The Rebound Pact (27 page)

Holden took his place opposite her. He reached out and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
“You look so adorable with your hair going crazy.”

“Only you could say such a thing.”

From his expression she could tell he was one hundred percent serious. “And I totally mean it.”

“Thank you.”

He lifted his glass toward hers. “To us. To Belle Ami Bistro.”

“Cheers,” she said,
clinking her glass against his. She took a long, savoring sip, bubbles tickling her tongue and throat. “This is truly delicious.”

“I’
m glad you like it.” They sipped in a comfortable silence, content to just share in this moment of semi-privacy and peace.

“I’m proud of you, Holden.” And she really was. He was an amazing person and a very savvy business man.

“Thank you. But I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

“Not just the bistro, your whole operation. You might think about building a bed and breakfast next.” She was partially teasing.

He wiggled his browns. “Actually, that is on the list.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I want Belle Ami to be a place people can come to and relax, enjoy this gorgeous scenery, drink our wine and eat our delicious food and not have to go home, they can stay the night and do it again the next morning.”

“It would be romantic.”

“Yeah, and I want you there with me.” His face became more serious.

She sat forward, placing her
empty glass on the table. She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. “I want to be there, too.”

He gave her a wan side smile.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Belinda said, her face coloring a little. “Katherine says they need you in the kitchen, nothing urgent, she didn’t want you to panic, but they are nearly done with prep-work and want to make sure they didn’t miss anything.”

Gabrielle gazed longingly at her empty flute glass and at Holden
—the man of her dreams. At least she’d had those few moments of peace. She felt a lot more tranquil.

“And so it begins,” she said with a giggle.

“I’ll let you go, but not for long. At quarter to five, I’m dragging you with me into the dining room to welcome our first round of guests.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

On the way back to the kitchen, Belinda slid her arm through Gabrielle’s. “I heard something just a bit ago that I’ve been dying to tell you.” There was a sparkle in the woman’s eyes that Gabrielle hadn’t seen before.

“What?” she asked, a little nervous at what her answer would
be.

“I got a call from my sister who works at the courthouse in Westminster. You’ll never guess who had a civil ceremony performed.”

Gabrielle shook her head, completely baffled.

“Lacy and James—the owner of Ridge.
Turns out they’re expecting.” Belinda winked then ran off to finish getting ready.

Several moments later, Gabrielle was able to take
in an even breath. Stunned barely described her reaction to Belinda’s news. Holden was going to shit a brick when he found out—and he’d be ecstatic right after.

No sooner had she gotten back in the kitchen then it was time for her to freshen up and
briefly wave to guests. She went into the staff bathroom, washed her face, reapplied deodorant, put on a touch of makeup, tucked her hair back into her hat. There was nothing she could do about the few splatters of sauce on her chef’s jacket.

When she came out, Holden was waiting for her, slick as a tiger. He leaned against the wall in a trim black suit with a wine colored shirt, no tie.

“Wow. You look…delicious.” She eyed him hungrily, wishing the night was already over so she could go back to his place.

He held out his hand for her. “And you look absolutely
enchanting.” He leaned close, kissed her just below her ear, making her gasp, and then stroked his lips over her chin and finally landed on her mouth. She sighed into him, ready to forget everything but this moment.

“I have to tell you something.” She whispered into his ear the news Belinda gave her.

“This is a joke right?” His eyebrow was raised in challenge.

Gabrielle laughed and shook her head. “I swear she told me, and I completely trust her.”

“No freaking way…” He put his hands on his hips. Seconds later the news seemed to sink in and he let out a shocked laugh. “Wow. That is actually great news.”

Gabrielle threaded her arms around his waist. “I thought so
, too.”

Holden returned her embrace, kissed her tenderly.
But the sounds of their first diners arriving broke them apart.

“Ready?” Holden asked.

Excitement had her smiling wide, and jitters gave a bounce to her step. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s wow them.”

They entered the dining room amid cheers. There were several faces Gabrielle recognized from in town, several critics she’d fed before, her
father and Max had a prime window seat and waving frantically from the other side of the room was Melanie and Darla. After Holden introduced her and she gave her welcome, they separated to mingle with guests. She made a few quick rounds while the wait staff took orders, stopping by her dad and Max’s table then running over to give Melanie and Darla a hug.

“I’m so glad you guys made it,” she squealed under her breath.

“We wouldn’t miss this,” Darla said with a wink.

“Holden has turned into a total hottie,” Melanie said. “You guys are perfect for each other.”

“Thank you,” Gabrielle said, turning her head to look at Holden who just happened to glance her way. Her breath hitched. “I am really lucky.”

Melanie let out tinkling laugh. “Sometimes rebounds work out that way.”

“Rebound?” Darla asked.

“
Yeah, he was the first guy she hooked up with after Len. A total rebound,” Melanie said, turning her attention to Gabrielle.

Gabrie
lle couldn’t believe that Melanie had hit the rebound remark right on the head. She’d never mentioned it to her.

“
I’ve been dying to tell you,” Melanie said, ignoring the bemused expression on Gabrielle’s face. “I think I met someone.”

“What?” After becoming a couple’s therapist, Melanie had sworn off relationships.
This was a completely good shock. “Tell me.”

