Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,97
course appeared from the kitchen, just as they’d rehearsed. “I see the servers are bringing out prosciutto and arugula pizzas for your table, family style, to be paired with the Tangle Valley pinot grigio, which will be coming around shortly. Enjoy your evening. I’ll check in with you later.” More applause as she exited and the meal kicked off.
When she got back to the kitchen, there was no time to catch her breath. She had four more courses ahead of her and didn’t plan to drop the ball. She worked with determined focus, and sure enough, she and the chefs in her kitchen found a productive rhythm, calling out to each other in a communication win, surprising her how few hiccups there were, given it was their first true test.
Ninety minutes later, when the tiramisu plates were empty and set aside, the buzz from the tipsy, happy diners was overwhelmingly positive. She stood at the door, shaking hands with her guests as they exited, accepting the occasional cheek kiss, and inviting them back for a more traditional dining experience in the future. All vowed to return.
Once the guests had gone, Joey hugged her, eyes glistening. “Amazing.”
Next was Madison’s turn. She took both of Gabriella’s hands, beaming. “I’m serious when I say, Gabs, that tonight was another level. One of the best meals of my life.”
The compliment meant so much to her that she felt the pride bursting from her chest. She grinned. “Well, I hope to bring you many more. Can I just say thank you for being here? Both of you.” She teared up because she needed people in her corner and these guys had been there. “I mean it.”
Joey slung an arm around Maddie’s shoulders. “We might be here every night if you’re not careful.”
“They’ll have to wait for a reservation,” Becca said. “Your staff was taking them down like crazy after dinner. People already want back in and want to bring their friends.”
“They do?” Gabriella hadn’t anticipated a clamoring, but she’d take it. Hot damn. They’d open for official business in just five days, but she felt ready now. Tonight had given her that confidence.
It was here. At long last Tangled was a reality, and apparently it was happening at exactly the right time. She needed a positive distraction from her crash and burn love life. Even just touching on the thought now, gutted her. Tonight should have gone differently. She’d had so many fantasies about opening the restaurant with Ryan, who’d been such a big part of the process, by her side.
The truth was maybe she didn’t know Ryan as well as she thought she did. Maybe learning all of this now was a good thing, before they got in any deeper, before the hurt became immeasurable. As she stood alone in the kitchen after every last soul had finished for the night, she realized in the midst of the acute ache in her chest, she was already too late for that.
And immeasurable was an understatement.
* * *
It was after midnight when Ryan heard the sound of tires on the gravel road out front. She’d been sitting on that dock for who knew how long at that point, still dressed for the event, still ashamed of herself for not being able to get out of the damn truck and show up for the person she loved, someone who deserved it. She’d thought about a beer but wasn’t confident she could stomach it. Instead, she’d sought out her thinking spot where she could look out over the water. The light from her back deck was enough for her to glimpse its gentle motion.
Something in her was breaking, and she wasn’t sure how to stop it. The water carried no answers, no matter how long she sat there.
She blinked at the sound of a car approaching. Who was out this way so late? She turned and in the glow of its headlights saw a familiar Jeep pull into her driveway and park behind her truck. She felt sick. Panicked. Guilt-stricken. Now what? How was she supposed to explain herself?
She found Gabriella knocking on her door when she came around the side of the house, slid her hands into her back pockets, and sighed. “I’m sorry.”
At the sound of her voice, Gabriella turned and stared. “You look awful.”
“Thanks.” A pause. “How did it go?”
Gabriella’s steely gaze seemed to pierce right through her in its intensity. “I’m here to tell you that you don’t get to ask that.”