Chapter 29
As Marissa approached the front of Garlique, she spotted her brother about to enter.
“John!” she called out.
He turned, and a wide grin spread across his face. She ran into his arms, and he lifted her off the ground in a tight squeeze.
“Look at you,” she gushed, cupping his face in both her hands.
The last time she saw him in person was six months ago when she went to visit him in Arizona. He’d fallen ill and lost a scary amount of weight. She had hardly recognized her younger brother and had been frightened she would lose him, her closest family member. He had recovered and now looked more like his old self.
His skin was the same russet-brown complexion as hers, and everyone said they had the same eyes.
“Look at you. You’re practically glowing,” he commented.
“Am I? I guess we’re both in a good place at the moment.”
They walked into the restaurant side by side.
“What made you decide to pick this restaurant?” John asked once they settled at their table.
“It’s a friend’s restaurant. I’ve had food from here before, and they won a James Beard award last week.”
Her brother frowned. “James Beard… that’s a restaurant award or something?”
“Yes, there are more than one, and they’re awarded annually to chefs and restaurants in different categories.”
“You seem to know a lot about it.”
“Because of my friend,” Marissa said.
She and Bruno had spent an unforgettable weekend together and intended to continue seeing each other, but she hesitated to tell her brother about the relationship. It was so new.
John scanned the menu. “Well, the food better be damn good because these prices are outrageous.”
“Don’t worry about the cost. I’m paying.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Life must really be good.”
Marissa laughed. “I can splurge every now and again, especially since my little brother is in town.”
“Are you still saving for the house?”
She nodded. “I went driving through Prairie Summit subdivision the other day, a cute neighborhood with a lake, and all the houses have nice big yards. I ran across some kids playing in the street. It was idyllic—exactly the kind of place I want to raise Theo in.”
John closed the menu. Unlike her, he was decisive about his meal choices.
“When do you think you’ll be ready to move?”
“I want to start seriously looking around the end of summer, early fall. That way, we can hopefully be in our new place by the holidays. I would love to be decorating my new house with a Christmas tree and lights.”
“Lily and I are looking forward to that too.”
“Are you still liking your new place?”
Her brother had purchased a house in the spring.
He nodded. “The girls are, as well. They love the teachers at the new school and have made a bunch of new friends.”
“They better enjoy the school, for what you’re paying.”
“Tell me about it, but the cost is worth it. They’re learning a lot, and as far as the neighborhood, we couldn’t ask for a better place. We have mostly families around us, and we’ve become real good friends with a family across the street from us. They have three kids and a dog that the girls have practically fallen in love with.”
“I guess they’ve been asking for a dog?”
He nodded. “Unfortunately.”
Listening to her brother talk made her look forward even more to when her time came to purchase her house and someday expand her own family. The life he led now was much different from what they experienced growing up.
“But they’re going to have to wait on the dog because they’re about to have a little brother.”
Marissa gasped. “What? Ohmigod, when did this happen?”
John chuckled. “Lily’s five months pregnant. We wanted to wait until she was safely in the second trimester before we shared the news. Our family’s growing.”
John and Lily had been together since high school, and when Lily had followed him to the same college, Marissa had been concerned. They had both started dating young, and neither had been with anyone else. But their relationship had blossomed, and after they graduated college, they moved to Arizona and got married.
They clearly belonged together. She only wished she’d been able to find the love of her life as easily as her brother did.
“I’m so happy for you.” Marissa squeezed his hand.
“Thanks, sis.”
The waiter came to the table and took their orders. Then he left them alone again.
“What’s going on with you? Have you met anyone or is the matchmaker still unmatched?”
“Please don’t start. I get enough of that from Lark. I’m sort of seeing someone, but the relationship is new so there isn’t much to tell.”
“I guess Chet doesn’t know?”
Marissa rolled her eyes. “No, and I don’t plan to tell him anytime soon. Like I said, the relationship is pretty new, and I don’t need his drama.”
“He can go screw himself. You have a right to date anyone you want to. I’m sure he isn’t living a celibate life,” John muttered.
Ever since John found out Chet cheated on her, he’d disliked him intensely.
Marissa spotted a familiar tall figure coming out of the kitchen, and her heart stopped. She hadn’t told Bruno she was coming here, and coincidentally, there he was.
“What are you looking at?” John asked.
“The owner of the restaurant is here.”
