“Yeah, buddy. Get in there and make some chocolates,” Erica piped in as she approached the counter.
“Hmm…,” Gavin said. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let her in the kitchen. I’ll have fewer chocolates than I started with.”
“Hey, I provide a much needed service,” she said. Gavin raised a brow in inquiry. “Quality control,” she offered.
He barked out a laugh.
“It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it,” Erica said.
“Come on. I heard you came looking for me.”
“I did.” She followed him into the kitchen. “Heard you had a hot lunch date.”
“Really? You heard my date was hot? I’ll have to tell Dalton. He’ll be happy to hear that.”
“Dalton?”
Gavin nodded. “My old college roommate and business partner at Technology Concepts. He and I met for lunch, although we chose to forego lunch in exchange for a pick-up game of basketball.”
“So, you were out with your old roommate,” she said.
That was relief he heard in her voice. There was no mistaking it. Before Gavin could address it, Erica continued, “So, do you want to hear about the phone call I got today?”
No. He wanted to talk about why she was so relieved that he hadn’t been out to lunch with another woman.
“Tell me about your call,” he said, knowing she would just brush off his other question. Using a box cutter to slice open the box of round chocolate discs that had arrived, he popped one in his mouth and tossed one over to Erica so she could sample.
“Umm…good,” she said.
“Yeah. I like this blend of milk and semi-sweet. It goes really well with the fruit-filled chocolates. So,” Gavin looked over at her. “What was the call about?”
With an excited gleam lighting up those warm brown eyes, she said, “Your Wildest Dreams is about to go national.”
Chapter Five
Erica couldn’t help but laugh at the befuddled look on Gavin’s face.
“Let me back up a bit,” she said. “I was at the zoo this morning—”
“What were you doing at the zoo?”
“That’s not important,” Erica said. “Well, actually, it is important, but we’ll get to that later. Anyway, I was meeting with the Audubon Zoo’s director of operations when I got a call, but, of course, I let it go to voicemail. Later, when I listened to the message, I learned it was from a Hilton Banks with an investment firm called The Hawthorn Group. They specialize in investing in businesses that are ripe for franchising.”
“I had no idea you were even interested in becoming a franchise. And a national one, at that?”
“I’ve never considered it,” Erica replied. “Really, why would I? Your Wildest Dreams is just over three years old. It takes most companies five times that long before they get any kind of franchising interest.” Erica shook her head. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“So it is happening? You’ve already agreed to it?” Gavin asked.
“No, no, no.” She held her hands up. “I’m getting ahead of myself, as usual. I’ve only had one call with the man from The Hawthorn Group. He explained exactly what they do and mentioned some of the businesses they’ve brought nationwide in the past.”
“Anything around here?”
She nodded. “A massage business and yogurt franchise. There are several of both around the city, in Metairie, and on the North Shore. Of course, I’ve scoured the Internet for every bit of information I can find on them. Everything Mr. Banks claims, I’ve found back-up evidence for online.”
Gavin leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “This is a pretty bold move.”
“It isn’t guaranteed yet,” she said. She swiped another chocolate disc from the box and popped it in her mouth. “According to Hilton Banks, their company has several small businesses they are considering at the moment.”
His jaw turned to stone. “So they buy up smaller businesses and take them over,” he stated in a hard voice.
“No, Gavin. It’s not the same thing that happened with you and Technology Concepts. The Hawthorn Group helps small businesses to grow.”
Erica could tell that he wasn’t completely convinced.
“They’ve asked me to come up with a sample ultimate date-night experience,” she continued. “Several of their executives will be in New Orleans in a few weeks for a convention, and will go on the ‘date.’”
“That shouldn’t be hard. You put together date night packages all the time.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t just come out of thin air. You know this.” She gestured toward him. “You’ve had the Your Wildest Dreams treatment before. One of the things that make my company special is that the client and I go through a comprehensive interview so I can tailor their experience specifically to them. I need to know a person’s likes and dislikes. I’m not into just doing the generic.”
“So, what do you have in mind?”
“Well, I was hoping you could help me with that,” she said. “The Hawthorn Group will reimburse me for the fantasy night I create, and because you were one of my first clients who gave me a ‘money is no object’ budget, I figured this would be right up your alley. I want you to pretend you’re looking for another ultimate experience for you and…well, whoever you would consider sharing an ultimate Your Wildest Dreams experience with.”
An amused smirk pulled at the corners of his lips. “You are horrible at subtlety, Erica. Why don’t you just come out and ask me what you want to ask?”
“What?”
“If there is something brewing between me and Whitney?”
“That’s not what I was thinking,” she argued. “You said you were at lunch with your old college roommate. You didn’t see Whitney after lunch, did you?”
“Would it matter?” Gavin asked.
“No,” she said quickly, though she wanted to scream Yes! Of course it would matter! Erica held her hands up, palms out. “You can see whoever you want. I just want to make sure you’re not doing anything stupid, Gavin.”
