Chapter 32
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
Kyle pulled Madison to his chest when she finally came home, happiness shooting up inside him like bottle rockets. “I heard Thea told you the great news.”
Her arms came around him after she set Pierre’s cage on the ground. “She did…”
Okay, so she wasn’t as happy as he was. That was fine.
He had enough good feelings for both of them.
“I called her back as soon as I got off the phone with your old mentor about the new restaurant,” he told her, kissing her softly on the mouth.
“After some table juggling, Claude and I figured out how to give them the second floor, exclusively, I might add.”
“You really are turning into a miracle worker, aren’t you,” she commented in an amused tone, stroking his jaw before tangling her hand in his hair and making him groan.
“I’m glad you’re here to see the transition from mere Golden Boy to Miracle Worker.
” He kissed her again, slowly, because he couldn’t help himself.
“Of course, Thea deserves all the credit for the breadbasket idea. God, I still can’t believe it.
Christophe Flaubert is coming to Nanine’s. I wonder who he’s bringing.”
“We won’t ask,” she reminded him quickly. “Our job is to serve them at the standard we’ve set, like everyone else. I know you’re already going crazy here, but Kyle, we can’t assume this changes anything about the Michelin people.”
Angling back, he tipped up her chin and studied her face before kissing her softly on the lips. “Fine. No assuming, but you can’t deny it’s progress to have a guest like Christophe Flaubert.”
“It’s something,” she agreed, finally shrugging out of her coat. “Where’s Spike?”
“I kinda wore him out today,” he confessed. “Extra playtime.”
Shooting him a knowing glance, she picked up Pierre’s cage and started walking to Pierre’s suite, as she liked to call it. “I see. Any interest in ice cream?”
“Sí,” he answered in Spanish, making her laugh. “Maybe after some dancing and mezcal if you’re up for it.”
“I’m always game,” she replied in Spanish. “Your accent really is getting better. Be right back.”
Not a bad way to cap off the evening—or start the day that would be crowned by their honored guests’ visit to Nanine’s. He’d been looking for purpose in his life when he returned to Paris. With her and his roommates and Nanine, he’d found it.
He felt on top of the world.
The next morning, he awoke with a smile.
Madison’s hand was resting across his face, and she was sprawled out next to him.
The empty container of ice cream had sweated and left a puddle on the floor where he’d finally dropped it before tangling himself up with her but good.
Spike was scratching on the door, giving his little puppy barks.
God, it was going to be a great day.
Madison sent him and Spike off with plenty of kisses, and even Pierre gave a delighted squawk from his cage as they left. He and Spike were getting along better, especially since Pierre had gotten good at telling Spike, “Sit,” which made him plop his little butt down.
Deciding it was a great time to make the rounds, he brought Spike over to Thea’s bakery.
He waved outside the front window so customers wouldn’t lynch him for cutting in the coveted bread line winding down the street.
When she looked up and crooked her finger, he picked up Spike and made his way inside.
Thea stepped aside to let her assistant man the counter and rushed over to hug him and pat Spike. “Hey, you two! What a nice surprise!”
“I thought I’d drop by. Thanks again for your help.”
Smoothing back her ponytail, she beamed. “I’m so glad I could. I’ll text you the moment I can about letting our friend know about the reservation.”
Her voice was whisper soft, and he sent her a wink. “Can’t wait! I’ll let you get back. But Thea, I’m so happy for you. About the bakery…and Jean Luc.” He touched the wedding ring on her finger. “You deserve it all. You’re the best.”
Her eyes glistened. “Oh, you’re going to make me cry. You’re the best too! Thank you. Without you—”
He laid his hand gently over her mouth and shook his head. “No, your vision, your place. I was only glad to support it. Now, get back to your customers.”
“Hang on.”
Dashing back to the counter, she snagged a croissant, which she knew was his favorite. Popping it into a pastry sack, she returned and kissed his cheek. “Because bread is love.”
Yeah, it sure was. He bussed her cheek. “Talk to you later.”
He ate his croissant as he and Spike walked to Pairings by Pierre on the off chance Dean and Jacqueline were there. The shop hadn’t opened yet, but the big day was almost upon them now.
Dean was standing in the window with a leprechaun cutout, gesturing expressively to Jacqueline, who had her arms crossed as she listened. Kyle noted the shelves were filling in fast. There was a new section stocked with champagne that hadn’t been there on his last visit.
