Touchstone

by Karen Stivali

  A delivery guy was unloading crates of produce and carting them inside. I followed him, hearing Phoebe’s voice coming from down the hallway. I made my way toward the kitchen. I couldn’t make out what she’d said, but I could hear her and the others laughing.

  I paused in the kitchen’s entryway. She wore her chef jacket and was taking pretzel rolls off a large metal tray. I loved watching her work. The sexy look of concentration on her face, the complete ease she had in the kitchen. She looked up, smiling the second our eyes met, and motioning me to the side of the kitchen.

  “I know you’re busy, I just wanted to give you something, and it wasn’t ready until today.”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

  I followed her into the staff lounge, a small room with tables and lockers. “I know I didn’t, but I know how hard you’ve worked for your big day. I also know you don’t need luck—you’re talented all on your own—but I had this made for you.”

  Her brow furrowed as she took the small black velvet pouch from my hand and withdrew the chain and pendant. She held it in her hand, studying it. “Sam, it’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a tree of life, it symbolizes all sorts of things, but you see how the branches mirror the roots? As above, so below. You brought your vision to life. The garnet and citrine leaves are for good luck, and to remind you of Vermont leaf season.”

  “I love it. Thank you so much.” She popped onto her toes and kissed me. “Can you put it on me?”

  “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want. You can keep it in your pocket.”

  “Of course I want to wear it. I’ll take all the luck I can get. Besides, I don’t think I’d have been able to bring my vision to life without your support and help. I love the idea of wearing this. Like you’re with me while I’m working.” She turned around, giving me access to her neck, and I fastened the necklace for her.

  She held her collar open. “How’s it look?”

  “Beautiful. Just like you.”

  “You’re gonna get very lucky later if you keep this sweet routine up.” She tucked the pendant into her jacket.

  I laughed. “I’m already lucky. And I’m gonna let you get back to work. I have to go pick up my grandmother. Iris is visiting a friend in New Hampshire.”

  “So Rose is your date for the night?”

  “Yep.”

  “Tell her that her pie crusts have been made into pot pies and are ready to go.”

  “Will do.”

  I walked back to my truck smiling, not just because she liked the pendant, but because what she didn’t know was that the same artist who’d made that for her was currently working on a much bigger surprise for her. An engagement ring. My pulse kicked up a notch just thinking about it.

  I didn’t want to do anything to interfere with or overshadow her big day, so I planned on proposing the following weekend when work was settling down, and she’d had a chance to breathe. After the soft opening, Alec had offered for her to stay on at Speakeasy for as long as she wanted, and now that I knew she intended to stay in town, there was nothing stopping me from asking her to stay forever.

  The grin stayed on my face the entire drive to my grandmother’s house. She climbed into the Tahoe and narrowed her eyes at me. “What are you up to?”

  I laughed. “Nothing.”

  She buckled her seatbelt, shaking her head. “You are the worst liar on the planet. Always have been.”

  “I’m just happy. That’s all.”

  I could feel her studying me, looking for clues, but she let it go. “Phoebe excited for tonight?”

  “She is. Told me to tell you your pie crusts are all ready to go.”

  “She’s really wonderful, Sam. I’m so glad you found her.”

  That made two of us.

  The rest of the night was a blur, even for me. I was no restaurateur but everything seemed to go off flawlessly. We shared a table with Zara and Dave and one thing was more delicious than the next. Fried chicken skins with sriracha-maple dipping sauce, pretzel rolls full of creamy butternut-squash soup with candied pumpkin seeds, duck confit grilled cheese with fig jam and Comté on sourdough. By the time the peach and blueberry tart arrived, I was too full to move.

  I caught glimpses of Phoebe when she popped out of the kitchen and made the rounds, checking in with customers and the bar staff. Pride welled inside me. I already knew she was amazing, but now every person eating at Speakeasy knew too.

