Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

As Madison got ready for dinner service on Wednesday night, she felt a new level of excitement because she was going to cook for her friends. She would also get to see Gabe again, which was thrilling on a different level, because the last time she'd seen him had been in her shower yesterday morning.

She forced that distracting thought out of her head as she got the kitchen and her chefs ready for service. Her team was starting to gel, and she felt more comfortable giving orders than she had when they'd first opened. She needed things to be done her way. At the end of the day, her name and her job were on the line. If she was going to fail, it would be because of her mistake and not someone else's.

Drea came into the kitchen a little before five. "It's looking good for tonight," she said with a smile. "We just got two more reservations for this evening, and one is a producer on Your Next Great Bite . She didn't say that when she called, but I recognized her name, Georgia Marks. I told her I would squeeze her in."

"That's exciting. But she might realize you were lying when she sees the empty tables."

"She's coming at the height of the dinner rush. Gabe has a table of eight, which is amazing. I'm putting your friends right next to her table so she'll feel the supportive, positive vibe."

"She knows Gabe from the competition."

Drea's expression shifted. "I didn't think about that. Did I mess up? Should I make sure to separate them? Damn. I probably should have put her at a different time."

"It's totally fine. Gabe and I are rivals in the competition, but not really anywhere else."

Drea raised a brow in surprise. "You're not still bothered about his food truck being down the street?"

"No. We have a different customer base, and his line makes the street look busier."

"That's quite a change of opinion."

"The success of this restaurant is on me, not any other truck or restaurant stealing my business. I have to be good enough to make everyone want to come here."

Drea gave her an approving nod. "The competition has been good for you. You're looking more confident every day. You also seem to be getting close to Gabe."

She saw the interested gleam in Drea's eyes. "Don't get any ideas. We're just friends." She stumbled over the word friends, remembering their night together.

"Sure you are," Drea said with a laugh. "I can't wait to see where this is going."

"It's going nowhere. That's why we have to just be friends…at some point." She felt a little desperate to convince herself of that, much less Drea. "Anyway, let's open the restaurant and get dinner service started. Nothing else is more important than tonight's meal. It's not just my friends I need to impress…it's Georgia Marks, and every other diner in the restaurant."

"Don't worry. We're going to kill it tonight, Madison. And then tomorrow you can tell me what's really going on with Gabe."

"I'm a little nervous," Emmalyn told Gabe as they waited in front of La Marée for the second half of their group to park.

He'd met Emmalyn, Kaia, and Lexie out front since he'd be going to his food truck right after dinner. Ava, Liam, Josie, the manager of Ocean Shores, and her friend Maggie would be filling out the table. They were looking for parking, so they'd decided to wait until they got there before going inside.

"I keep telling you it won't matter what fork you use," Kaia said with a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Honestly, it's just a restaurant, Emmalyn. You act like you've never eaten out before."

"I've never eaten in a place like this."

"It's going to be fun, right, Gabe?" Kaia asked.

"Right," he said. "We'll have a good time, and I'm sure Madison will tell us what we should order." He actually felt a little nervous, too, not because of the food or the forks, but because he wanted everyone to like Madison's food.

She'd be destroyed if her friends didn't enjoy themselves. And he worried that this group wasn't her usual customer base. But it would be what it would be. He was getting everyone into the restaurant; the rest was up to her.

He just wished he wasn't seeing her in this group setting for the first time since he'd left her apartment on Tuesday morning, but he'd been so busy yesterday and today that aside from exchanging a few texts with her, he hadn't had a second to see her or talk to her, and he actually missed her. He didn't know when he was going to get her alone, since he'd have to work after dinner, and he had a lot going on this week, but he would have to find the time.

Josie and Maggie came down the sidewalk, followed by Ava and Liam.

"Sorry you had to wait," Liam said. "Parking was brutal. And the line for your truck didn't help."

He smiled without any remorse. "It's doing really well on this street. But let's see what Madison's restaurant has to offer. I'm sure it will be a one-of-a-kind experience." He opened the front door and ushered them inside.

Drea was immediately attentive, getting them seated at a great table by the window overlooking the back garden patio. After handing out menus, she had a busboy fill their water glasses and said their server would be right over.

The restaurant was busier than he'd expected. There were five or six empty tables but there was a nice buzzy atmosphere in the dining room. Maybe the competition was helping Madison draw in more customers.

Taking a look at the menu, he wasn't surprised that the food was sophisticated and complex. He didn't usually eat at restaurants where the portions were small and often put together with tweezers. He liked heartier meals, but maybe it was time he changed that attitude.

He'd thought of Madison as being a food snob, but he had been the same in reverse, and they both needed to expand their horizons. She'd happily tried his fish tacos, and he would do the same.

"Gabe Herrera," a woman said.

He looked up to see Georgia Marks, the producer from the show Your Next Great Bite, approaching his table with another man and woman in tow.

