Chapter 20
Alex
I'm flying out to Seattle tomorrow, and I've got my bag half-packed, clothes scattered across the bed. Isabelle is out getting drinks with Margot, so I figured I'd get the packing done now so that when she gets back I can focus entirely on her.
It's a five-day break in the pop-up schedule—some massive society wedding is renting out the entirety of Solstice Estates, so all the Solstice team members are being pulled to work that event, and the dining room and kitchen are completely closed to outside operations for the duration.
Which means Jean-Pierre wants me to fly back to Seattle to check out the possible location for the new restaurant. I'm excited to head back to Washington since I might be able to swing by Dark River for a day or two after we wrap up the Seattle business meetings.
I want to check in on Harbor & Ash properly, see how Theo's managing without me, and catch up with my family in person instead of through texts and video calls.
I toss the last few things into my bag and kick the duffel to the side of the bed. Then I strip down and hop in the shower, letting the hot water beat down on my shoulders. I'm just pulling on clean jeans and a t-shirt, my hair still damp, when I hear the cottage door bang open.
Isabelle bursts through, looking a little breathless and flushed and absolutely stunning in a purple and white floral sundress that ends just above her knees.
"Hey," I say, crossing to her. "I wasn't expecting you for at least another hour. Everything okay?"
She's breathing hard. "Ugh, I basically jogged the whole way back. My dad called me while Margot and I were wrapping up drinks, and he wants me to come to Seattle tomorrow too!"
I blink. "Really?"
"Apparently," she continues, the words tumbling out.
“He wants me to come along to see how the business side of things works, and get a feel for the real estate aspect of opening a restaurant.
I mean, I should have seen it coming. He does this kind of stuff all the time, and usually I'm actually excited to tag along.
But Alex, this is going to be so weird! We're going to be together the whole time.
Dinners, site visits, staying at the same hotel. What if he notices something?"
Her hands are twisting together anxiously. I reach out and pull her into my arms, wrapping them around her and holding her close against my chest. She exhales and melts into me, snuggling closer, her face pressed against my shoulder.
"He doesn't know, and he won't find out," I say calmly, running my hand up and down her back. "Though I still don't actually think it would be the end of the world if he did. But we'll be careful. We've been sneaking around at Solstice for weeks. We can handle five days in Seattle."
"Really?" she asks, her voice muffled against my chest. "Because at Solstice we're mostly around staff who aren't paying that much attention and don’t care. This is different. This is my father watching us both constantly, probably analyzing every interaction."
I laugh softly. "Yeah, we'll be all secretive and sneaky about it. Like a forbidden romance in a movie. Romeo and Juliet sneaking around Verona, except with less family drama and better food.”
She huffs a small laugh. "Okay, as long as the ending isn't anything like theirs."
I nod seriously. "Deal. I promise not to drink any poison or stab myself with a dagger. Cross my heart."
She pulls back and looks up at me, a small smile finally breaking through her worried expression. "You really think we can pull this off?"
"We can do it. And sneaking around might be kind of fun. Hotel rooms, stolen moments." I kiss her slowly, deeply. "Finding ways to be alone."
"You're not worried at all? He could easily pick up on something. And you keep saying that it wouldn't be the end of the world if he found out, but it's your dream restaurant. I can't be the reason you lose that."
"I know what's at stake. But I think he could come around on this eventually, once he sees we're serious about each other. And if you're right and he doesn't, if he pulls the funding, then I'll figure something else out. I always do. You don't need to carry that worry."
I pull her into a kiss, deep and certain and thorough, trying to pour everything I feel into it.
She responds immediately, her arms coming up to wrap around my neck, her body pressing against mine as she kisses me back with equal intensity.
We stand there kissing in the middle of my cottage for a long moment, the rest of the world falling away.
We're at the San Francisco airport now, sitting in the departure terminal with our flight to Seattle leaving in about an hour. Isabelle is across the way on her phone, pacing back and forth while talking to her father about the New York City restaurant, going over details about the menu.
He made changes without consulting her and she's been fighting with him to get it reversed ever since she found out, and from the look of it, this call is part of that ongoing war.
I sit at the terminal gate watching her pace on the far side near the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, looking confident and commanding and absolutely in her element.
Even in just jeans and a simple white t-shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looks like someone you don't fuck with.
She's gesturing emphatically with one hand while the other holds her phone to her ear, her expression focused and determined.
I can't help but smile watching her. I have absolutely no doubt she'll win this fight. Jean-Pierre might be a tough, controlling bastard who's used to getting his way, but he's got nothing on Isabelle when she's made up her mind about something.
My phone buzzes and I glance down at the screen. Theo.
I swipe to answer and bring it to my ear. "Hey."
"Hey," he says, and I can hear the familiar sounds of Harbor & Ash in the background. "I just wanted to see when your flight was getting in. Figure out timing."
"I'm at the airport now, we board in about an hour," I say, leaning back in the uncomfortable terminal chair. "Looking forward to seeing me? Miss me that much already?"
