Unexpected Rush

“Finalized the purchase of the property, gutted it, and they’re already starting construction on the place.”

“Have you come up with a name for your new restaurant?” Harmony asked.

“Yeah. Ninety-Two.”

Barrett’s lips ticked up. “Your jersey number?”

“Yup. It was my college jersey number and my pro number. So far it’s been lucky for me. And this way the restaurant doesn’t have my name on it.”

Harmony took a sip of tea, then set her glass on the table. “Why don’t you want your restaurant to bear your name?”

Flynn shrugged. “First, I don’t have that big an ego. Second, I think it’s better to be subtle. The food should speak for itself. I want people to come in because they like the food and the ambiance, not because they think I might be in there—which frankly, I probably won’t be. My goal is to let the talented people run the place.”

“But you’ll have some say-so on who runs the place, such as chefs and management, right?” Harmony asked.

“Yes. I’ve already hired someone to manage the place, but he and I will work together on the rest of the hires. I’m no world-class chef, but I know food and I know what I want as far as people cooking for me.”

“So you have some ideas on chefs?”

“I have a few ideas.”

“In other words, you plan to steal from your competition?” Harmony asked.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you implied it.”

“Maybe.” He gave her a devilish smile and put the bottle of beer to his lips, tilted it back and finished it off.

“Now I’m very curious. And I’d love to see your restaurant.”

“It’s mainly just a shell right now. But we’ll do a drive-by. And I’m interviewing for a head chef this afternoon.”

“We can take two cars,” Barrett said. “I told Harmony we could take in some sights.”

“Perfect. If you want to change or get ready or something, we can leave in about thirty minutes.”

“I’m good with what I’m wearing,” Barrett said.

Harmony had worn leggings on the plane, and she definitely wanted to freshen up and change clothes. “I’ll go get ready.”

“I’m going to sit here and finish this beer,” Barrett said.

She smiled. “You do that.”

She went over to the guesthouse, took a few minutes to unpack, then washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair and redid her makeup. She decided on a pair of black capris, a long-sleeved blouse, and slid into a pair of wedges. She also grabbed her sweater, which seemed a little ridiculous for July, but she’d already been warned about San Francisco’s weather, which could be cool in the summer months.

After sliding on a bracelet and applying lip gloss, she made her way back to the main house, marveling at all the gorgeous greenery in Flynn’s yard. It wasn’t a huge yard, but whoever had done the landscaping had done a great job. There were a couple of trees to provide shade, some medium-sized bushes along the fence perimeter, and several flowering plants to give off color. Nothing major, but just enough to make it look homey and comfortable without being cluttered. And the fire pit was a perfect touch.

She went inside and only Flynn was in the kitchen.

“Where’s Barrett?”

“He went to take a leak.”

“Okay.”

“Are you hungry?” Flynn asked.

“A little.”

“I know this great place. You’re going to love the food here.”

“I can’t wait.”

Barrett showed up and slid his arm around her waist. “Hungry?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes. But not starving, so you can relax about the food thing. I’m not about to faint or anything.”

He smiled down at her. “Noted. But I’m hungry, so let’s go eat.”

They piled in their cars and drove to what Barrett told her was Hayes Valley, where Flynn had bought his restaurant. It was a charming—no—gorgeous section of San Francisco, filled with Victorian homes, but also had a vibrant fresh vibe about it. She couldn’t wait to explore.

They found a place to park and got out.

“This looks like a fabulous area,” Harmony said.

Flynn nodded. “I looked at a lot of places. I ate at a lot of places, talked to quite a few people who lived in those areas. This one was just it for me. Plus it’s close to where I live. It has an old-city charm to it, yet modern and fresh. It just felt . . . right.”

She could tell Flynn loved this area. Who wouldn’t, with its tree-lined sidewalks and people milling about, wandering up and down the street and stopping in the shops. She was kind of envious of Flynn being able to live in such a beautiful city.

He took them into a restaurant called The Grove, very atmospheric with a woodsy décor. They were seated and presented with the menu.

Harmony perused it, her stomach grumbling.

“Well,” she said, as she laid the menu down, “I want everything.”

Flynn laughed. “I’ve had just about everything on the menu. Trust me, it’s all good.”

Since they served breakfast all day, and it was her favorite meal, she settled for the salmon omelet. Barrett decided on a turkey club and Flynn the tuna melt. They ordered drinks, which their waitress brought over right away.

“Tell me about the chef you’re interviewing today,” Barrett asked.