  Her warm fingers slid over my shoulders. “How were the tarts?”

  My grandmother put her hand on her heart. “You’ve done such a wonderful job, Phoebe. Everything was absolutely delicious. I plan on recounting the whole meal to Iris to make her jealous.”

  Phoebe giggled. “I’ve already packed some to-go containers for you to take home for her.”

  “You seem to think I won’t hide them and eat them myself.”

  The whole table laughed, because we all knew that was entirely possible. As much as they loved each other, she and Iris still acted like bratty children to each other at times.

  Phoebe shrugged. “Your call. But I definitely packed enough for two.”

  She kissed the side of my head and made her way to the next table.

  I caught my grandmother watching me watch her. “You, my dear, are smitten. I love it.”

  My cheeks heated, but I wasn’t about to deny it. “She’s amazing.”

  “That she is. And I’m assuming that necklace she’s wearing was your gift?”

  I nodded.

  “Beautiful. The symbolism and the piece. Arturo’s work?”

  “Yep.” She’d been selling Arturo’s jewelry for decades. Part of me wanted to tell her that he was making the ring, but I wanted to keep that to myself. For now. The warmth of that secret could stay safe in my heart a little longer.

  I drove my grandmother home, stopped at the grocery store to get some fresh fruit and bread—with all the cooking Phoebe had done for tonight I planned on making her a yummy breakfast, preferably to be served in bed—and got home to see Phoebe was already there.

  After I put the groceries away, I headed to the guesthouse to find a note on the door. In the shower, come on in.

  I walked inside and headed straight for the bathroom, stripping on the way. I didn’t need to be asked twice. The room was pleasantly steamy, and Phoebe was in the shower, naked under the spray, waiting for me like my own personal goddess. I was the luckiest man on the planet.

  “I got your note.”

  “I was hoping someone would.”

  I tried to look annoyed, but I loved when she teased me, and she knew it. “I can go if you think you might get a better offer…”

  She rolled a bar of soap in her hands, making me want to be a bar of soap. “Well…”

  “You’re so mean.”

  Her soapy hand slid from my chest to my rapidly hardening dick. “You’re right. It’s terrible. How can I possibly make it up to you?”

  I answered with a groan and pulled her in for a kiss. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

  “I don’t know. I’m pretty tired. Not sure my brain’s up to its usual level.” She pumped my dick, twisting at the head, then slicking her hand all the way down and around my balls.

  My brain threatened to melt, but I tried to keep it together. “You’re doing just fine.”

  She waggled her eyebrows.

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s just a hand job.”

  “That’s not what I meant. Tonight. You were amazing. You’re always amazing.” She worked her hands in an up-and-down and twisting motion that made me see stars. I groaned, barely able to stay standing. “Fuck. Okay. That was about the hand job.”

  The wicked grin on her face nearly did me in.

  I gathered my three remaining brain cells and gently took her hands off my dick, shifting so we were both under the spray. “You need to stop. I don’t intend to blow my load until you’ve come at lea
st twice.”

  She pouted. “But I like when your eyes roll back and you make those little noises.”

  “And I like hearing you moan my name when you come.” I stepped closer, nipping at her shoulder as my hand slipped between her legs.

  Her thighs parted, giving me better access. Her wetness had nothing to do with the cascade of water. I slipped two slick fingers deep inside her, working her clit with my thumb. She clung to me, fingers digging into my back, rocking into my hand.

  I dipped my head, drawing one firm nipple into my mouth, sucking hard in rhythm with my thumb. In seconds she cried out. “Sam,” echoed on the tile walls as her pussy clenched on my fingers. I held her until she stopped contracting, then kissed her sweet lips. “I changed my mind.”

  Her eyes were still half closed, sexy as hell. “About what?”

  “At least three times. But how about we do the next few in bed.”

  33

  Phoebe

  I never answered calls from unknown numbers, but something told me I needed to pick up.