“Your friend?” Her brother twisted in his chair to get a good look. “The guy in the black shirt?”
“Yes.”
Bruno was talking to a woman dressed in a suit, probably the general manager. Her eyes locked with his, and for one charged moment, she couldn’t breathe.
He said something to the woman, she replied, and he nodded and then started across the restaurant.
“He’s coming over,” Marissa said, lowering her eyes to the tablecloth.
“Is that good or bad?” her brother asked slowly.
Before she could answer, Bruno arrived at the table.
“Good evening,” he said.
“Hi,” Marissa greeted him.
“What a surprise to see you here,” he said.
Then he looked between her and her brother, clearly waiting for an introduction.
John extended his hand. “I’m John, Marissa’s brother.”
“Nice to meet you. Bruno Santana. You’re visiting from out of town, isn’t that correct?”
“Yes, I’m here for a dental convention. Marissa decided to bring me to your restaurant. She said the food is excellent, and the restaurant won a James Beard award.”
“Yes, we did. We’re very proud of that accomplishment, and I hope you enjoy your meal.”
“I’m sure we will.”
“Allow me to influence you with a free meal. You can have anything you want, on me.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Marissa said.
“I insist,” Bruno said.
John grinned. “Thank you. Although if you know my sister, you know she’s a huge foodie, and you can’t influence her opinion with a free meal. She either likes the food or she doesn’t.”
“True, and I appreciate her hearty appetite.”
His heated gaze rested on her. Her brother didn’t pick up on the double entendre, thank goodness, but she sure did.
“I don’t want to disturb your dinner,” Bruno continued. “I sometimes pop into my restaurants to keep the staff on their toes. I’ll leave you alone and make sure the manager knows your money is no good here.”
“Thank you,” Marissa said.
“You’re welcome.” Bruno’s fingers brushed her arm and wreaked havoc with her insides before he walked away.
Her brother frowned at her. “Did he say restaurants, as in more than one?”
Marissa nodded.
John narrowed his eyes. “What’s up with you and that guy?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, he’s sure as hell not ugly, and I don’t know… I get the feeling the two of you were holding back in front of me. You say you’re friends, but you were acting kinda odd.”
“Were we?” Marissa sipped her water.
“You like him. Wait a minute…” John leaned across the table, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Is he the new guy you’re dating?”
“How did you figure that out so quickly?”
“Because I know you. What’s the deal with this Bruno guy?”
“You have to promise not to tell anyone,” Marissa said.
“I promise.”
“He was one of my clients. I was supposed to find him a wife.”
John’s eyes widened. “But you’re not supposed to?—”
“Exactly. We’re keeping our relationship low key for now. After a year passes, being involved shouldn’t be a problem.”
“This is a shock.”
“I know.”
John smiled. “But I’m happy for you. I mean, the guy must have some money if he owns this place and what… one or two more?”
“Actually, he owns dozens of restaurants around the world through his restaurant group, and he has other business ventures related to being a chef and restaurateur. He’s a billionaire, and the reason I know about the James Beard Awards is because I attended the ceremony with him last week.”
“What?”
Marissa giggled at the shock on her brother’s face and launched into a summary of how she and Bruno met and ended with the award ceremony in California.
When she finished, his mouth was hanging open.
“I gotta say, this isn’t the behavior of my levelheaded sister, but I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”
“Do I? I’m not one hundred percent sure I’m making the right decision. I keep hoping our parents’ bad decision making didn’t rub off on me. They should have never gotten married and never had kids. I don’t want to be anything like them, John. I want to be normal and raise my child in a good, safe environment.”
“What are you talking about? You’re nothing like them. Neither of us are. Somehow, we ended up normal despite having two negligent parents.”
They’d gone through a lot as kids. While they didn’t have nearly the traumatic experience some people did, their dysfunctional childhood meant going to bed hungry some nights or jolting from sleep to the sound of their parents yelling at each other.
Because of all they’d endured, Marissa and John were extremely close. When he got married, he didn’t have a best man. She stood beside him instead. Their bond was unshakeable.
“How do you think we managed to turn out normal?” Marissa asked.
“The grace of God,” John said in a solemn voice.
“Amen,” Marissa murmured.
“You think he’s the man for you?”
“I’m not thinking that far ahead. He might be one of those people placed in my life for a season, and I’m going to enjoy him while I can.”