“Can’t.
Don’t want to jinx it. It might be nothing. But, I wanted you to know that he is…” She sucked in a breath. “He might be the one that makes me break my vows of chastity.”

Darla and Gabrielle broke out into a fit of giggles that had heads turning. “I have to get back into the kitchen. But I wish you luck. Just from personal experience, if you think he might be the one, don’t let him get away.”

She left her friends to attend the kitchen, and wasn’t able to emerge again. Her family and friends stopped in the back to blow kisses, and exclaim about the food. But they left her to her work.

By ten o’clock, the last guest had left.

“Good news,” Holden said. He held up a napkin with writing on it.

“What’s that?”
She took off her apron and tossed it on the freshly wiped down counter.

“All of the critics left with great compliments, but one also wanted to leave you a note.”

She took the napkin, and read the scribbled words:

Decadent wine, amorous atmosphere, a selection of palatable adventures for the tongue from a renowned artistic chef.
Belle Ami Bistro is a must for your foodie radar! ~ Bon Appetit

Her heart thundered and tears of joy prickled her eyes.
“You’re a success already, sweetheart,” Holden said, pulling her into his embrace.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned back to gaze into his eyes.
“
We
are a success. And Ridge can take that and shove it.”

“That’s the truth. With Lacy on his side, they’re sure to…have some issues.”

“Oh, gawd are they ever.”

He kissed her lightly. “I have a surprise for you. Think you can manage to stay up for a few more minutes?”

“Do I look that exhausted?”

He nodded. “But you’re still gorgeous.” He tapped her on the nose. “I have an idea.” He turned around. “Hop on.”

“Your back?”

He laughed. “Yeah, I’ll give you a piggyback ride to the manor house. That’s where your surprise is.”

“Okay.” She giggled as she hiked up her dress and hopped onto his back. He pretended to wobble and act like he was going to drop her before hooking her legs under his arms.

Holden
walked effortlessly back to his place and into the house. He put her down, and tugged her by the hand to his cellar door. “It’s down here.”

“Oh, your wine cellar, I’ve never seen it before.” Excitement for discovering yet another piece of Holden raced through her blood.

He led the way down the steep stairs into the musty and fermented grape scent of the cellar. Their feet hit the wide oak planked floor and her eyes widened. But it wasn’t the shocking array of his wine collection that had her mouth drop open it was the tasting table set up in the middle. Candles were lit on top, two flutes and a bottle of sparkling wine in an ice bucket sat beside two large pieces of her coconut cake.

“I know how much you like sparkling wine, and cake—especially naked cake,” Holden said.

“Should I start undressing?” she asked a little breathlessly.

“Not yet.
There’s two more things.”

“More?” She glanced up at him, still trying to take in how romantic he was being. “You’d better kiss me first.”

“Why?” He stepped closer, putting his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him.

“Because I might faint from excitement.”

“It would be my pleasure to keep you fully awake.” He descended his mouth towards hers, brushing lightly, teasing her, stroking over the crease of her lips with his tongue, until she begged him with her whimpers to deepen his kiss. “I love you so much.”

Their eyes met, and Gabrielle couldn’t think of a moment she’d been
more happy. “I love you, too.”

“Now for your other su
rprises.” Holden bent down on one knee.

Her eyes widened, and her heart stopped. He was down
on one knee. That meant…

He pulled a white envelope from his pocket along with a Tiffany ring box.
He opened the box revealing a two-carat princess cut diamond in a platinum setting ring. Her hands came to her chest as if that would get her heart beating again.

“Gabrielle, since the moment I saw you popping your bubble gum and twirling your hair on the patio of your parents’ house, I have been completely and utterly in love with you. It’s taken me a long time to get here, which I think is a good thing, we’ve both gotten the bad out of our systems and can now live for the good. I want to be with you, forever. I want to run this vineyard with you. I want to travel the world with you and share my secrets with no one else.
We are my best reserve. Will you marry me?”

Her hands came to her face, tears sparked her eyes. No one had ever said anything so romantic to her before. His words were so heartfelt, so amazing.

“Yes! Yes!” She got down on her knees, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He trembled, she trembled.

“I can’t believe you said yes,” he breathed out.

She laughed, wiping away tears of joy. “Really?”

“I guess I still couldn’t believe it was real until this moment.”

“You said it yourself, we are your best reserve, that means we’re a higher quality. Nothing gets better than this.”

He slid the ring onto her finger, and she wiggled her fingers, watching it sparkle in the candle light. “It’s beautiful.
Feels wonderful. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Gabrielle.
” His voice was low and a tender smile touched his lips. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth, I hope I can do the same for you.”

“
You already have.” She kissed him again, delighting in the feel of his lips on hers, his soft breath on her cheek. Then she remembered the envelope. “What’s in there? Is that my termination papers if I had said no?” She couldn’t help teasing him.

“This is actually…” He pulled out two tickets.
“A brochure to a resort in St. Lucia. I know we can’t leave anytime soon, but I thought maybe next year?”

“Perfect.” And it truly was perfection that everything had fallen into place. It was meant to be. Even if they hit a few bumps—some of them major—along the road.

Holden winked, his grin turning wicked. “Now, we get naked cake.”

She bubbled with laughter and proceeded to hurriedly remove her dress. Nothing was better than naked cake with the man of her dreams, the man she would spend the rest of her life with.