Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel (16 page)

“You ready to order?” Sam flicked Ty a glance while making drinks with lightning speed.

“Meat loaf special,” Ty answered with a nod, but then sighed, thinking this going-slow thing wasn’t going to be easy. Ty was used to going full throttle. It was everything he could do not to head on into the kitchen and drag Jessica into his arms in front of God and everybody. His heart thumped. He was half tempted to do it.

With another sigh, Ty looked up at the flat-screen television and checked out the score of the Cincinnati Reds preseason baseball game, but watched the action without
much interest. All he could think about was getting a kiss from Jessica. When his meat loaf arrived, his attention was diverted by the delicious meal and a very nice glass of 2008 Estate Merlot from Elk Creek Winery. Jessica’s wine list included several Kentucky wineries, and this one was a favorite of his.

Ty smiled when he spotted Madison heading his way. Jason wasn’t with her, since he had been burning the midnight oil on last-minute work over at the stadium. The kid was talented and a hard worker.

“Well, hello there, Ty.” Madison greeted him with a bright smile. “Enjoy your dinner?” She glanced down at his nearly clean plate. “Ah, meat loaf and merlot?”

Ty wiped his mouth with his napkin and scooted around to face her. “Well, after all, it is called Wine and Diner.”

Madison nodded slowly and raised her palms upward. “My mama is a genius.”

“I won’t argue that.”

“Have you seen her yet tonight?”

Ty toyed with the neck of his beer bottle and tried to appear casual and not like a lovesick puppy. “No . . .”

“Was that a pout?”

“Hold on. I’m a dude. An athlete!” Ty sat up straighter. “I don’t pout.”

Madison arched one blond brow and gave him a pointed look.

“Okay, yes, that was a pout. But, hey, I know she’s busy.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Yes, she
is
, but Mom has very capable people back there, especially at this time of night, when things are starting to wind down. Ty, we close in just a little while. She can leave the doggone kitchen. I told her she needs to get out here and mingle with the customers, and she delegated that job to me.” Madison sighed. “I don’t mind, but Mom’s tired and could use a cold drink. But do you think she would listen? No-oo.”

“So she refuses to leave the kitchen?”

“Yes,” Madison replied darkly, but then tapped her finger against her cheek. A moment later, her eyes widened.
“Hmm . . .”

“What?”

She bit her bottom lip and then leaned in closer, away from prying eyes and ears. “I think I might have thought of a plan. Are you game?”

Ty grinned. “What do you think?”

Madison angled her head with her hands on her hips. “I’m thinking yes.”

“You’d be right.”

“Awesome!” She leaned her forearm on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, “Now, here’s what I want you to do. . . .”

J
essica moved her head from side to side and then rolled her shoulders in an effort to ease the tension. She was elated that Wine and Diner was packed—on a Tuesday night, no less—but waves of exhaustion washed over her. The flattering
Southern Living
article that hit the stands yesterday was such a blessing, but she was running on fumes. She glanced around the kitchen, searching for potential problems, but each station seemed to be running smoothly and they were slowly sliding into cleanup mode. Everyone was weary but remained upbeat, making Jessica smile. This was a good crew.

Jessica felt a little guilty sending Madison out to mingle, but she was bone-tired and her bubbly daughter was so much better in that capacity than she would ever hope to be. And while Jessica was sorry for Bella’s recent breakup and the loss of her job at Chicago Blue, having her as hostess, particularly on a night like tonight, was a blessing. Jessica also knew that Bella’s mother, Nicolina, would soon blow into Cricket Creek like a hurricane, especially when she learned that her daughter had moved in with a complete stranger! Jessica had been shocked when Madison had given her the news that Bella and Logan were roommates, and
none too happy when Madison had also confessed to orchestrating the situation. But Madison had given Jessica the matchmaker look of
I know what I’m doing
, and she knew there was no arguing with Madison’s gut feeling.

“Mom!”

Jessica turned at Madison’s shout and was brought out of her musings. She mustered a smile and tried not to appear too tired, even though she was, as Aunt Myra would say, plumb tuckered out. Her heart kicked it up a notch when she witnessed the look on Madison’s face. “Sweetie, is there something wrong?”

“Well . . .” Madison pressed her lips together and nodded slowly. “We seem to have a disgruntled customer.”

