Jack and Ginger (Sacred Heart Coven Book 3) (12 page)

"I bought you your coffee yesterday at Dunkin' Donuts."

Ginger didn't know what else to say other than thank you to Redford when he told her that it was he whom had seen her debacle in the parking lot the day before. That didn't stop her from thinking about the embarrassing moment non-stop while they went over what he was there for.
 

Steve and Jasinda explained to him what the status of their business was to date. They explained what they were happy with and what they felt could be improved on. Redford explained the varying things that he could offer them as far as his services went from a basic consult that included a business plan all the way up to being there every step of the way through training new staff and getting them up and running through the first three months after re-launch.

"So Ginger, tell me about what your thoughts are on what you would like to see happen in the kitchen and what experience do you bring to the table?" Redford asked her. His eyes met hers respectfully but as soon as she started talking his eyes lowered down to watch the way her lips moved as she spoke.

"I spent a number of years working in several different restaurants and bars. I worked all different positions from the dishwasher, to line cook, to bartender, to floor manager. I have had enough experience that I feel that I can work any position if need be in a restaurant. I do not however have experience as a business owner, but I am a fast learner and I am very good at applying what I learn.

"As for my idea about concept, tell me what you think about this. My background is in sports nutrition and healthy eating. Of course I know that people don't usually equate healthy eating with drinking and watching sports, but why can't they?" She posed the question to him, putting the ball back in his court, because she really just wanted to hear him talk again. He had a very sultry voice.

"We can make that happen," he answered still with his attention directed on her like a spotlight on a hot stage. "We can make that happen without them even realizing it. We can have the same food options that other bars have, but we can make them better, with fresher ingredients and lower calories. It can be done, it just needs to be done right."
 

"For example, who doesn't love to eat potato skins, right?" Ginger's energy level was amped up by the fact that he wasn't turned off by her suggestion. "Well, why can't we bake them? We can offer a variety of healthy toppings to choose from and serve it with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Less fat, more protein."

"Speaking from personal experience, I watch what I eat and monitor my fat and carb intake both for health reasons and for fitness reasons. Many times I will forgo the food at a restaurant and leave my calories for the cocktails. There are however a few locations that I frequent that breakdown their menu and have symbols next to each dish letting you know at quick glance
 
their rough range of nutritional value. A few of them have a dietary book you can go through upon request with exact detailed nutrition facts."
 

Ginger could tell that he knew what he was talking about. Even covered in all those clothes it wasn't hard to see his attention to the detail of his body. She wondered how many hours a week he spent at the gym.
 

The gym, that was another one of those things on her to-do list she hoped to get to. Ginger's body was slender and naturally athletic looking. She was not, however,very fit. Her muscles were not defined by a workout regimen. Her stomach was flat, but she did not have 'abs'. She liked her body, but knew that it could look better if she just put a little bit of effort into it.
 

A guy like Redford probably dated fitness models. He sure didn't buy her that cup of coffee because he thought she was hot. Or did he?
 

"Do you agree, Ginger?" Jasinda asked.

"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry can you repeat what you said. My mind was stuck on potato skins. I think I am starting to get hungry, I never did eat that muffin." Ginger realized she was lost in thoughts about what Redford might look like with his suit strewn all over the floor.

"Oh for heaven's sake, woman. I will run back and get you one. I got half a dozen." Jasinda went to get up.
 

Ginger put her hand on her arm. "I'm ok, I can wait. Just tell me again what you said."
 

"Oh right, I really want to have pizza on the menu, but there are so many takeout pizza places around here. I don't know if we could compete," Jasinda repeated.

"There is never enough pizza. I think we would just have to make something about our pizza that is different than everyone else's. If we have something that customers can't get anywhere else, combined with the fact that most pizza places don't serve alcohol, it could give us a distinct advantage."

"What would you do to make pizza different?" Steve wondered out-loud.

"One thing I can tell you is that I would not do a thick crust pizza. If we are going to cater to healthy eating, I would make the crust as thin as possible.
 
I think the key would be to make sure we can make our crust strong enough to hold up to multiple toppings. What more could you want?" Ginger loved pizza almost as much as she loved football. "Maybe have a gluten free, and dairy free option as well."

"I will never really get the point of thin crust pizza. It feels like diet pizza to me, but I know that people go crazy for it. One plus is that you use less ingredients to make the crust which is always good for food costs," Redford interjected.

"What kind of pizza do you like?" Ginger found herself snapping at him. She surprised herself and tried to cover it up and make it sound more playful. "Maybe I will have to show you what good pizza is."

"I bet you could show me good pizza. But if you come to my city, I will show you what great pizza is."

"Oh sounds like there is a pizza battle brewing." Steve laughed. "Watch out, Ginger, Red is from Chicago, and he probably has a taste for the deep dish pizza."
 

Ginger saw Steve and Jasinda eyeballing each other. She knew when people were talking with their eyes. But what were they saying? She looked over and Jasinda gave her a look and half an eyebrow lift. Ginger felt her face flush again. Did it seem like she was flirting with this guy?
How unprofessional.
 

"I never met a pizza I didn't like. How about I give you a quick tour and show you what kind of equipment we have here now. We can maybe talk more about the concept after you see the space that we are working with." Steve stood up and showed Redford to the kitchen.

Ginger was about to follow behind, but Jasinda grabbed her by the arm. Before she could speak, Ginger was already apologizing.

