"See that you do." She stares at me for a long moment. "Prep starts at seven. Don't be late."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Her mouth twitches. "Goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight, Isabelle."
She rolls her eyes, but she's smiling as she turns and starts back down the path. I watch her until she disappears around the curve, her chef's coat bright white against the green of the vineyard. Then I grab my duffel and push open the cottage door.
Inside, it's small but perfect. A bed with white linens thatlook absurdly comfortable, a bathroom with one of those rainfall showers that's probably going to ruin regular showers for me forever, a small couch and TV, and a sitting area with French doors that open onto the porch. Someone has left a bottle of wine on the counter, a local Pinot, with a handwritten welcome note from the Solstice team.
I pour myself a glass and take it out to the porch, settling into one of the chairs. The sun is setting properly now, the sky streaked with orange and pink and purple, the whole valley shifting from gold to rose to deep blue at the edges. I can even hear crickets starting up. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I fish it out to see Theo's name on the screen.
"Hey," I say, settling back into the chair and kicking my feet up on the railing. "Let me guess, the restaurant is falling apart without me."
"Ha, very funny," Theo says drily, and I can hear Chloe playing with Clara in the background. "No, things are great. Miranda's got it handled. I just wanted to see how your first day was."
"Well, Jean-Pierre didn't tell her I was coming, so she had no idea. She called her dad and screamed at him in French for about twenty minutes." I take a sip of my wine and watch the last of the light slip behind the hills. "So, you know. Great start."
"Iknewthis was going to be messy." Theo's voice shifts into that disapproving older-brother register. "Jean-Pierre might be a brilliant businessman, but the way he treats his daughter is appalling. What kind of father ambushes his own kid like that?"
"Yes, yes, you knew it was a bad idea in your infinite wisdom, and you are a modern, enlightened father who understands basic concepts like respect and autonomy and letting your kids be actual adults." I chuckle. "But that is not Jean-Pierre. He's old school and controlling in a way he genuinely doesn't see as a problem."
"Well, I hope his daughter gives him hell. I'd want Chloe orClara to do the same if someone ever pulled that with them." He pauses. "And I hope it goes well for you, of course," he adds hastily.
"Gee, thanks." I smile. "Well, in any case, he won, so I'm here for the seven weeks or so before heading back to Seattle with hopefully a fancy new restaurant deal in my pocket."
"And you're sure you want to go into business with him?" Theo asks. "I mean, he's legendary, but what a messy start."
"I told you, I spoke to the guys at Bellwether who had the same kind of deal with him, minus the weird daughter-spying part. They said he's a bit of a control freak, but they're thrilled with how it turned out. Every door open, the prestige of his name behind them, press they never would have gotten on their own." I swirl the wine in my glass. "Besides, they said he gives his chefs full creative vision once he trusts their talent. And he doesn't fund people he doesn't believe in, so…"
The Bellwether team went from a solid regional reputation to one of the most talked-about restaurants on the West Coast within two years of partnering with Jean-Pierre. Theo and I have done well with Harbor & Ash, the six-week waitlist and the write-ups and all of it. But it's nothing compared to the global stage Jean-Pierre opens up.
"Yeah, I know," Theo says. "Prestige and ego aren't everything though, you know."
I laugh. "Now see, Theo, that is where you and I differ. I'm only happy when I'm being praised as a culinary genius by thousands of strangers."
"You can't tell, but I'm rolling my eyes right now."
"Good. I'd be worried if you didn't." I laugh and take another sip of wine.
“I hope this whole thing doesn't blow up in everyone's face. It’s a recipe for disaster.”
"Orit's a recipe for an interesting month," I counter. "I'm choosing to be optimistic."
"You'realwaysoptimistic. It's honestly kind of annoying."
"One of my many charms." I take another sip of wine. "And hey, speaking of charms, his daughter is insanely attractive. Distractingly attractive. A bit fiery too, which you know I love."
"Oh dear God." Theo groans. "Do not tell me you are going to risk blowing up this entire deal. Alex, do NOT flirt with this woman. Jean-Pierre told you he'd pull the funding if anything happened."
I grin at the vineyard going dark in front of me. "Look, I'm just saying, a little forbidden late summer romance situation could be interesting. VeryDirty Dancing. You know, dad forbids the whole thing, sneaking around at the resort, the tension, the?—"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Theo says flatly.
I sit up in my chair, scandalized. "Theo. You have got to improve your cultural literacy. Nobody puts Baby in a corner?Dirty Dancingis one of the all-time classics. This is like you not having seenCasablancaorThe Godfather. It's embarrassing, and frankly another stain on your otherwise respectable reputation."
"Well, we can't all be movie buffs like you. And you're no Patrick Swayze anyway."