He laughs. "Yes, you jackass. The restaurant's been great but it doesn't mean I don't miss having you around. Though I have to admit, the first couple of days after you left were blissfully peaceful."
"Lies to help convince yourself you don't need me," I say. "Anyway, I'll let you know as soon as I can swing down to Dark River. Should be able to get away for at least a day or two. Also, there's been a slight change of plans I should probably mention."
"What kind of change?" Theo asks, immediately suspicious.
"Uh, well... I might be bringing Isabelle with me. If we can sneak away from her father for a bit. We're sort of... dating now. Actually dating. Like, officially together."
There's a long pause on the other end of the line.
"Alex." Theo's voice comes back louder, filled with disbelief and alarm.
"What did I tell you about flirting with her?
You are literally sleeping with his daughter under his nose while staying at his hotel on the business trip to look at your future restaurant that he's funding. I'm actually speechless."
I try to repress a smile. Honestly, I was expecting much worse.
"Alright, you're a bit behind on the situation, so let me catch you up, Theo," I say calmly.
"Listen, I meant to mention it earlier but it didn't come up naturally in conversation, and then you guys all had that terrible flu going around so I didn't want to dump more on you while you were all recovering and miserable. It seemed like bad timing."
"Keep what from me? That you're actively sabotaging your entire future?" He sounds exasperated and stressed, and I can picture him running his hand through his hair the way he does when he's worried.
"Theo, I've been dating her for weeks now. We're not just sleeping together and calling it casual. It's much more serious than that. Serious enough that I think I'm going to have to tell Jean-Pierre at some point, come clean about the whole thing." I watch Isabelle across the terminal as she talks.
"Don't tell me you've fallen in love with her," Theo says, and his voice has gone quieter, more serious. "Please tell me you haven't fallen in love with the daughter of the man funding your dream restaurant."
I'm quiet for a moment, watching Isabelle. "Oh, I've definitely fallen in love with her. Completely, embarrassingly gone for her."
"Damn, Alex." Theo lets out a long breath. "I don't know whether to congratulate you or start drafting your death certificate."
I laugh. "Both, I think. But Theo, she's incredible. Easily one of the smartest people I've ever met. She's a better chef than me. Beautiful, funny as hell, tough as absolute nails when she needs to be, and—"
"Wait, hold on," Theo interrupts. "Did you just say she's a better chef than you? Did those words actually just come out of your mouth?"
I grin, knowing exactly what he's thinking. "Don't make a fuss about it. She is, though. I'm constantly impressed by the things she comes up with."
"Now I know you've got it bad," Theo says, and I can hear the smile in his voice despite his concern. "Your ego would never allow you to admit someone else was better than you at cooking unless you were in deep. Like, drowning-level deep."
"Like I said, she's the whole package," I say, still watching her across the terminal.
She's wrapping up her call now, looking satisfied and victorious.
"Which is why, if I can sneak her away from her father for a day or two, I really want to bring her to Dark River to meet everyone.
Meet you, meet the family. See the restaurant. "
There's a pause. "Well, I mean... that'd be really nice, actually. You know I'm happy for you, Alex. I'm shocked as hell since you literally never talk about women like this. But I'm really happy for you. You sound different. Good different."
"Thanks, man. I was so wrong when I thought it would just be a quick fling, Theo. So fucking wrong it's almost funny. I had no idea what I was walking into."
"And you're absolutely sure about this?" Theo asks. "What if Jean-Pierre does find out and pulls the deal? What if you lose the Seattle restaurant because of this? Is it worth that risk?"
I watch Isabelle as she ends her call and starts walking back toward me, her face lit up with satisfaction from whatever victory she just won. She catches my eye and smiles.
"She's worth it," I say simply, and I mean it with every fiber of my being. "The restaurant, the deal, all of it—none of it matters as much as she does."
Isabelle reaches me and drops into the seat next to me, immediately leaning against my shoulder like it's the most natural thing in the world. I wrap my arm around her automatically, pulling her closer.
"Who's that?" she mouths, pointing at my phone.
"Theo," I mouth back, and she nods, settling more comfortably against me.
"Well," Theo says, and I can hear both resignation and affection in his voice, "I guess I better start planning to meet her then. And Alex? For what it's worth, I hope it works out. I really do. You deserve to be this happy."
"Thanks, Theo."
"Just try not to get yourself killed by an angry French restaurateur before you make it to Dark River, okay?"
"I'll do my best," I say.
We say our goodbyes and I hang up, tucking my phone in my pocket. Isabelle looks up at me, curiosity written all over her face.
"How'd that go?" she asks.
"He thinks I'm insane but he's happy for me anyway," I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Typical Theo. How'd your call go? You looked pretty triumphant."
"I won," she says smugly, grinning up at me.
"That's my girl," I say.
"We should probably not do this on the plane," she says, even as she snuggles closer into my side.
"Probably smart," I agree reluctantly. "Several days of being professional. We can do this."
"A few very long days," she sighs. "But at least the nights will make up for it."
"That's the plan," I say, and kiss her one more time before our flight boards and we have to go back to pretending we're just colleagues.
A few days. We can survive a few days.