"I am so sorry I missed what you said. I am a bit distracted today."

"What, no! That's not...don't worry about that. You know I am way too easy going to be upset you didn't hear me."

"Oh. What's wrong then?"

"Um, nothing is wrong. I hope you are not blind to what is going on here." Jasinda spoke just above a whisper. The guys were in the kitchen, but there was an opening and the music and televisions were off.
 

"It's going well, right?"
 

"You didn't notice the way he was looking at you?" Jasinda looked at her sideways. "He is totally into you."

"Me? No way, he watched me practically fall on my face yesterday. I need a drink. Did you make any tea by chance?" Ginger started to walk toward the bar to grab a glass.

"Don't try to change the subject. I think he bought that coffee for you because he wanted to buy you a coffee. Maybe he didn't see you fall."

"Oh he saw me all right. The old lady working there told me that he wanted me to have a better rest of the day, or something like that."

Jasinda brought her hands into a prayer position over her nose and pressed her brows together. "Oh, that is so sweet. I might start to cry." She started to fan herself.

"You are hilarious and overly emotional. Are you pregnant?" Ginger thought she may have stumbled on something.

"Me, no way, I don't think so. We certainly are not trying to be." She opened the cooler next to the sinks and pulled out a large pitcher. "Here is some peach berry tea. Pour me a glass too please."

Jasinda heard the door swish open behind her. She turned to see the guys coming back out still heavily in conversation about the ovens and prep area.

"Can I offer you guys some iced tea?" Jasinda pulled out two more glasses and Ginger kept herself busy by filling them with ice and straws.
 

"Yes please, that sounds terrific," Redford answered.

"Hey did Steve tell you that Jasinda makes homemade mead and fresh brewed teas. They don't currently serve either, but I think they are amazing and something you definitely can't find anywhere else. Jasinda and I were talking the other day about constructing some kind of tasting menu around her meads, maybe some local craft beers could be incorporated into the mix as well."

"No, actually we haven't gotten that far. I was supposed to be here for a few days, but we decided the best thing would be for me to take everything that we have talked about today and the floor plans back to my design team and then come back next week. At that time I will have a full business plan for you all to consider." He looked at Ginger and his ice colored eyes sent chills up
 
her spine. "Ginger, I understand that your attorney wants to read through it before you decide to move forward with investing?"

"Yes, he does. But either way, I am here to help them in whatever capacity that I can."

"Isn't she great. You know when you guys were in the back, Ginger was telling me about this really amazing pizza place like twenty minutes from here. Do you have plans for dinner yet Redford?"

"No, as a matter of fact I was just going to grab a salad and head back to my hotel, maybe catch up with a local friend if he answers the phone later. Do you guys want to show me what Blue Beach County pizza is all about?" He took his iced tea from Jasinda, he pushed the straw off to the side and held it back with his pointer finger as he took a sip from the glass.

"Oh, Jazz, we actually have plans tonight," Steve mentioned without missing a beat.

"Oh shoot, I totally forgot about that thing." Jasinda was a terrible actress. "Ginger, if you're not busy maybe just the two of you could go check it out. Maybe Steve and I can make it out there later in the week."

"Huh? Pizza, us, ok sure." She shifted her weight back and forth; she probably looked like she had to pee. "Can we go sooner than later? I am starving. What time is it anyway?" Ginger looked down at her watch it was only three o'clock.

Chapter Twelve
 

IT WOULD BE AN EARLY dinner, but Ginger's stomach wasn't going to complain about it. Besides it felt less like a date going before the actual dinner rush started. Because it wasn't a date, was it?

She told Red to follow her there, that way they wouldn't have to deal with any awkward goodbyes when the meal came to completion. On the way over she tried to discreetly touch up her lip gloss. She wanted to touch up the rest of her makeup and her hair, but she didn't want him to get the wrong idea thinking she was doing it for him.
 

She pulled in only a few moments before him. She promptly got out of the car and waited by the entrance. She enjoyed watching him get out of the car. He no longer wore his suit jacket and his collar was further unbuttoned exposing the top of his sculpted chest. The dark shirt had a sheen to it that accentuated the stacks of muscles as they moved beneath the fabric. He pushed the button on the key fob and waved to her.
 

"So this is the spot, huh?" he asked with a twang in his dialect that she couldn't quite place.
 

"It is, at least until Jasinda and Steve start serving up something as good if not better." She winked at him as they walked into the joint.

"I thought you said they didn't serve beer at pizza places?" he asked when they sat down at a corner booth.

"What I said is most pizza places don't serve alcohol. I didn't say that there weren't any bars or restaurants that serve pizza. This place happens to have my favorite pizza. They serve other traditional Italian meals as well. I usually get a small salad and a small pie to go." She looked around the room hoping the waitress came over quickly. She didn't want to sit and not have anything to talk about.
 

"So what led you to restaurant consulting? That's not a common career choice." Ginger finally thought of a conversation starter.

"Great question, I'm not completely sure. My father was an architectural engineer and my grandfather was the president of Redford Savings and Loans. So I actually had a trust account. I have never considered a life that I wouldn't work my ass off for my own success.
 

"I didn't get access to the money until I was twenty five so I had to finish college and start my career before I was allowed to touch the money." Redford fiddled with the coaster that was on the table as he spoke, but his eyes never lost contact with Ginger's.