Page 16 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
Her mouth tipped up to the side. “You’re a good pal, Kyle, even if you are in need of therapy.”
Pal. Yeah, that’s all they could be. Especially if he were the only one feeling this. “I’ll start dreaming about my therapy elephant living in our new apartment.”
Her laugh came after an indelicate snort.
“Come on, Mad. We’ll make space for it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “When did you start calling me Mad?”
Guys who wanted to get with girls gave them sweet little nicknames. “Forget it.”
“You can call me chef.” She sent him a killer smile. “After all, that’s what Pierre calls me when we’re alone.”
A snort escaped him. “Since you and Pierre are so close, I think we should include him in our roommate hangouts. Let me suggest a new roommates drinking game tonight. If your lover Pierre can guess the spices in the kitchen, everyone has to drink.”
“You’re on, pal.”
She fist-bumped him.
Pal.
He had to start seeing her that way again, or there wouldn’t be clear sailing ahead.
CHAPTERFOUR
The parrot had created a buzz, and Dean couldn’t have been happier to have discovered him only four days ago. It only went to show that someone’s “It” idea or person could be anywhere.
Pierre was clearly part of his. He was linked to the new cave, which Dean hoped was a done deal given all the kismet that had led him to it, and also to the gorgeous Jacqueline. His slump was sliding away like rain off a windshield, and Dean couldn’t wait to see an unimpeded view of his future life, the one he’d come to Paris to find.
Dean fed Pierre an almond as he surveyed his roommates and Nanine at the kitchen table, where everyone was having a morning café along with Thea’s freshly baked croissants. “I’d say luck is on our side with all theLe Mondeattention, wouldn’t you?” he asked the room at large. “I told you the whole Pierre thing was kismet.”
“Kismet,” Pierre repeated, making Dean reply, “Good job on the English, buddy,” to which Pierre responded, “Merci,” with a shrill whistle.
Nanine sat back regally in her chair at the head of the table, tracing the rim of her cup. “Gustave certainly has never been so flowerily—is that a word?—about Nanine’s, although he spent much time speaking of our new friend here and the story of how he arrived with us. Nearly half the article.”
Yeah, Dean hadn’t been sure how that was going to go over.
“I hate to admit how crazy good it is marketing-wise.” Kyle lifted his phone and showed them his screen. “The restaurant already has fifty-seven voicemails, and it’s only ten o’clock on the day the article came out. People are clamoring for reservations. Plus, there are more interview requests from the media—both print and TV. Madison.” He shot her a grin, then shifted his gaze to Pierre. “Pierre. Be ready for another photo shoot.”
“We should talk about wardrobe,” Brooke teased, prompting Madison to give her the finger.
Pierre called out, “Ready, Chef,” in French, and Sawyer coughed out a laugh.
“I’m framing theLe Mondephoto.” Dean slid a teasing glance at Madison, who shot dagger eyes back. “Maybe you and Pierre need Glamour Shots. Do they have those in Paris? I think a huge portrait of you two crazy kids would look great in the entryway to the restaurant. Pierre would look terrific with big hair and Vaseline on his beak.”
“You do that, Dean,” Madison warned, ripping her croissant apart with frightening efficiency, “and you’re a dead man.”
“Pierre’s the cutest pet, don’t you think?” Thea said brightly, reaching over to stroke his feathered chest. “We’re so lucky to have him.”
Madison broke first and smiled. “Thea, Pierre can visit your bakery once it opens.” A process that was already underway. The space they’d found had to be renovated, and Thea’s business license needed to go through. A done deal with a lawyer as her fiancé, so little sister was in a good place. With a wicked smirk, Madison added, “I don’t want to hog all his time.”
She clapped, making Pierre rock on Dean’s arm in delight. “Yay!” she exclaimed. “He’s so welcome atLes Mellieurs des Amiswhen we get up and running.I still can’t get over the way Pierre deciphered every spice Kyle put in front of him the other night.”
That game had been incredible, and by the end of the evening, even Madison had been laughing while assessing her new kitchen partner differently. Or so Dean hoped.
“I confess I was impressed by his nose,” Nanine said after sipping her café. “If we’ve received that many calls, it would seem we have much to do. Kyle, you and Dean didn’t happen to create one of your spreadsheets this morning, did you? For the opening?”
Dean fought a frown. Nanine detested their work planning software, so what was she angling at?
