Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
COLSON
“The recent growth on the east coast of Florida has made a significant impact on Charred’s bottom line,” Marci said as she sat across from me at the bar, tucking some of her dark hair behind her ear.
“When I pulled the numbers from three years ago and compared, I saw the increase in residents was a direct correlation. The larger Florida becomes, the more they’re eating at Charred.
” She smiled. “Isn’t that good news for our brand?
We’re building, we’re increasing profits, and we’re becoming a necessary staple in the state. Now we need more.”
It was a vodka-on-the-rocks kind of night, and I lifted my glass, letting the liquor burn my tongue before I swallowed. “I think what you’re telling me is that we need a Horned here as well?”
She laughed. “Am I that obvious?”
Her drive and ambition were the main reasons Eden and I had hired her as the VP of operations on the East Coast. While the five of us family members were based on the West Coast, we needed eyes and ears on the other side of the country.
Marci was that. Although she lived in Miami, she traveled from Boston to Key West, overseeing every location of Charred. And she did one hell of a job.
“You know Florida much better than me. What are you thinking?” I asked.
“The Gulf Coast.”
I grinned, nodding. “I like it. Where?”
“Sarasota. It’s perfect for a restaurant like Horned. Intimate. Coastal. Easy access to fresh seafood, ocean-to-table kind of thing.” She bit her lip. “A location that comes with a view, which I know won’t be cheap, but the investment will pay off. I’m positive.”
“It’s a market that’s growing? And can handle the price point of a restaurant like Horned?”
“Sarasota has one of the richest zip codes in Florida. The average cost of living is far higher than the midpoint range in the state.” She shifted in her seat before taking a drink of her espresso martini.
“Trust me, the Gulf Coast is thriving, just like the east side. Horned won’t get lost in the shuffle.
It’s a restaurant that will be devoured by that demographic. ”
I held the edge of my glass, rubbing my thumb around it. “And you can handle adding another restaurant to your existing load? One that will have to be built from the ground up?”
“I would love nothing more.”
“Even if that means relocating while it’s being built?”
Sure, the team would fly out periodically to check production, but we needed someone on the ground to oversee every element, and relocation—for any of the Westons, even for a short period—was impossible.
“My husband is from Tampa,” she explained. “Are you kidding? He’ll love being back home-ish.”
There was a vibration in my pocket, and I took out my phone, reading the text on the screen.
Sophie
You won’t be coming anywhere near me. Ever again.
What the fuck?
Me
Why would you say that?
I set my phone on the table. “Since I’ve been in Florida, I’ve been slightly out of the day-to-day with the company, so I’m not sure what has been told to the team, but we’ve settled things with the Gordons. That means we’ll be able to expand Horned the way we want to.”
She placed her arms down in front of her. “I spoke to Eden this morning, and she told me. What amazing news that is and what a relief for y’all.”
I took down a bit more vodka. “You have no idea.”
Sophie
Ultimately, we’re two people who met at a sex club, and that’s where it needs to stay. No more meetups. No crossover in our personal lives. No future. At all. The dabbling that happened in the outside world—that’s over. Effective immediately.
Where the hell is this even coming from?
Me
Why?
“As for the rollout of the new menu items for Charred,” I started once I cleared my throat, “I assume you’ll be present to help with those?”
“I’ll be spending all day tomorrow at Charred Fort Lauderdale to work with the staff.
Tomorrow night, I’ll be at Charred Miami.
Throughout the next week or so, I’ll be making my way up the east coast, dealing with any issues that arise, menu feedback, customer concerns, those types of things.
” She lifted herself higher as she crossed her legs.
“I’ll talk to the staff, I’ll read reviews, and I’ll be on hand to work the dining rooms, gaining as much feedback as I possibly can. ”
“And you’ll report that feedback to us?”
“Absolutely.” She wiped the corners of her lips. “I know Walker’s been hard at work, perfecting the menu. As far as I’m concerned, the replacements look delicious. I have no doubt it’s going to be a success.”
I tapped my chest, filling my lungs at the same time. “But if it isn’t, I need you to tell me what our customers are saying. We’re not going to be stubborn when it comes to this. If we need to tweak, we will.”
