“What?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “But . . . how? And when did this happen?”
“I spoke to my lawyer about it before we left Manhattan.”
Of course. The curt conversation about a deal Nick wanted handled. This is what it was about?
He glances to Tasha. “If you’re interested, my attorney, Andrew Beckham, will meet you at the restaurant tomorrow morning at seven A.M. to go over some paperwork.”
“What about Joel?” I ask.
“Beck has already informed him that the restaurant has a new owner and that his services are no longer required. Joel was escorted off the premises a few minutes ago.”
“That was the call you just took?” I’m incredulous, and not a little impressed. “You just made all of this happen in a matter of a couple hours?”
Nick nods as if buying businesses on a whim and making a clean sweep of their toxic assets is something he does every day. Which, yeah, of course, it probably is.
Tasha seems even more astonished than I am. “I can’t believe you did this. I can’t believe you’re offering me this chance. Are you seriously offering me the job?”
“Very serious. Vendange is a thriving business from what I’ve gathered tonight. I think, with better management, it could be a very lucrative investment. For everyone involved.” He holds his hand out to her. “So, what do you say? Are you in?”
She beams at him, nodding enthusiastically as they shake hands across the table. “I’m in.”
Tony tilts his bottle toward Nick. “Well, hell. I’ll drink to that.”
Chapter 37
“I can’t believe you drank Tony’s homemade beer.” I brave a glance at Nick from the passenger seat of his car, looking for some way to break the ice between us. We only left Tasha’s house ten minutes ago, but it feels like days because Nick has barely spoken to me. “One sip of that awful home brew was enough for me the day I tried it, but you actually drank the whole bottle.”
He shrugs, slanting me a brief look. “Not a fan of hops soaked in old gym socks, I take it?”
A laugh bursts out of me. “I know, right? God, it was terrible. You really didn’t have to drink it, you know.”
“No, but if I hadn’t, I would’ve insulted my host.” Another shrug, but this one is accompanied by one of his crooked, boyish smiles that makes my insides melt. “I’ll survive. For the record, I’ve been offered worse in the name of hospitality.”
“Really? I can’t imagine.”
He grunts in acknowledgment. “Did you know there’s a beer in Japan that’s made with milk?”
Repulsed, I wrinkle my nose. “No, I did not know that.”
“I wish I could say the same. Do yourself a favor and stay away from it.”
My mouth curves wryly. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
I relax into my seat as Nick navigates the BMW into the fast lane and speeds ahead of the other cars. I’m nursing a small glimmer of relief as I watch him drive. Maybe we can end the evening on a lighter mood than it began. I hope so. I’m praying I still have a chance to build a bridge across the crevasse I dug between us back at the apartment. The kindness he showed my friends tonight seems like a promising start.
“Thank you for being here with me, Nick. And for what you’re doing for Tasha too. I mean, buying Vendange? Getting rid of Joel? That’s an incredibly generous thing for you to do. You’re a good man.”
“No, Avery. I’m not a good man.” He’s quiet for a moment, then he glances at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the dashboard. “What I am is a good businessman. The restaurant is a solid investment. If Tasha is as competent as you and Tony believe, then hiring her to manage the place only seems sensible.”
I nod, but inside I’m deflated. “Well, you made a good decision where she’s concerned. Tasha won’t let you down.”
Unlike me, I can’t help thinking, as the silence between us stretches long again.
I gaze out the car window, seeing none of the zooming traffic or the glow of the city that surrounds us. I see sunny blue skies and miles of crystalline water. I see Nick smiling at me on the deck of the Icarus, looking at me with the same kind of insatiable hunger that I have for him.
I see the long strand of creamy pearls coiled around my wrists while he shows me pleasures I never dared dream I could want.
Trust, he told me as he presented his extravagant gift to me.
Honesty.
The only way they’ll break is if you pull away from me . . .
Nick’s words are still echoing in my mind after we make the rest of the drive into Manhattan. We ride up in the elevator together, not to the penthouse, but to the fifth floor. He steps out with me and walks me to the apartment, hanging behind me as I fumble the key into the lock. My hands are not cooperating, probably because of the mist of tears threatening to fill my eyes.