  “Hello?” I fully expected an automated message or telemarketer.

  “Is this Phoebe Stevens?”

  “It is.”

  “Please hold for Mark Albertson.”

  Mark Albertson. I knew that name. Why did I know that name? And who did I know who had a secretary place his calls for him? No one. But that name…

  “Phoebe.” A deep voice rumbled through the phone. “Glad I got you. I’m not sure if you remember, but we met briefly a few years back. You and Drew were looking for investors for your restaurant.”

  That was it. That’s how I knew him. Drew had been ready to promise him a kidney to get him on board. That all seemed like a lifetime ago. “Sure. I remember.”

  “I’ll keep this brief. I know you and Drew…parted ways, shall we say? And I know he screwed you out of a restaurant you poured your heart into. I’ll be honest, it was your menu planning and vision that caught my attention in that venture.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And that’s why I’m calling. I know you’ve been working in Vermont, and I’m hoping now that you’ve launched the gastropub, you’d be willing to head back to New York. I have an offer I don’t think you’re going to want to refuse.”

  How could my hands feel so cold when my heart was pumping so fast? “What kind of offer?”

  “Let’s just say your former business partner and his fiancée have done shady things to people other than you, and I’m in the mood to give him a taste of his own medicine. I’ve purchased a restaurant that I intend to use to knock him down a few pegs, or preferably right out of the industry. And I’d like you to head it up.”

  I nearly dropped the phone. “Why me?”

  “Because I think you’re that good. And the poetic justice of it all is the icing on the cake, so to speak.”

  “Don’t you even want me to pitch ideas or something first?”

  “No. I’ve done my research. I’ve spoken to some of the chefs you trained with and I sampled your food myself.”

  My laptop was open, and I typed his name into the search bar. I recognized him the second his photo popped up. Holy shit. He’d been at Speakeasy last week. I couldn’t place where I knew him from and figured I’d seen him in town. Now I knew why he’d looked familiar. “You flew all the way to Vermont to sample my new menu?”

  “I did. And I was impressed. I’m willing to pay quite well for your services, and unlike your previous partner, I’ll be giving you a share of the business. I’ve had papers drawn up that you’re welcome to have your lawyer look at, but I think you’ll find it’s a generous offer. I’m that eager to work with you, Phoebe.”

  My heart pounded so fast I had to sit down. I imagined a grounding cord going from my root chakra into the earth and forced myself to breathe. Whoa. When had that become second nature to me?

  “I’m flattered, Mr. Albertson.”

  “Call me Mark.”

  “Mark, I’m seriously honored that you’re even considering me, but I’m just not sure. I haven’t wrapped up my…obligations up here yet.”

  “I understand and I respect that. But I will need a decision fairly fast. What I’d like to do is fly you down on Sunday, if that fits with your schedule. I’d like you to tour the facility, look at the ideas and design elements in place, meet some of the rest of the staff. Then you can tell me in person that you’ll take the job.”

  His confidence was unnerving. “Sunday? Like tomorrow?”

  “Yes. I can arrange the flight for you from Burlington and have a car pick you up when you arrive. If things don’t work out as I hope, then just consider it a paid trip to the city. Surely you must at least be missing pizza and decent bagels.”

  Oddly, I hadn’t missed much about New York at all. But I did want to see Ellie. And even if Drew only got wind of the possibility of my taking a position at a competitor’s restaurant, he’d probably freak out. Revenge might not be admirable, but it was certainly intriguing. The whole offer was. “Can I get back to you in a few hours?”

  “Absolutely. Just call this number and tell my secretary to book your flight. You won’t regret this. I promise you.”

  I hung up and stared at my phone. This was a once-in-a-lifetime offer. I knew that and I knew how rare those were.

  The knock at my door startled me. Sam let himself in, walked straight over, and gave me a mind-numbing kiss.

  I knew how rare those were too.

  34

  Sam

  Something was wrong. I could feel it the moment I stepped into the cottage.

