He took the clipboard from her. “I’ve lost track of the times I get asked to let something slip by or add them to our list on a casual basis. Keep having to explain that if they want in on the action, they need to sign up. Simple as that.”
“Exactly. Not that I want to get much bigger than we are now. It’s enough to keep both of us busy and I don’t want to put any more pressure on you than I already have.” She flicked through the invoices and, satisfied, folded them in half.
“Look, if you ever decide you do, I’m keen. I think we’re at the point where we can expand and not lose the personal style we have. I don’t even mind training someone up if you like the idea.” Ralph slipped a hand under her elbow and walked her out of the shed away from the noise of forklifts loading fresh produce into trucks. “Thought I’d better warn you. I’ve had a couple of calls from Lester Freeman about you.”
The hair on the back of her neck stood up. He was the last person she wanted to talk about but still, he was in her line of fire after their last heated phone call, which reminded her, she really should check in with her brother to see if he found anything in that contract. “And?”
“He went on about how you think you’re too good for him and something about the new oysters coming on board. I’d say that his tone was almost threatening so I wanted to warn you. He wants what we have and isn’t prepared to take no for an answer. I brushed him off when he first started calling me a few months back. Figured it was petty whining, but he’s started up again. Says he deserves the top produce more than anyone after your past escapades with the restaurant. Claims you owe him or some such crap.”
“All I owe him is a kick in the butt after his last stunt.” She filled Ralph in on what happened on Hope Island.
“Well, if that doesn’t take the cake. Smug bastard.”
They both knew how she’d been robbed by her ex-business partner. Hilary’s lips curved up. Rather than being put off by this news, she was ready for a battle. Bradley had been right. She’d failed to fight for what was hers once before and damned if she was going to do that again. There was no way he was going to run roughshod over her to get what he wanted. Not this time.
“If you hear from him again, refer him to me. It’s time that man got another piece of my mind. This time, I might have more incentive to give as good as I get.”
“With pleasure.”
She walked back to her car, a mix of adrenaline and anticipation running through her veins. Just let him try and make things difficult for her. She’d show him who he was messing with. He was going to get more than he expected.
* * *
Bryce leaned on the picnic table. “You’re sure about this, Arlo? You don’t want me to come to the mainland with you?”
Arlo shook his head. “Nope. Got to do it by myself.” Even saying the words made his heart race and a cold sweat break out on his brow. Bradley had coached him for the last two weeks and given him coping strategies in case he felt overwhelmed. Now it was time to go and face Hilary. No more practice sessions, no pretend nights—just the real deal. He could do it. He’d booked a table at the restaurant for the night of the oyster promotion and had every intention of being there to see what the woman he loved was capable of. And he was going to ask her forgiveness and see if she would come back to the island with him.
Since the words had come out of his mouth during the boating incident, Arlo had tortured himself. He’d been a first class dick and he knew it.
“Proud of you, man.” He slapped Arlo on the back, which did nothing for his anxiety.
“Not saying it’s going to be easy but it’s way past time. You’ve been good to me, Bryce. Everyone has and it’s time I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I wasn’t the only one who lost Mom. We all did. I was the one who refused to move on and that’s made it hard on everyone else. Time to make it up to them.” He stacked an empty oyster bag on the trolley to clean later and hang to dry in the barn so it would be ready for the next lot of seeding to begin.
“They wouldn’t expect you to. You’re family, and it’s what families do. But if you want to buy me a beer after work today, I won’t say no.”
“A beer and some oysters. You too, Sam. Can’t let Bradley be the only one to have a sample before they hit the market.” Arlo reached out for another bag as Sam lifted it up out of the water with the hoist. He dug his fingers into the mesh and pushed it over the big stainless steel tray on the side of the jetty and lowered it down before opening the bag. The wet, glistening oysters tumbled out. He picked up a shellfish and grinned. “These look awesome.”
“So, I guess he talked some sense into you then? It wasn’t just a plate of oysters he was after?” Bryce ran his hand through the oysters, clearing out small fish caught amongst the shells and throwing them back in the ocean.
“Kind of. I beat him to it. After what you said about letting Hilary get away, I figured it was time to do something constructive instead of hiding behind what happened with Mom. It’s not like sulking will bring her back. Her loss was a matter of bad luck—I get that—and nothing is going to change the past. But it’d be a shame to let go of the only girl who makes me feel special because of something I can’t fix.” He grinned at the shocked look on Bryce’s face. “Time to move on, and I’m not prepared to lose Hilary over it if there was any way I can help it.” He unhooked the empty bag and lay it on the pile with the others. Despite the cool air, sweat ran down his face.
When Bryce finished what he was doing, he spoke. “Have you called her yet?”
Arlo adjusted his cap. “No. I wanted to get myself sorted before I said anything. I’d hate to get her hopes up if I can’t face the trip over there.”
“Or if she doesn’t want to see you.” Bryce smirked, and Arlo wanted to wipe the look off his face. He knew his friend wasn’t being nasty, only practical. “Not that I think that’s the case. She’s asked after you so I figure she cares despite the rough time you gave her. You did read that email I left on your counter, right?”
