I sigh. “So you married me for my family?”
“And your money. Don’t forget that. No prenup, baby.”
“Right. How could I forget? Don’t move.” I stop her so I can unlock the door to the restaurant.
“Is this the moment before you throw me off the cliff? Because I can hear the ocean and feel the breeze.”
See. This is how well I know my girl.
“In a minute. First I have to smash you into a bunch of walls.”
“Ha. You’re very funny. Seriously, what is all this?”
“Your birthday present.”
She groans and sags dramatically. “Roman,” she whines my name. “No more gifts or money spent on me.”
“I thought you just said you married me for my money.”
“And you know that was a lie. I hate your stupid money and I don’t like this.”
After I open the door, I kiss her temple. “Trust me,” I whisper against her skin, retake her hand, and guide her over the threshold. I peel the sleep mask I was using as a blindfold back from her eyes and flip on the lights. Lights that are no longer working as a club effect.
Clinch unfolds before her eyes, most of the decor not yet finished. The restaurant itself sits up on stilts, some of it partially hanging over a wetland and the ocean. The wide-plank natural wood floors are covered in paper and there’s no furniture or light fixtures yet. Just some industrial lighting, but the framework is here, as is the most important part.
The kitchen.
“Oh my god,” she whispers, her hand covering her lips. She hasn’t seen it yet and whenever she’d ask if she could, I’d blow her off, intending that tonight would be her reveal even if it’s not finished yet. “Roman…”
My name trails off as she slowly enters the space, taking in the one-hundred-eighty-degree floor-to-ceiling—and the ceilings are twenty-five feet tall—windows that overlook the grounds of the hotel, the wetlands, and the ocean. There’s a rectangular bar in the center of the room and the granite my designer picked out isn’t here yet, but the dark wood is and it was freshly varnished today.
“This is stunning. Wow. I’m speechless with this.”
I come in behind her, resting my chin on her shoulder. “You haven’t seen my favorite part yet.”
“I’m positive I already know what that is, but I can’t imagine there’s anything better than this view.”
“Depends on your angle. Come with me, kid.” I lead her through the swinging door to the spacious kitchen. Like the restaurant, it’s not finished either, but it does have what I needfor tonight set up and waiting, not on fire or covered in plastic, along with a chilled bottle of champagne.
“What’s all this?”
“I’m making you dinner tonight.”
A smile lights up her face. “Can I help?”
“Sure. Let’s get you in an apron.”
Braelyn isn’t much of a cook, but she follows orders exceptionally well as I already knew. She’s also a huge lover of all things Italian food, so I’m making her some dishes I know she loves like arancini with buffalo mozzarella, pecorino, peas and prosciutto, a wild boar pappardelle made with homemade pasta, cocoa, cognac, and parmesan, grilled rosemary focaccia, pork loin with polenta, Swiss chard, and roasted carrots, and for dessert I already made the batter for a molten chocolate cake that I’ll serve her along with homemade ice cream that’s in the freezer.
I pop the champagne and we get to work on preparing the dishes along with the items I’ve already prepped. We listen to music and sip on champagne and chat and as weird as it sounds, I haven’t had this much fun in the kitchen in a long time. Usually, it’s work, and though I love everything about my job, it’s still exactly that. A job.
I’ve never cooked for pleasure like this alongside someone.
There isn’t a great place to sit since the dining room isn’t set up, but I created a table in the corner of the kitchen for us and put a tablecloth over it and some flowers the resort gave me for her. I’ve already set up our wine pairings, but Brae is a champagne girl and doesn’t want to part with her glass.
“Cheers,” I say, holding up my glass to toast her. “To my best friend. My favorite person in the world. The woman who never fails to see light through the dark and make everything shiny and bright. I…” I pause. I want to say it, but I also want her to enjoy her special dinner. “I’m so happy you’re here with me, my wife.” I wink at her. “Happy birthday.”
“Cheers, husband. This is incredible.”