  “You okay?” I asked Phoebe.

  She seemed to be glued to her seat. I searched her eyes and brushed her hair behind her ear.

  She nodded, but something in her expression made my stomach drop. She tugged me down, and her lips were back on mine, kissing me with enough passion to knock the wind out of me, but only succeeding in making me more worried.

  I pulled away. I knelt in front of her, extraordinarily aware that it was the position I intended to take for a much different reason later tonight. “Hey, talk to me. What’s going on?”

  “It’s…probably nothing. It’s definitely nothing. I just got off the phone with this guy. He’s a big investor in New York, and he wants to fly me down for a job interview.”

  I was fairly sure all the oxygen left the room with those words. I was a hundred percent sure all the oxygen left my body. “What kind of job?” Please let it be catering. A wedding? Something that takes a day or two?

  “He wants me to head up a restaurant.”

  The floorboards felt like they couldn’t possibly support me. A thousand-pound weight had taken up residence in my stomach. “Oh. Wow. Well, I mean, that sounds like an amazing offer. What did you tell him?”

  She fiddled with the hem of her shirt. “I was so shocked, I’m not sure exactly what I said. He told me I need to give him an answer later today if I’m willing to check it out. He’ll arrange to fly me down to see the place tomorrow if I’m interested. But that’s ridiculous, right? People don’t just hand you a deal like this. He said I’d get a share of the business. That’s crazy.”

  I tried to figure out how to talk around the lump in my throat. “What’s crazy about it? You’re very good at what you do.”

  “He was here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The grand opening. He flew up and ate at Speakeasy and flew home. He said he’s had papers drawn up and everything.”

  I wanted to get up and pace. I wanted to beg her to stay. I wanted to teleport us to another planet where it was just me and Phoebe and no one else. But I was cemented to the floor. “Are you going to go?”

  “I don’t know. In a million years I never thought anyone would ever offer me anything like this, let alone in Manhattan. It’s a dream job.” She hesitated, and a funny look crossed her face. A look I’d never seen before.

  “What’s that expression?”

  She couldn’t meet my e
yes, and that scared the hell out of me. “It’s not just my food he’s after. I mean, I believe he thinks I’m qualified and likes my ideas, but he wants me because he wants to put Drew—my ex—out of business. Apparently Drew fucked over either him or some of his close friends or both. And it would be some sort of ultimate grudge-match revenge if it was me who knocked him off the map.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to say to that. It wasn’t like I didn’t know the story. Her ex had screwed her over so badly she’d needed to move three hundred miles away just to get away from the toxic aftermath. It was completely understandable why getting revenge would sweeten this already plum deal. It’s a dream job.

  “But I don’t have to go. I’m not even sure I want to go. Alec told me he’d love to have me stay on at Speakeasy, and I think everyone else there is happy with me. And I’m…”

  I cut her off. I didn’t want her to rationalize wanting to stay because of me. I wasn’t going to be the reason she gave up her dream job. Christ. She deserved to have all her dreams come true. “You should go.”

  She met my gaze then, and her expression nearly tore me in two. Her mouth opened, then closed again. She tilted her head, her brow furrowed.

  I didn’t know how I managed it, but I stood up and took a step back. “You said it yourself, it’s your dream job. You have to at least check it out. You’ve done such an amazing job with Speakeasy, it’ll run itself, and someone else can step in and take over. You did what you were hired to do. Do this for you. You deserve to get back at your shitty ex and you deserve all the acclaim and fame this could bring you.”

  “But what if I don’t want that?” Her voice was smaller than I’d ever heard it.

  “Isn’t that what you’ve worked for all these years? Wouldn’t you already have that if you hadn’t been screwed over?”

  “Maybe?”

  “Likely. This is your chance, Phoebe. I know how much your career means to you, and I know how hard you work. Go check it out, or you’ll always regret it.”