“Like?”
Erica shot him an evil look. He was going to make her say it.
But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe he needed a reminder, especially if he was thinking of starting up with his ex-fiancée again.
“Do you remember when we first ran into each other again a couple of years ago? It was at the French Market, much like the way we ran into each other yesterday.”
Gavin nodded. “Just so happens I was buying groceries for dinner then, too.”
“The first person I asked about was Whitney, because our only other encounter was when I’d put together her birthday fantasy night.”
“I’d just broken up with her,” Gavin said, his voice icier than a second earlier.
“And your dad had just died, and you had just left your company,” Erica stated. “You were in a dark place back then, Gavin, and Whitney Parker was a big part of that. I don’t want to see you hurting like that ever again.”
He walked over to her. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “I am in no danger of being pulled in by Whitney. That ship has sailed, and I have no intentions of climbing onboard again.” Staring down at her, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks for caring.”
Erica’s skin tingled where his fingers had touched it. She prudently stepped to the side, putting some distance between them.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t run her over with your car after the way she helped them take your company,” Erica said.
“Because that’s against the law, isn’t it?”
“Justifiable homicide.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I was upset at the way it all went down, but a part of me was ready to let go. Whitney wanted the company so badly; why not let her have it?”
“Oh, Gavin Foster. So gallant.” Erica laughed.
“That’s me, a regular knight in shining armor.”
“Pretty close,”
Erica said. “Except you’re better. You’re a knight who carries chocolates.”
“Yet you’re still looking elsewhere.”
Erica’s smile faltered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Gavin huffed out a tired laugh. “If I have to spell it out for you, then I’m in an even worse position than I thought I was.”
Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other, Gavin’s gaze piercing, challenging. The air was charged with awareness, saturated with feelings neither of them had ever had the courage to express in words to each other.
Conflicting emotions warred within Erica’s being, jostling for the uppermost spot in her brain: desire, anxiety, excitement, fear.
Overwhelming fear.
Fear of losing her friend, the confidant whom she called on in both good times and when things got a bit shaky. It had happened before, back in high school. She’d stupidly allowed things to go too far between her and Marvin Cross, who had been her best friend since third grade. Marvin had been her confidant, too. When her mother had been too busy to bother with her, Erica had turned to him.
And, then, one night—one foolish night, when two teenagers decided to experiment—things changed. She and Marvin’s relationship was never the same after that night she’d crossed the line from friend to lover. The thought of the same happening between her and Gavin made her throat tighten with horrified fear.
And then, of course, there was the fear that she’d fall victim to the scenario she’d witnessed so many times in her youth, her mother lying in bed for days, suffering from her latest tragic relationship disaster. How many times had she told Erica that she should expect nothing more from a man than his very least? It was just the way they were.
But Erica knew that wasn’t true. The strongest friendships she’d had in her life were both with men. It was when you allowed it to get muddied up with sex that things started to fall apart. She’d learned that lesson already, it would not happen a second time.
Erica turned away so she wouldn’t have to face Gavin’s piercing stare. She walked over to the opposite side of the room, her eyes roaming around the pristine kitchen as she ran her hands up and down her arms, warding off a chill that had nothing to do with the setting on the thermostat.
“So will you help me come up with something for The Hawthorn Group?” she asked.
When Gavin didn’t answer for several moments, Erica glanced his way. The expression on his face told her that he had no intention of allowing her to change the subject. Erica sent him a pleading look, imploring him to let her off the hook.
She knew she was being unfair—selfish even. But with everything that was going on right now—the hotel issue, this potential franchising opportunity—she couldn’t deal with this thing that had suddenly surfaced between her and Gavin. Their friendship was the one steady thing in her life, the thing she could always count on. And she desperately needed her friend right now.
The hard line of Gavin’s jaw stiffened even more, and Erica could see the indecision playing back and forth across his face. Finally, with a shake of his head, he said, “Why don’t we grab a bite to eat? We can hash things out over dinner.”
Relief flooded through her. Before he could walk away, Erica caught his arm. He paused for a lengthy stretch of time before looking back at her.
“Thank you,” she said.
Erica knew she didn’t have to spell it out, but she felt the need to acknowledge that she was aware of what had become abundantly apparent. Their relationship had shifted. And as much as it scared her to accept it, she knew there was no denying it.
With an irritated breath, he said, “Yeah, the knight in shining armor to the rescue again.”
She released his arm, and looked away. “Gavin, I’m not blind,” she said. Erica raised pleading eyes to his. “But I really need my friend right now. Please, can you just be my friend?”
“And just ignore the obvious? That’s what you’re asking me to do?”
She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “For the moment,” she said. “This…this other thing that’s happening between us is a lot to deal with. I just need my sounding board right now.”
Gavin stared at her for such a long time Erica started to get antsy. Just when she thought he would send her packing, he took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen.