“Oh no! Really?”

“Yes.” Madison continued to nod.

“Was it the food?” Jessica asked with a frown, and then pulled her daughter out into the hallway, away from the heat and the kitchen clatter. Plus, everyone had worked so hard tonight, she didn’t want to bring the crew down.

Madison tucked a blond curl behind her ear. “Actually, it was the service.”

“Seriously?” Jessica angled her head in disbelief. She leaned back against the exposed brick wall and sighed. “So what did you do?”

“Offered free dessert.”

“Always a pleaser. Good job, Madison,” Jessica said, and then pushed away from the wall. “So did it work?”

“Well, I believe so, but he wanted the person in charge to deliver it personally.”

“Me?” Jessica splayed a hand on her chest and groaned. “Oh, honey. I’m so tired! Can’t Bella do it? She’s a charmer when she wants to be.”

“He only wanted you. You know, I mean, the owner.”

“Where’s Aunt Myra?”

“She was helping Bella handle the crowd, but when things slowed down, she was making goo-goo eyes at Owen,
who stopped in for dinner. They hightailed it out of here about an hour ago.”

“Well, damn!” Jessica felt anger flare up like the flame on a gas stove turned on high. “You know, just once I’d like to drag a disgruntled jackass back here by his ear and shove him into this inferno of a kitchen. I’d like him to see the work and effort that goes into preparing the perfect meal over and over again. Then maybe he’d shut his big mouth! Oh, and the service? Nobody works harder than a good waiter! And our staff is fucking fantastic!”

Madison’s eyes widened.

“Sorry about the language,” she muttered darkly, but for once she really wasn’t. She folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I would like to take an entire pie out there and shove it in his face! Bet he’d be disgruntled then!”

Madison winced. “Um, maybe you’d better not do that. Really.”

“Oh, you know I’m just venting. Okay, my rant is . . . Hey, wait.” Jessica looked at Madison closely. “Why do I suddenly smell something fishy?”

Madison raised her shoulders slightly. “Um, maybe it’s the halibut? That was excellent, by the way. The sauce—”

“Ma-di-son!”

“What?” Madison lifted her palms upward. “Hey, you’d better sashay out there with that dessert. I believe he requested, um, your Kentucky Nut Pie.”

“Let me guess. With extra bourbon-laced whipped cream?” Jessica asked in a knowing tone.

“Maybe . . . Oh, that sounds good. I think I’ll go rustle up a slice for Jason. He should be home soon.”

“You’re meddling again, aren’t you?”

“No . . . okay, maybe.”

“There is never a
maybe
with you.”

“Okay, yes,” Madison admitted, and bestowed Jessica with her best don’t-be-mad-at-me smile.

Jessica uncrossed her arms and put her fists on her hips. “I don’t know whether I should be pissed or relieved.”

“I totally vote for relieved.”

“Madison, you didn’t have to fabricate this. Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”

“Yeah, right! You wouldn’t have left the kitchen if I had said that Ty wanted to hang out for a while. Now, would you?”

“No!”

“See!”

“That doesn’t make it right!”

Madison put her hands on Jessica’s shoulders. “I didn’t really make it up,” she defended. “Ty McKenna is a customer and he was disgruntled . . . in a manner of speaking.”

“You are stretching the truth like a rubber band.”

“Who cares?” Madison dropped her hands. “You’ve been out here with me and the restaurant is running just fine! You work too hard. Take a little time to enjoy the view!”

Jessica snorted.

“Okay, that was reaching. Sounds better when Barbara Walters says it.”

“You seriously watch
The View
?”

“Sometimes, until they annoy me by talking over one another.” She waved her hand in the air. “That’s not the point. You work too much.”

“It’s the nature of this business. Restaurants have a very high failure rate, Madison.”

“Mom . . .”

“And so do relationships,” she muttered, and then put a hand over her mouth.

“Too late. You said it out loud. The truth comes out. You’re still afraid.”

Jessica felt emotion well up in her throat.

“Mom, look. It’s okay to be guarded, but not jaded. Believe me, I get it. But it’s not okay not to give this a shot. The only failure is in not trying.”

“Hey.” Jessica gave her a small smile. “When did you become the mother and I become the kid?”

