Page 67 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
Kyle drew out his phone and swiped a few things. “Yes, with the paperwork finalized, the construction should be finished by mid-January, so that will give you four weeks to set up and get ready. Will that be enough time?”
“Let me look at my notes.” She drew out her own phone. After a moment, she said, “Yes, I think so. I can start interviewing people before the holidays. Jean Luc, I was thinking it might make sense to get married and go on our honeymoon before the bakery opens. After the conversation we had.”
Brooke plunked her elbows down on the table. “But that means you’d be getting married soon. Thea, it’s October!”
“I know,” she said, smiling at her fiancé now. “Jean Luc reminded me how quickly his parents met and married. He doesn’t see any reason for us to wait, and neither do I. Not after we discussed my concerns about the money. Remember I told you about that the other day?”
Dean sent Brooke a look. They’d all told her they’d be happy to chip in.
“Thea knows about our wedding fund,” Brooke answered with a shrug. “But finding a space is going to be tough. I have a list—”
“Why can’t we have the wedding and party here at Nanine’s?” Thea asked hopefully. “We can rent it out for parties, can’t we? Jean Luc, what do you think?”
He pursed his lips as if considering. “I thought we might have the wedding in a church and then a dinner—”
“Oh, but that’s so formal, and I was hoping for something friendlier,” she told him, her brow knitting.
“Why don’t you two talk over what you’d like and get back to us?” Kyle folded his hands on the table with the ease of an accomplished wedding planner. “That way we can support you and your day.”
Clearly, Kyle had gone to some wedding prep course when he was engaged to Paisley because he seemed to know his way around wedding peacemaking. Madison looked like she was fighting laughter while Sawyer suddenly seemed occupied with cleaning his glasses.
“Great idea, Kyle,” Brooke said too breezily. “We’re here for you, Thea and Jean Luc.”
Dean knew she was already making mental notes for the wedding and stressing.
“You guys are the best,” Thea replied, the love glow lighting up her face. “Jean Luc, aren’t we lucky?”
“Chérie,we are the most fortunate of people,” he responded, but without his usual enthusiasm. “Perhaps we should have dinner back at home to continue this discussion since time is of the essence. Is that how you would say it?”
She kissed him lightly on the mouth and stood. “Exactly! See, I am learning French phrases and you are learning English phrases.”
“And we are communicating just fine,” Jean Luc filled in, rising and taking her hand. “Good night, everyone.”
“Yes, good night!”
Thea didn’t even hug them or blow them a kiss as they left the restaurant. The happy couple had even forgotten to take their gifts.
“Ah,l’amour,”Dean said with a laugh. “Let’s order before someone else bails.”
Madison raised her hand. “I might just grab leftovers from the walk-in since it’s getting late, and I have more recipe testing to do.”
“Me too!” Brooke rose along with her. “I need to start calling some fashion houses for wedding dresses used in recent photo shoots. God! Why does anyone think getting married quickly is a good idea?”
The women left, and Sawyer looked at him and shrugged. “Are you still making Cosmos, man?” he asked like a perky co-ed from his freshman class.
Dean puffed out a laugh. “Gin or vodka?”
“Just kidding!” Sawyer responded. “I might do yoga, but pink drinks are too much.”
“For me too,” Kyle said, standing. “Look, I’m going to hit the spreadsheets and make sure Thea can open for Valentine’s Day now that the paperwork is rolling. Too bad the bakery doesn’t have a liquor license, because selling Cosmos fixings or the cocktail itself to go with heart-shaped pastries in a holiday box would be huge.”
Dean’s mind rose like a kite with the wind, running with the idea and playing it out. Alcohol on the go. Prepackaged. With food. Dean got goose bumps. He’d been thinking of the cave and serious drinking, but Kyle was right. Themed giftboxes like leprechaun sugar cookies and individual servings of Guinness or Irish whiskey for St. Patrick’s Day would be huge sellers.
His “It” idea was starting to build the steps to the staircase. Hot damn.
“How hard would it be to get a liquor license for the bakery?” he asked.
Kyle winced. “I’d have to talk to Jean Luc. My guess is we’d need a seating area. But that’s for in-dining.”