When Dean caught sight of them, he danced over and opened the front door. “Hey! I hear good news might be upon us on the Michelin front. Come inside and settle a debate.”
“Yes, Kyle, please tell Dean that displaying a leprechaun in the window is not the message we wish to send our customers for our opening.”
He winced as Spike barked madly when Dean bent over and roughhoused with him. “Hey, I’m having a good day here.”
“I agreed on the parrot motif, chéri,” Jacqueline continued, “but mostly because I adore Pierre. But little Irish people are too much. Besides, we are in France.”
“But it’s St. Patrick’s Day!” Dean picked up Spike and made baby faces at him. “It’s like the International Holiday for Drinking. Irish bars here in Paris make bank.”
“Left or right?” she joked.
“Good one,” Kyle said with a laugh.
“I’ve seen Irish bars on both the Left Bank and the Right Bank, thank you.” Dean made a face to Spike. “No one appreciates my ingenious wit.”
“Not when it comes to leprechaun cutouts,” Jacqueline told him. “Now, Kyle, I heard the news from Thea. Christophe Flaubert is an incredible person to know. His special request to visit Nanine’s is a good sign, I think.”
“I think so too.” He laughed when Spike started sniffing at Dean’s pocket. “If you have food on you, he’ll find it.”
Dean lifted the puppy in the air. “Who can blame him? He’s a growing boy. So you and Madison are clearly doing better.”
He knew she was being guarded, and he couldn’t blame her. But he was staying positive and continuing to do everything in his power to make her dream come true. “Yeah,” was all he said, though.
“That’s all I get?” Dean asked, blinking comically.
“Yeah.”
Jacqueline gave a quiet laugh as Spike pawed in the air to be put down. Kyle took him and hugged him to his chest. Dean gave a dramatic groan.
“Chéri, the delivery man is here.” Jacqueline gestured to a van parking out front.
“I should go and let you two get back to work.”
“Take the leprechaun, Kyle,” Jacqueline murmured. “I beg you.”
Dean grabbed it and hugged it to his chest, making Spike yip with delight. “You are not taking my lucky leprechaun away.”
“Oh, chéri,” Jacqueline intoned, punctuated by a very French sound. “Whatever will I do with you?”
“I’ll tell you when we close the shop,” he answered with a wink. “See you later, Kyle. Spike, don’t be one of those little dogs who poops all over the streets of Paris. You’re better than that.”
“I am so out of here.”
He stopped next at the storefront Brooke had bought to launch her own interior decorating business with a famous fashion designer—although she’d put up paper on the windows so no one could see the renovation’s progress. Texting her, he asked if she was inside. A second later, the front door opened.
“Fancy seeing you here,” she quipped, dressed in her usual business couture of Chanel and Louboutins. “Out walking Spike?”
“Something like that. Did Thea share the news about our august guest coming tonight?”
“She did.” Locking the door behind him once he was inside, she leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheeks Parisian style before petting a yippy Spike. “He’s the guy we’ve been looking for. I love that Thea found him. She’s really showing her mettle, isn’t she?”
“It’s always been there,” he told her frankly as he set Spike down. “You don’t come to Paris with barely any French without your parents’ support unless you have mettle.”
She laid a comforting hand on his arm with a soft smile. “That almost sounds like you. Except your French was better—and you were more confident in your ability to make things happen.”
“Still am,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“You might pop in on Sawyer and tell him.” She worried her lip. “He’s been worried.”
Her expression made it clear Sawyer hadn’t been alone in that. “I’ll stop in on him next. So, how’s the place coming along?”
“Good.” She took a few steps further into the large showroom and flung out her hands.
“Marcello wants there to be a huge glass case winged with his proverbial hummingbirds to greet customers. He thinks it will make a statement. I told him it will stop the flow of traffic into the store. Axel weighed in and said it would break the feng shui of the space. Marcello put his hand to his chest and practically wept with gratitude for that assessment.”
He made sure to wince. “Well, you knew what you were getting into having one of the world’s greatest fashion designers as a partner.”
“I did.” She executed one of her dragon breaths. “Of course, Marcello’s idea was brilliant. Not that I’m telling him. I’m still considering how to do it and keep our May opening date.”
Kyle laughed, keeping an eye on Spike, who was busy sniffing the cement floor. “That’s the Third Course we know and love.”
“My heart might be in Paris, but my head for business comes from New York.”
He put his arm around her, imagining the huge showroom she was creating. “The world had better watch out.”
“Damn straight.” She laid her head against his shoulder. “How’s Madison?”