“Yeah. Don’t remind me. I was an ass. I get that now.” It was another one of the reasons he hadn’t called her—didn’t want to give her the opportunity to say no. But he wasn’t going to say that out loud and jinx himself. “I’m not going to back down. No matter how much it makes me freak out. I caught the ferry across last Sunday and the one before that too. I even went into a café and had lunch before I came home. I want her back, Bryce. You were right. I’ve never been as happy as I was with her.”
“Glad to hear it. Pretty sure Bradley gave you plenty of tips to keep your anxiety under wraps if you managed that.”
“Yeah, he did. Just have to make sure I don’t forget to follow them. It’ll be worth it if she listens to me grovel for forgiveness.” He did a quick count of the bags already done and called out to Sam. “Two more and then we’ll get this lot into the tanks in the barn to process tomorrow.”
“You got it.” Sam gave him the thumbs up.
“So when are you going?”
“Day after tomorrow. I’m going to that dinner to see how she promotes our oysters. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chapter 22
As the concierge crossed the names off the list of diners entering the restaurant, Hilary greeted them and offered them a glass of champagne from the waiter hovering beside her. “I’m so glad you could make it. You’re in for a treat tonight. These oysters are to die for, you’ll see.”
A couple she recognized walked in the door and took a glass of champagne before greeting her. “We’ve heard good things about the produce, and this is our favorite restaurant now that you’re no longer doing the chef thing. We’d be silly to miss out.” They toasted her and glanced around the restaurant. “And since it’s you doing the organizing, Hilary, we wanted to be here to show our support for your new venture. George is such a wonderful chef.”
“That’s so sweet of you, and I’m so glad you came tonight.”
“We miss you. Probably a good thing you’re
out of your old restaurant now. The new chef seems more interested in tooting his horn than producing a decent meal. I think all the television he’s done has gone to his head. I hear the place has gone downhill since you left. Not that we’ve been there lately, mind you. It’s not the same.”
The thought should’ve made her happy but it didn’t. All the hard work she’d put into that restaurant and lost. It a saddened her but the past was the past. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, a bit of kick in the gut, I guess, after everything you put into it. But what you’re doing now seems to suit you. Never seen you with so much color in your cheeks. Getting outdoors agrees with you.”
It had. Now she missed it. Missed the island, missed Arlo. She didn’t know how to fix things, but once tonight was over and done with, she’d give it a damned good try. She was a determined Hilary after what Bradley said sunk in with a little bit of help from Emily. Once she’d dealt with Lester and gave him a piece of her mind, Arlo was next in the firing line. She wasn’t going to let anyone steal what meant the most to her ever again.
More couples came in and she greeted them all, excited to see what their reaction was when the first course came out. When she finally got the okay from the chef, she took the small podium and picked up the microphone. “Good evening, everyone. Benny and I are so glad you could make it tonight for the launch of The Taste of Seattle Food Festival. Benny is one of the first and few chefs who will receive the exclusive oysters from my newest customer, Hope Island Shellfish Farm. I had the pleasure of spending time over on the island and watching the growing process, and I have to say, what you’re sampling tonight will blow your mind like it did mine when I first tried them. These oysters have been grown in the pristine cool waters that flow into the small inlet on Hope Island, loaded with the perfect food for the oysters and other shellfish they grow there.”
She took a breath and looked around the room. She had everyone’s attention. “For your first serving, Chef George has made a tasting plate of raw oysters, which are my favorite, and cooked samples that will blow your mind. I have to say, the aromas coming from the kitchen have my mouth watering in anticipation. Without boring you any further, I’ll let you enjoy the starter course.” Hilary stepped down to a round of applause and the servers started doing the rounds of the tables, dropping plates in front of patrons before hurrying back for more.
Hilary walked to the kitchen, waving her hand in front of her face. “They smell divine, George.”
The rotund chef blew her a kiss and plated up some cooked samples for her to try. “I saved these for you, my dear.”
“Fabulous. I’m starving, and I’m dying to see what you’ve created.” She picked up a delicate puff of pastry first and bit into it, eager to taste what fabulous creation he’d come up with. Creamy oyster in the lightest of sauces coated her tongue, sending her taste buds straight to heaven. “Oh my goodness.” She popped the rest into her mouth and chewed with her eyes closed. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
“This is going to give my patrons something to talk about. I doubt I’ll have any empty tables anymore once word gets out.” His face dropped moments before a hand gripped her arm and spun her around. Her stomach dropped as she came eye to eye with Lester.
“Think you’re smart, don’t you, Hilary. Doing your best to promote everyone but me.” The anger burned in his eyes. This was a side of her ex business partner she hadn’t seen before. He was always an idiot, but never physically violent. “I’m telling you something for nothing. Change the way you do things or I’ll take you to court.”
George stepped around and grabbed his arm. “If you want to cause a fuss, I’ll drag you out the back and let you have it, pal. Nobody comes into my restaurant and picks on a woman, especially one who is a dear friend of mine. If you have anything to say, I suggest you do it via a lawyer.”