***
Gavin asked Tonya whether she could handle the rest of the close-up duties and led Erica out of Decadente. They walked over to the sushi restaurant in the Riverwalk’s food court. Gavin ordered her favorite California roll and brought the food over to the table Erica had chosen, which overlooked the water.
When he sat, Erica flattened her palms on the table and sucked in a deep breath. “Before we start, I just want to make it clear that I understand that things are changing between us, Gavin.”
He rolled his eyes. “I thought we were ignoring this ‘other thing,’ as you called it.”
Her mouth tilted in a reproachful frown. “Stop it, Gavin. I know it’s not just a thing. And I’m not completely ignoring it.”
“Looks that way to me.”
She held her hands out. “Gavin, we have been platonic friends for nearly two years, and now you’re asking me to just turn up the heat like an oven?”
“I’m not asking you to do anything,” he said. He used chopsticks to pick up a portion of the California roll and dip it in soy sauce. “I’m here to help you figure out what to do about this franchising deal. Let’s get to it.”
“So now you’re going to get all pissy with me?”
Gavin dropped the sushi without taking a bite. He brought his hands up and rubbed his temples.
“What do you want from me, Erica? First you tell me that you need your friend because you have this problem to work through, and when I sit here ready to help, you start out by telling me that you know our strictly platonic relationship is morphing into something else. Pick a conversation and go with it. I’m ready for whatever you’ve got.”
Hurt flashed across her face, making him feel like an ass. “I’m sorry,” Gavin blew out with a defeated breath.
“You’re upset. I get it,” Erica said, pushing away from the table. “We really don’t have to do this right now.”
“No.” He reached across the table and captured her wrist before she could rise from her chair. This is exactly what he didn’t want, Erica thinking she couldn’t talk to him. Her friendship meant too much; nothing was worth losing it over.
“I’m sorry,” Gavin said again. “Let’s just put what happened back at Decadente out of our heads.” She looked up at him, her expression both wary and hopeful. “For now,” Gavin added.
“For now,” she repeated. She cast another pensive look his way as she settled herself at the table once again. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes,” Gavin assured her, even though he knew the issue would continue to hang over them now that he’d finally brought it to the forefront. There was no way he and Erica could go back to the way things were just a few hours ago. He’d changed their relationship. Irrevocably. Gavin could only hope he hadn’t just made a complete mess of things.
“So, this mock date night,” he started in an effort to change course. “Let me see if I understand. Your biggest concern is that you don’t know anything about these people, and one of the hallmarks of a Your Wildest Dreams experience is that it is tailored to a client’s specific likes, correct?”
Erica looked across the table at him, as if she still wasn’t sure she should stay. Gavin made a ‘come on’ gesture with his hand, urging her to join in the conversation.
“Correct,” she answered after several long, hesitative moments passed. “That’s the gist of it. I have no idea whether they enjoy history, or music, or quiet nights. I do have typical things that seem to be a part of every experience, such as dinner at one of the higher-end restaurants. I usually book Delmonico’s, Commander’s Palace, or one of John Besh’s, depending on the type of cuisine the client pref
ers. I also do a lot of French Quarter carriage rides,” she said. “Tourists and locals alike seem to love those.”
“That’s a given,” Gavin said around a mouthful of sushi. “No trip to New Orleans would be complete without seeing the French Quarter while being pulled around in a horse-drawn carriage.”
“I’ve never taken one,” Erica remarked.
“You’re kidding?” Gavin shook his head. “We’re going down to Jackson Square after we’re done with dinner. How can you send your clients on carriage rides if you’ve never experienced it for yourself?”
She shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”
“Wait a minute.” Gavin pointed his chopsticks at her. “You said the people from The Hawthorn Group are coming down for a convention. Do you know whether they’ve ever visited the city?”
“They haven’t. Hilton Banks mentioned it in our phone conversation.”
“That’s your answer, Erica. You should create a First-Time-in-New Orleans-themed experience. Give them the very best of the city,” Gavin said. “Even better, you can focus on the not-so-well-known tourist destinations. Everyone who comes here wants to see Bourbon Street and the rest of the Quarter, not realizing there’s so many other great things to experience all over this city.”
For the first time since they’d sat at the table, the smile on Erica’s face seemed genuine and not forced. “That sounds like something I could work with,” she said. “New Orleans’s little-known treasures. I can arrange dinner at one of the new restaurants in Mid-City, followed by a romantic dessert picnic for two on Bayou St. John.”
“What about a helicopter ride over the city?”
“You know, I’ve never included that in one of my experiences. I’ll bet it looks spectacular at night.”
“It does,” Gavin said. “I took Whitney on one during Mardi Gras a few years ago. We flew over several parades. It was phenomenal.”
“I’ll bet,” Erica said. She pushed the yellow tail tuna around on her plate. “She was a fool, you know?” She glanced up at him for a moment before quickly averting her eyes. “To have a man who was willing to give her everything under the sun and who knows how to create magic with chocolate? Whitney Parker was a fool to have lost you.”
In Her Wildest Dreams Page 5