“I’m repeating what you taught me not only through words but through action. Now go take Ty his dessert. He’s waiting out on the patio.”

“Okay.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Kentucky Nut Pie with extra bourbon whipped cream.”

Madison chuckled softly.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Jessica tapped her foot.

“Kentucky Nut Pie was the first dessert that popped into my head. He didn’t even ask for it. All he wants is you. But I find it so sweet, if you’ll pardon the pun, that you knew his obvious favorite.”

“Madison, the man eats here all the time.”

“So do a lot of people, and I bet you don’t know their favorite desserts. As a matter of fact, you used to only have it here on Derby weekend, but I seem to recall that you suddenly decided to keep it on the menu.”

“I have a lot of Kentucky favorites on the menu.” She put her index finger to her pinky and started ticking them off. “Kentucky Hot Brown, Kentucky Bourbon Balls, Dead Heat Kentucky Burgoo . . .”

“Yeah, the
new
menu! You kept the Derby Pie for Ty McKenna. Fess up!”

“Okay, busted. So what? He’s a loyal customer. Just like you and martini Mondays at Sully’s.”

“Mom! Stop arguing and get your butt out there, with or without the Derby Pie!”

“I’m a mess!”

“Take your chef’s whites off, slap on some lipstick, and get on out there before he dips out. Although I’m sure he knew this was going to take some doing. For pity’s sake, you are enough to wear a person out, Mom. I swear!” She
made shooing motions with her fingers. “Go! And don’t bother with dessert! The man wants some sugar from you!”

“Ma-di-son! You are the only one who would say something like that to your mother.”

“You say my name like that a lot, you know. I’m going to call you Jess-i-ca!”

“Okay, I’m going,” Jessica promised, but then turned away so that Madison couldn’t see the sudden emotion that her innocent comment caused. She hurried across the hallway and into her office, quickly closing the door. She put a hand over her mouth and willed herself not to sob. Jessica had suddenly remembered that her mother would do the same thing and break her name into syllables whenever she would pop off. When her father had been gone on some business trip or whatever, she and her mother would relax and enjoy each other. Back then, Jessica’s humor had been much like Madison’s whenever her father wasn’t around.

She shook her head. The sudden memory of her mother had taken her by surprise. It hurt to this day that her mother had chosen not to be a part of her life.

“Damn it!” Jessica remembered her conversation with Ty and whispered, “I will no longer let the mistakes of others rule my life!” She sniffed, but then stiffened her spine while fumbling with the buttons on her chef’s jacket. When she finally got it off, she tossed it aside, tugged off her checkered pants, and quickly located her black leggings and soft pink tunic. It wasn’t fancy, but would have to do. After touching up her lipstick, she hurried into the kitchen and slid a slice of pie into a to-go box and added a generous dollop of her famous bourbon-laced whipped cream. After inhaling a deep breath, she headed out the back entrance and around the corner to the patio.

Jessica smiled. She was on a mission, and Mr. Triple Treat wasn’t going to know what hit him.

T
y reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his cell phone for the fifth time. It was pushing ten o’clock. He had been waiting for Jessica for more than twenty minutes. Madison’s little scheme hadn’t worked.

Jessica wasn’t coming.

With a long sigh, he glanced over to where light spilled from the French doors, hoping once again to see Jessica emerge. “Well, damn,” he muttered. Despite his disappointment, he had to admire the surroundings. Even in the muted light, Ty could see that Jason had laid a lovely oval, brick-paved patio, and Owen had done a fantastic job with the landscaping. Green ivy spilled over the top of tall terra-cotta planters filled with a plethora of colorful spring flowers. The soothing sound of gurgling water stemmed from a fountain in the far corner of the patio, and strategically placed trees would eventually add shade and privacy to the outdoor space. The bronzed, wrought-iron furniture had a rustic edge, but the mosaic tabletops added a touch of elegance that was a perfect feel for Wine and Diner.

Jessica had told Ty of her future plans for live music and an expanded patio that would include a gazebo for Madison, who wanted an outdoor wedding. With a shake of his
head, Ty wondered if Jessica realized how well he had gotten to know her over the past year, despite her attempts to keep him at arm’s length. And after making love to her, she meant even more to him. He chuckled softly, but it suddenly scared him that he might never be able to break down her walls and have her come to him without reservation.