Hilary smiled despite the patter of her heart. “George, can I deal with this please? I’ll make it short, I promise, so I don’t disrupt the diners.”
Her burly friend shrugged. “Sure.” He took a step back. “Not that they care. They’re all too busy devouring the best oysters they’ve ever tasted.”
“Lester, I think it’s time you stopped being a dick. You took my restaurant, replaced me in a second and didn’t care about how it affected me. I’ve moved on. Maybe you should do the same.”
“You’re trying to destroy my restaurant because you’re bitter you lost out.” A nasty sneer froze his lips in a thin line.
“No, I’m not. I don’t talk about you. I don’t think about you. I do my own thing and that’s how I’m moving forward. You, on the other hand, are doing your best to ruin what progress I’ve made with my new business. And for what, you refuse to say. I have my own ideas, but I’m not giving you any more of my time by worrying about your reasons. I don’t appreciate your antics and bad behavior. Nor do the people I work with, like George here. If you don’t stop trying to destroy me, I will take you to court. I’m done with you threatening me and my business.”
George leaned on his elbows watching Hilary shred Lester, a grin on his face. A few of the customers had finished their entrée and were trying to see what was happening in the open kitchen.
“You don’t have anything on me. If anything, I should’ve taken you to court over what you did to that restaurant. You ran it into the ground well before I got rid of you.”
A gasp came from the patron at the closest table.
“No. That’s untrue. I worked my ass off to get that place as well-known as it was and your new chef is the one who’s ruining it, according to the rumors I’m hearing. I believe he cares more about the almighty dollar and his social standing than making customers happy.”
“Hear, hear.” The diner closest to the kitchen clapped his hands. “Scoop in Seattle isn’t what it used to be when Hilary was the chef, that’s for sure.”
Lester turned his nose up and ignored the diner. “The least you can do in exchange for ruining what I entrusted you with, is to supply me with the same shellfish that you’re dishing up here. If you do that, I won’t take this any further. Refuse and I’ll let it be known that you’re nothing more than a fraud who can neither cook nor run a business.”
Hilary licked her lips and chose her words carefully, hoping to catch him out. “Did you really think that telling Archie where the fish farm was would make me provide supply to you? Couldn’t you’ve thought that one through a bit better before you let him run over the oyster beds and ruin years of work?”
“He didn’t ruin that much. According to him it was minor damage.” He snorted. “You think you’re so clever keeping that place a secret. Well, I have news for you, Hilary. Anyone can use Google Earth and find anything these days. Keeping it to yourself was a stupid move. One I saw past.”
Someone came up behind him but Lester kept on talking.
“If you don’t supply to me, I’ll tell the world where it is and suggest they go and get their oysters fresh from the farm. That’ll stuff up your business, won’t it?”
* * *
Arlo grabbed the bully and spun him around, the shock on the man’s face going a long way to override the anxiety he’d felt walking into the restaurant. “Go for it. I don’t really care if anyone knows where we are now. In fact, I’m going to get Hilary to put it on the website so we don’t get any more boats coming in through the inlet. We’ll explain to them that it ruins what we have and it’s a sure-fire way to make a drastic cut to production. Pretty sure if people know what damage it does to my oyster beds—the very oysters these good folks are consuming tonight—they’ll come via the roadway if we have open days, which could well happen in the future.”
“You wouldn’t do that. I’ve heard all about you, and I can ruin you faster than you can blink. That farm is a closely guarded secret because of—"
He never finished the sentence as Arlo’s fist connected with his mouth. The pain shooting up his hand was worth the look of surprise on the guy’s
face. His eyes rolled in his head, and he crumpled to the ground to the sound of applause.
Arlo shook his fist and apologized to the chef, whom he assumed was George. “Sorry, but he had it coming.”
“Think nothing of it. Guy’s a dick, always been a dick, and that likely won’t change.”
Hilary grabbed his arm. “Arlo. What’re you doing here?”
He shrugged as he tried to put the words he’d been practicing all day into play. They’d flown out of his head when he looked into Hilary’s eyes. He’d missed her so much. He hoped she felt the same way.
Arlo stepped over the still form of Lester and cupped her face in his hands. “I’m here because I couldn’t live without you any longer. I had to come and apologize for being a dick myself.”
“But you’re here. In Seattle. That’s… that’s…
“That’s hard for me, yes. But I did it for you. He’s right, Hilary. The farm is a secret because of my phobia of people.” He looked around the restaurant. All the diners were staring at them. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, but he refused to run. “What he tried to say is true. I don’t deal with people that well and if that makes me strange, well, so what? Nothing he can say will hurt me because I’m saying it first. I sweated bullets on that ferry coming here to see you tonight, but I made the trip because I love you. I almost didn’t walk in the door because my heart was pounding so hard I thought I’d pass out. But I saw him giving you a hard time and I couldn’t turn away.”
“You did all that for me?” A look of wonder glowed on her face, giving him hope that he hadn’t left it too long to apologize.
“You’re worth it. I missed you so much, Hilary. I want you back if it’s not too late.”
Hold Me Now: Hope Harbor Page 15