I let out a sigh as I read Sophie’s response.
Sophie
Because you don’t deserve to taste me.
“We normally take months to make a change this large to allow ample time for testing,” I explained, trying to keep my mind focused on my conversation with Marci.
“We didn’t have that, and I know there’s concern company-wide that we’ve moved too fast.” I clasped my hands around my drink.
“To be fully transparent, I’m sure we have.
That’s why I need you to keep us aware of everything you hear in the dining rooms. I’m asking the same of our VP in the Midwest. We can’t fix something unless we know it’s not working. ”
“You can always count on me.”
I nodded. “Good.”
Me
Again, why?
Sophie
Don’t be dumb.
I was losing my patience. I couldn’t defend myself when I had no idea what I was guilty of. Or maybe she was just having a moment of randomly hating me again—I couldn’t tell. But I refused to keep bouncing or guessing. I needed answers.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Marci. “Just give me one second. I need to handle something.”
“No problem. Take your time.”
Me
Dumb? Because I have no idea where any of this is coming from?
Sophie
Ask me a harder question, Colson.
I knew those words. I’d said the same ones to her.
Me
Why do I get the sense that, earlier, you were considering what I wanted to do to you? That I was turning you on? That I was making your pussy wet? That you were on the verge of saying yes to having me come over? And now you’ve completely shut me out.
Sophie
Good observation.
Me
Come on, Sophie.
Sophie
You want answers? Then take a look at yourself. There’s your answer.
Me
I’m calling you. Give me 2 minutes.
Sophie
I’m not answering. This conversation is done. So are we.
That fucking woman. If it were anyone else, I would have stopped replying after her first message. But it wasn’t that way with her. I wanted her.
I could still fucking taste her.
And despite the attitude she was giving me, my dick was achingly hard.
I reread her last series of texts, and one stood out the most.
Take a look at yourself.
My gaze traveled down my body and back. I did it again, and that didn’t bring me any closer to figuring out what she was talking about.
I held up my finger to Marci, signaling I needed just a little more time, and I found Sophie’s number in my Contacts, hitting the button to call her.
While the line connected, I glanced toward the dining room.
Our high-top bar table, once I turned, had a direct view of the quaint space.
Within the crowded room, a face stood out among the others.
Hayden.
He had told me Ozean was his favorite, and I took his recommendation; I’d just had no idea that he planned on eating here tonight too.
But if Hayden was here … that meant Sophie was as well.
Except she wasn’t at the table. Hayden was speaking to Abbi, who sat across from him. There was also an older woman with them, and between Hayden and Abbi was a vacant seat, with the chair pulled back and a napkin resting on the place setting.
My call went straight to voicemail.
There were only two places Sophie could be—outside the restaurant or in the restroom. The latter made more sense to me.
“I’ve got to excuse myself for a few minutes while I make another call.” I stood from my seat. “If our table in the dining room becomes available, I’ll meet you there.”
Marci nodded. “Sounds good.”
Once I was through the bar, I headed toward the back of the restaurant, a narrow hallway taking me to two doors. They were closed, their signage telling me they were single restrooms.
I called Sophie again, holding the phone by my waist so I could hear hers as I stood between the doors.
From the one on the right, there was a ringing, followed by, “Dick,” as soon as that ringing stopped.
I assumed her announcement came as she sent my call to voicemail again. Which was exactly what was coming through the speaker when I put my cell to my ear.
I backed up and pressed my foot against the wall behind me, my phone in my pocket, as my arms crossed over my chest.
Only a handful of feet separated me from the door on the right, and as it slowly opened, Sophie appearing in the entryway, I couldn’t help but smile.
I didn’t care how spicy she was; she was so fucking gorgeous.
That body.
Those goddamn legs.
She was still holding the knob when our eyes connected, the expression on her face turning priceless.
I could tell the last person she had expected to be standing here was me.
She didn’t move; her hand didn’t release the metal hardware either.
Her lips didn’t lift and spread in a grin like I’d wanted them to.
I licked mine while I took her in, focusing on the glare in her eyes. “Now, what exactly did you mean by taking a look at myself?”