“I’m a chef. We tend to be.”
The drive home was pleasant, as we talked about our favorite weird news websites, and the best places to find amusing videos.
It was surprising how much we had in common. The sixteen years between us didn’t seem to matter at all. I think it was a combination of my tastes running a bit quirky for my age, and Julia’s surprising maturity. She had a good head on those sexy shoulders.
How strange that I felt that she was already someone I could commit to. To design my life around.
“I must say, you’re an excellent restaurant reconnaissance partner.” I reached out to squeeze her hand. That darling smile in the dim light made my heart thump harder. “You’ll have to join me in a month at the opening of an awful new restaurant so that we can laugh at it and tear it apart.”
“You’re terrible,” she said. “Why would you do that?”
My chuckle seemed to amuse her. “Tradition. There’s a rival chef who has always bitten off more than he could chew, and has screwed me over a few times. I try to find the good in all people, but honestly, Jerry is a dick.”
Julia shook her head, laughing merrily as she reached out to swat my shoulder. “That’s awful. Just
ignore him if you don’t like him.”
“I can’t. The guy doesn’t even have a tenth of the clout I have, yet he publicly criticizes every single one of my projects. Why would he go to that sort of trouble? Meanwhile, he’s never been able to get a restaurant off the ground and have it survive more than two years.”
“Maybe he’ll get lucky this time,” she said brightly.
“I love that you’re so optimistic. But trust me, any restaurant that Jerry Jonah opens is going to be cursed. Even his name sounds like a villain.”
Chuckling, I expected to see her laughing with me. Instead she was biting her lip and looking down nervously at her twitching hands.
“What is it?” I asked.
She hesitated before practically whispering, “You’re talking about the new restaurant Oak Tables, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Why?”
She turned away from me to stare out the window. “It’s my first big project with Ethan’s design firm. I’m organizing all of the supplies, and assisting the interior decorator.”
Good grief. I was an idiot.
“I’m so sorry, Julia.” I reached for her hand, but she pulled away and remained quiet.
“Hey — I’m just a jackass. Jerry and I go way back, so we’ve had plenty of time to tick each other off over the years. I was just shooting my mouth off.”
As we pulled into her driveway, Julia was already grabbing her purse. “I’ll run in quickly so Dad doesn’t see your car,” she said. Finally her eyes met mine for one brief moment so that I could see the wounded look deep inside. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner.”
She was gone before I could even reach for her.
I watched until she was inside, then drove away, shaking my head. How could I be so monumentally stupid? A sweet girl like Julia had no time for negativity. She was lightness itself.
If I was going to deserve a woman like her, I was going to have to find a way to crawl out of my usual grouchy demeanor, and learn to get in touch with my lighter side.
Assuming I had one.
For her, I’d find a way to grow one, if need be.
Chapter 5
_____
Julia
As I sat down at my desk Wednesday morning, I’d barely taken two sips of coffee when Jenny, our receptionist, called to say I had a delivery.