Tia laughed. “I know. I’ve never made this many pizzas in my life.”
Lara patted her on the shoulder. “I know you can do it. This is absolutely wonderful and so much fun. I’ve spoken to so many people I can’t even remember their names, but they all love Wednesday’s already.”
Tia’s heart warmed at the thought that her little diner had already crept into her customer’s hearts. That was exactly what she wanted. She wanted people to feel comfortable, relaxed, and welcome.
It was a feeling that was synonymous with small-town diners, and that was what Tia had missed the year she had worked in restaurants and coffee shops. In New York no one had a name, a regular order. Tia had missed that, and that was her one aim with Wednesday’s. The afternoon went by in a flurry of baking pizzas and welcoming patrons. Tia loved every minute of it.
“When you’re done with that one, I’ll take over. Brent had to leave urgently, but he said his driver is waiting for you outside so you can join him.”
“What? I’m not leaving now,” Tia exclaimed. “Especially not to sit and wait for him to finalize another billion-dollar deal.”
Lara laughed. “Tia, he asked nicely. Besides, I doubt it’s a meeting he went to; he sounded very mysterious.”
Tia glanced at the orders and the waiting patrons. She had no more pizzas to bake and there were a few already ready, waiting to be baked if Lara needed them. “I’ll go, but I’ll be back soon. If you need more pizzas, just slide them in the oven for eight minutes.”
Lara laughed. “Tia, I can handle it. I’m the manager, after all.”
Tia sighed and shook her head. “What the hell is that man up to? Honestly, sometimes I don’t get him.”
As Tia left the kitchen to meet Brent’s driver, she didn’t notice the small happy dance Lara did in her absence.
Tia sat in the back of the black town car Brent used to get around the city and looked at her watch. Fifteen minutes, that was all he was getting. Then she was heading back to Wednesdays. The car pulled up in parking lot and Tia frowned, confused. As she stepped out of the car, she saw Brent.
He was kneeling on the exact spot where he had bumped into her that rainy night, a large bouquet of roses in his hands. Her hand flitted to her chest as tears started to well in her eyes. “Brent?” she asked softly as she walked towards him.
Brent smiled at her and handed her the roses. “I’ve never been gladder to run anyone over in my entire life.”
Tia laughed and shook her head. “Well, I’ve never been happier to be run over.”
Brent gave her that dashing, cocky grin and took her one hand in his. “I’ve always been selfish. Selfish with my time, my heart, and selfish with my emotions. You’ve taught me that to share them can be the most rewarding feeling. Tia, I’d like nothing more than to share the rest of my life with you. Tia Blues, will you marry me?”
Tia felt her knees tremble beneath her and her heart soared into the clouds as her breath backed up in her throat. How much more perfect could this day get? “Brent, I never thought I’d ever see you again, but now that I have you in my life, I never want to let you go.”
“So you’ll stay?” Brent asked, getting up and framing her face with his hands, the roses crushed between them.
Tia smiled and as the perfume of crushed roses drifted between them, Tia answered him. “I’ll stay for eternity and a day.”
As they kissed, thunder roared overhead and suddenly rain started pelting towards the ground. Neither Tia nor Brent moved, but they both smiled, knowing fate had just sealed the deal.
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Billionaire's Accident Page 10