“Not as early for me as it is for you, I’ll bet.”
The older woman’s laugh sounded rusty. “I wouldn’t be up at this godforsaken hour if it weren’t important.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Maddie, things have changed here. I can’t wait two more weeks for you.”
“Oh. I understand. You have plenty of prospects, I’m sure.”
“That’s not what I mean. I want you, Maddie. Only you. I’m convinced, more than ever, that you are our destiny.”
Régine had always had a flair for the dramatic.
“I can’t leave here, not yet.”
“I’m prepared to up the ante.” Then her voice turned tentative in a way Maddie had never heard this hard-edged woman speak. “Maddie, my doctor has discovered a lump in my breast. He says it’s manageable, but I have to go into the hospital. I may be out for a while. I need you here.”
“Oh, Régine, I’m so sorry.”
“Spare me the pity.” The other woman’s voice was dry. “Just help me out. I’m prepared to offer you an ownership stake in the restaurant now.”
“Ownership?” In a place far beyond anything Maddie could expect to own? But she couldn’t leave yet. Boone would lose this house. “Régine, I—Anthony can run things for you.” Her maître d’ had been with her for years and knew everything Régine knew.
“It’s what you want, isn’t it? To own your own restaurant?”
“Yes, I’ve always wanted to own my own place. And Sancerre is everything I’ve ever dreamed, but—”
“I’m not going to let you tell me no, Maddie. You’ve lost your perspective. You can’t seriously think to give this up for some dusty cowboy. You don’t belong there. You could be the toast of the town here.”
“I—I promised Boone I would stay.”
“Maddie, I need you. That place is just a house. You said he would still have plenty of land, even without the house. And he can probably buy the house from those other people. You won’t need the money from him if you come in with me. Let him have the place, if it makes you feel better but don’t be foolish, Maddie. This is your future.”
New York had never seemed farther away. But Régine had been her friend for a long time. She had helped Maddie extract herself from the Robert fiasco.
But Maddie had promised Boone she’d stay.
“Don’t answer me now. Tell me you’ll call back tonight. Think about it, Maddie. Think hard. You’ve worked for years for this. And I need you.”
Maddie could resist anything else, but hearing a plea from her cynical friend was like finding water in the desert. Régine did not plead.
“I’ll call you tonight, Régine.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Maddie hung up the phone with a sinking heart.
“You have to go.” Boone’s voice startled her.
Maddie whirled. “What?”
“You can’t throw away a golden opportunity. I remember what you said. That place is at the top of the heap and she’s giving you ownership, didn’t I hear that right?”
Maddie nodded dully.
“It’s what you said you wanted. You’re good, and this is your chance.”
“But the Caswells…”
“Leave the Caswells to me. You can’t blow this chance, Maddie. It’s exactly what you’ve always wanted.”
“Yes, but…” She’d thought so. But after last night…
“Then the answer is simple.” His voice was clear and brisk as he walked to the coffeepot and poured himself a cup. “You have to go.” He turned away from her. “Do I have time for a quick shower?”
Maddie didn’t know what to think, what to say. So she busied herself with breakfast. “Will twenty minutes be enough?”
“That will be fine.” He started from the room.
“Boone…” She wanted to stop him, to—what? Beg him to let her stay? If he wanted that, he would have asked. Boone wasn’t shy about speaking his mind.
“What?” He didn’t turn.
Maddie drew in a deep breath. “Two eggs or three?”
“Three.” His voice never faltered.
When she heard his steps on the stairs, Maddie clutched the sink with white-knuckled fingers.
I will not cry. But Maddie had to blink hard to see her way to the stove.
Boone stood in the doorway to the bathroom and tried to remember why he was here.
You should be an actor, after that performance.
But what else could he do? It was within her grasp to have everything she’d dreamed. How could he make her stay for two more weeks and lose her chance?