He got up to say hello.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Georgia said, giving him a speculative look. "Eating in a competitor's restaurant. That's interesting."

"You know what they say about keeping your enemies close," he joked.

"Good point. I'm sure Madison Baldwin has also tried your food."

"As a matter of fact, she has."

"I'm glad I ran into you, Gabe. I sent you a text earlier today."

"Yes, I'm sorry. I meant to respond. I can do coffee tomorrow if that still works for you."

"Perfect. I'll send you the details. Is eight o'clock too early?"

"That's fine."

"I look forward to our chat," she said, offering him a big smile.

Madison arrived at the table just as Georgia finished speaking.

"Here's the chef now," he said lightly. "Madison, have you met Georgia Marks from the show Your Next Great Bite ?"

"No, I haven't," she said. "It's a pleasure. Welcome to La Marée."

"I'm looking forward to tasting your food," Georgia said. "I'll let you two enemies talk," she added as she moved away and joined her friends at a nearby table.

"Enemies?" Madison queried.

"I'll explain later," he said.

Madison's gaze turned to their friends as he took his seat.

"I'm so happy to see you all," Madison said. "I really hope you enjoy yourselves. To start things off, I'm sending over two bottles of our best wine. And if some of you would like to order a cocktail, that will also be complimentary."

"That's not necessary," Gabe said.

"I know that. But I love that you've come out to support me." She motioned to a male server dressed in black to come to the table. "This is Ray. He'll make sure you have everything you need. Before I go, can I answer any questions about the menu?"

"What should we order?" Kaia asked.

"Well, if you're looking for fish, the sea bass is really good and very fresh. For meat lovers, I'd recommend the braised short ribs. They're cooked for hours and are fall-off-the-bone tender. The steak is also delicious. Actually, everything is," she added with a helpless shrug. "It's impossible for me to pick a favorite. Anyway, I'll check in with you later. Have fun."

As she left the table, the waiter stepped forward to ask if they wanted red or white wine or a cocktail. They ordered drinks, chatted more about the menu, and dove into the fresh, hot bread that was placed on each of their plates, accompanied by two kinds of butter, one salty and one sweet.

The service proceeded from there like a well-orchestrated, choreographed routine. Multiple servers attended to their every need. Plates were cleared and courses placed in unison. It was more than a little impressive. And the food was plated spectacularly. He didn't think he'd be that excited about drizzles and dots of flavor, but they were actually very good.

However, a small part of him could see why the negative reviewer had called the food a little soulless. It was all perfect. But perfect wasn't always satisfying. Nor was it particularly unique, and that surprised him, because he'd already seen how creative Madison could be. He wondered if Larry had also had input on the menu.

Madison returned to their table as the dessert came out. Her face was flushed from the heat of the kitchen, her gaze hopeful and a little worried as she asked them if they'd enjoyed their meal.

"It was perfect," Lexie gushed. "The most amazing food I've ever had."

Madison visibly relaxed, then said, "I'm so glad you liked it."

"I had the sea bass, and it was delicious," Emmalyn said. "The service was also just impeccable. If I dropped a crumb, it was immediately wiped away."

As the others added their congratulatory comments, Madison beamed with pride, and he smiled when her gaze finally turned to him.

"What everyone else said," he told her. "It was all good."

"I appreciate you all coming in. It means a lot to me."

"We'll be back," Josie promised. "And I'll tell my friends, too."

"We all will," Kaia said. "We'll get these tables filled in no time."

"Thank you." Her gaze moved toward the table where Georgia had been sitting, but Georgia had left a few minutes earlier. He was actually surprised Madison hadn't made a point to talk to Georgia sooner, but maybe she'd been slammed in the kitchen.

"I better get back to work," Madison said. "I'll see you all at home."

After Madison left, they finished their desserts, paid the check, and then walked outside, saying their goodbyes on the sidewalk.

He headed down the street to his food truck. There was still a good line even though it was after nine on a Wednesday night. He told himself that was good. His business was thriving. It wasn't what he wanted long-term, but it was what he had now, and he should be grateful.

But when he entered the hot, small truck, he couldn't help but compare the difference between his situation and Madison's. They were worlds apart in what they served and the experience they offered. He'd been impressed by her food, by the ambiance in the restaurant, the professionalism of the servers. And he'd been reminded of just how far away he was from his goals. Which was making it difficult to be thankful for what he had because it just wasn't enough.

He had to change his situation. Winning the competition could do that. He could have twenty-five thousand dollars in his pocket and a phone full of new contacts and connections. He already had interest from Georgia for her show. It was just a guest spot, but that could be a launching point for more. And he had to get more. Because he couldn't go on like this. The truck wasn't sustainable long-term, but for now, all he could do was start cooking. He still had customers to feed and that's what he would do until he couldn't do it, or until, hopefully, he found a way to move on.