this odd sensation filled his insides. It was because being here with her felt natural. Everything about the entire evening felt natural, including holding her hand as he led her into the ballroom.
He wasn’t simply attracted to the outer shell of this woman. He was attracted to the inner person. Her wittiness. Her ability to engage him and others. Awareness struck him like a lightning bolt. She was the perfect companion.
How did she feel being here at this event? How did she feel about him? Would she allow herself to break the rules and get involved with a client?
After a few more minutes of conversation, during which he collected information from Esteban that would be helpful in his meeting with the investors, Bruno walked over to Marissa, and they continued their movement through the party.
“I hope you’re having a good time,” he said quietly.
“I am. This is all extremely exciting. When does the actual awards show start?” she asked.
“Not for another half an hour. This is the pre-awards period, which is an opportunity for everyone to network and catch up.”
Glancing at the door, he saw Ivy Johnson, head of the restaurant arm of Johnson Enterprises, headquartered in Seattle.
Regal and elegant, the dark-skinned beauty approached with a tall, bearded man by her side.
“Hello, Bruno, good to see you again.”
She gave his hand a firm shake.
“Good to see you. This is my guest, Marissa Liburd.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Ivy Johnson. Bruno, I don’t believe you’ve met my husband, Lucas.”
Lucas and Ivy had married after a scandal rocked the Johnson family when Lucas found out he was the biological father of her daughter. Since then, the news had died down about the couple. They settled into quieter, matrimonial bliss and had added a son to their family.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Lucas said.
“Only good things, I’m sure,” Bruno said.
Ivy laughed. “I try to be nice, but you’re the competition, although we’re not competing in the same categories this year.”
“Healthy competition is good, don’t you agree?”
“Mhmm.” A smile touched her lips.
“How are the kids?” Bruno asked.
She and Lucas laughed.
“A handful,” her husband said.
“As most kids are. Sometimes I wonder about the headaches we caused our own parents,” Ivy added.
“I have selective memory where that’s concerned,” Bruno said.
Marissa shot him a look, and he chuckled.
“Uh-oh, I know exactly where to get the truth about you,” Ivy said with a teasing laugh.
“We’ve all made mistakes when we were young and dumb,” Marissa said, smiling up at him.
“True, myself included,” Ivy admitted. “The kids are well. Katie—she’s my oldest,” she said by way of explanation to Marissa, “—won an equestrian competition last week. We’re excited and hope she’ll continue practicing and competing. Our son has decided he wants to be a firefighter and an astronaut.”
“Both?” Marissa asked.
Ivy nodded. “Both.”
They all laughed.
“Well, he’s thinking ahead. It’s not a bad idea to have diversified income, and this way he has something to fall back on. If the firefighting doesn’t work out, he can rely on the astronaut income, and vice versa.”
“That’s how we should think of it,” Lucas said, slipping an arm around Ivy’s waist.
“Marissa’s son is obsessed with Spiderman and what… a couple of months ago he ended up in the hospital leaping around like the superhero?”
She nodded. “You can imagine my panic.”
“Oh, I absolutely can,” Ivy said with a laugh.
“How is your mother?” Bruno asked.
“Mother is fine and busy spoiling her ever-expanding brood of grandchildren.”
“I believe my mother envies her.”
“I heard Audra and Damon adopted recently…?” Ivy inquired.
“They did. A boy and a girl.”
“Your family is expanding too.”
“Yes, we are.”
Ivy placed a hand against his arm. “I won’t keep you any longer. I’m sure you need to make your rounds. It was good to see you.”
She leaned in for a hug, and they briefly embraced.
“Next time you’re in Atlanta, stop by Garlique and make sure you let me know.”
“I will. Nice to meet you, Marissa,” Ivy said.
She and her husband walked away.
“Ivy runs the restaurant group of her family’s conglomerate, which is why she and I have a friendly competition going,” Bruno explained. “The Brew Pub is a chain that competes directly with Bruno’s Tavern. I admit to eating there and enjoying their smothered fries. She also manages Ivy’s, the fine-dining chain named after her. But, though those two restaurants are successful, most of the family’s money comes from beer.”
Marissa’s eyebrows knitted together. “Beer?”
Bruno nodded. “The Johnsons own the largest beer company in the country, and it’s privately held. Full Moon Beer.”
Marissa’s mouth fell open, and her eyes found Ivy and Lucas across the room. “Her family owns Full Moon?”
Bruno nodded. “Let’s find our seat,” he said, taking her hand again, which fit perfectly inside his.
He led them to their table near the stage. Soon, the lights dimmed, and the MC came out to the podium.
Dressed in a tuxedo, he grinned as he surveyed the well-dressed crowd.
“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the James Beard Awards!”