Page 58 of Sawyer
Dean didn’t wait for Thea to plate his bread. He grabbed itfrom her hand and took a giant bite, groaning under his breath. “It’s a breadgasm.”
“I love breadgasms!” Phoebe cried out as she leaned forward and helped Thea serve people, earning her points with Brooke and Madison, he imagined.
When she tried the bread, she also gave a throaty groan. “Do you have this for sale on your site, Thea? Because I’ve already bought a bunch of tickets for your breads, and I really want to know I can count on this being in my life in the future.”
Thea beamed as the two women shared a conspiratorial smile. Yeah, Phoebe had won Thea over. Not that Sawyer had been concerned about her. It was Brooke and Madison who were the most protective.
“Thank you, but I’m not sure the recipe is ready,” Thea replied, humble as always.
Dean made an enthusiastic sound because his mouth was full before calling out, “It’s ready!”
“Dean,” Madison said with a pointed glare, “if I’d gone with your numerousit’s readyassurances on my duck with cherries recipe, we’d never have gotten frizzled tarragon. Leave Thea to her craft. She’ll know when it’s ready.”
Sawyer couldn’t help but blink. He’d never seen Madison get so protective of Thea, but then again, they’d grown a lot closer since working on the new menu together.
“Thank you, Chef,” she responded, a sweet smile on her face.
Madison only nodded and took her first bite. “What about cardamom? But the smoked kind? To bring out the caramel notes more?”
“Oui!”Pierre called with a squawk after lifting his beak.
“Oh, that’s a good suggestion.” Thea spun around to Jean Luc so fast, he had to put his hand on her waist to balance her. “What do you think,mon cher?You have tried nearly every recipe.”
“I’ve never enjoyed smoked cardamom,chérie,so I fear I cannot help.” He kissed the top of her head. “But I look forward to sampling it.”
“I agree on the smoked cardamom,” Kyle uttered softly, glancing briefly at Madison. “One of my old chefs used it in a BBQ rub that had strong caramel notes, and it worked like a dream. Price point is higher, but you and Madison know that. If you decide it’s the way, we’ll find a good supplier.”
Sawyer took in the vibes between him and Madison as they stared at each other. The heat between them was so tangible Sawyer swore he could see the heat signature waver through the air. Then Madison picked up her champagne and looked off. But Kyle’s gaze stayed on her, the longing so intense, it reminded Sawyer of the night they’d talked at Nanine’s. His friend was hurting from love while he was dancing on clouds because of Phoebe.
God, he hoped Kyle would figure out a plan soon.
Brooke ran Phoebe through their simple but highly revealing game. They took turns asking questions, and everyone at the table was supposed to answer them with balls-out honesty. Passing meant drinking. Brooke added a little levity by adding that Thea was a ringer and one to watch out for, which made Thea dance in place, her chestnut hair bouncing.
“I have some good questions planned,” she shared with another happy shake of her shoulders.
Which meant Jean Luc had helped her again. They’d better look out.
Madison put Pierre in his cage and covered it, moving him out of the kitchen so he could sleep. When she returned, the only barstool left was next to Kyle since all of the Plus Ones were settled in pairs. She stiffened for a moment before seating herself and edging her stool a little further off, pretending it wasn’t properly shimmed. Of course it was, but Kyle helped her, giving her more space.
Everyone pretended not to watch, but Phoebe squeezed his thigh under the table, her lips pressed firmly together. Yeah, because it was painful to see them like this. All their former ease with each other was gone.
“Okay,” Brooke called out too loudly as she gathered up a bunch of straws, which she’d cut different lengths. “Shortest straw wins first round of questions.”
Kyle earned the short straw, and he loosened up his shoulders as if trying to get into the spirit of the game. Because dude was tense as Madison sat stiffly next to him with a foot between their barstools. “All right. Here we go. I’m taking a page out of old Thea’s book tonight and asking a positive question.”
Thea clapped. “I love that. Can I answer first?”
“You bet.” Kyle’s smile was coming back into play. “What is your happiest memory so far?”
“Oh! I know. I know.” She was jumping up and down on her barstool so much Jean Luc put his arm around her. “The day when I decided to stay in Paris and start my bakery only to have Jean Luc propose moments later, and then I found out you guys wanted to back my bakery. Happiest moment ever! Who’s next?”
“I’ll go,” Jean Luc announced. “It was the day my beautiful Thea agreed to marry me.”
“You two crazy kids are so sweet!” Dean was already lifting his lady’s hand to his mouth for a kiss. “The moment I met my Lady Jacs, of course.”
He listened to Brooke and Axel share their happiest memories, meeting each other—the love theme continued—while he rolled the question over in his mind.
Except it wasn’t hard to answer this one.
