The man shrugs, his expression wistful. "We've both been doing this for decades now, and want to retire, spend time with our grandchildren who moved back to France, and travel without worrying about service. It's bittersweet, and honestly we still can't quite imagine actually letting this place go—it's been our baby for decades. Nothing's final yet, but…"
He shrugs and I nod, feeling a heaviness settle in my chest. I look at Alex who looks sad at the idea too, but ever the charmer he turns and smiles at them warmly. "That's completely understandable. It's such a special place, though. Whoever ends up with it will be lucky."
We stand there for a few more minutes, chatting with them about Provence and Napa and the restaurant business. They're so warm and down-to-earth that you can't help but like them immediately, can't help but feel comfortable in their presence.
I lean against Alex naturally and love how right this feels, standing here with my boyfriend—myboyfriend, who would have thought that would be a word I'd use?—talking to these kind people about food and family and places that feel like home.
As we finally say goodbye and make our way outside, I pause and look back at the restaurant one more time, taking it all in. The warm light spilling from the windows, the sound of conversation and laughter floating out, the gardens and the view. I turn to Alex, glancing at that fig tree one more time.
"I hope someday I love the NYC place this much, you know?" I say quietly. "Like I can make it mine enough to feel this connected to it, thisat homein it. Because it's strange. I think if you told me tomorrow that my father's flagship restaurant in New York was closing, I would be sad but... I don't know, not devastated. Not like this. Yet a place we ate at once, hearing it might close actually breaks my heart a little bit. That probably doesn't make any sense."
Alex nods slowly, pulling me closer. "No, I get it. I felt the same way hearing that. Sometimes a place just speaks to you."
We stand there for a moment longer, looking at the fig tree in the fading light before finally making our way back to the car. The drive back to Solstice is quiet and peaceful, winding down dark country roads under a sky absolutely packed with stars. We make our way through the vineyard paths when wearrive, choosing to go to his cottage tonight by unspoken agreement, neither of us wanting to be apart.
Inside, I don't even bother turning on the lights. I just reach for him in the darkness, and he's already reaching for me, pulling me close and kissing me deeply. We stumble toward the bedroom, shedding clothes as we go—my dress pooling on the floor, his shirt tossed aside, a trail of discarded garments marking our path.
When we finally make it to the bed, I push him down onto it and climb on top of him, straddling his hips. The moonlight coming through the window is bright enough that I can see his face, see the way he's looking at me like I'm everything he's ever wanted.
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 tothe 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 myfather 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."