Lecie looked back at the table. Camille and Tasha were busy perusing the menu. She swept the dining room once more—still no Nick—before settling her gaze on Deidra.
“I don’t think he’s here,” Deidra said.
That pulled Camille and Tasha away from their menus. “Who’s not here?” Camille asked.
“The owners,” Lecie put in, like it was no big deal. “They’re probably off on their honeymoon still.”
“Ah…newlyweds.” Tasha beamed at the prospect.
“Yeah,” Lecie said, dejected. She brightened up though when she saw Diane headed their way with a tray of lemon-drop martinis. That was sure to distract Tasha from talking about the grandeurs of being a newlywed.
The martinis came. Orders were placed. Another round of martinis, and everybody was feeling good.
Tasha sipped her drink and gazed around the restaurant pensively. “I think you should conduct your interviews here.”
“Definitely.” Camille raised her glass as if toasting.
“What interviews?” Lecie asked.
“Husband interviews.” Tasha giggled.
“Why would I conduct interviews?” Lecie peered at Tasha through narrowed eyes.
“How else are you going to find a husband for hire?” Camille asked.
“You can’t seriously expect that to work out well.” Lecie cringed.
“Worked out fine for Julian.” Tasha snickered.
Deidra elbowed Lecie. By the time Lecie looked at her, Deidra was staring toward the front door with this mischievous grin spreading across her face. Lecie followed Deidra’s gaze and saw Nick and his friend Dean heading straight for them.
Well, not straight for them. They were probably going to Nick’s office, but they’d have to pass right by their booth to get there.
When Nick’s eyes met Lecie’s he smiled and stopped in front of the booth. “Ladies…” He gave the table a friendly once-over before settling his gaze back on Lecie again. “It’s always a pleasure to see you. I do hope you enjoy your lunch.” Nick nodded and he and Dean moved on toward the office.
Lecie looked away shyly.
“Who’s he…?” Tasha asked, practically drooling.
“That is Nick Matthews. He owns this place,” Deidra said.
“Hire him.” Camille said, still gazing at the office door long after he’d closed it.
“Can’t,” Deidra said.
“Why not?” Tasha asked.
“Married.” Lecie sucked in a breath and blew it back out in a long, sad sigh. “Honeymooners. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” Camille turned back to look at Lecie. “What about the other one?”
“His friend?” Lecie asked, pointing toward the office. “Dean?”
“Yeah. He married?”
“Not that I’m aware.”
“Ask him then,” Camille said.
“Are you serious?” Lecie asked.
“Yeah. The married one seems like a nice guy. His friend must be a nice guy, too.”
“How do you figure?” Lecie asked.
“Birds of a feather,” Tasha said.
“What do birds and feathers have to do with it?” Lecie asked, a bit confused.
“It’s simple. Nice guys hang out with other nice guys.” Tasha sipped her martini, then added, “So do jerks. You’ll rarely find a jerk and a nice guy hanging out together.”
This whole marriage thing sounded a lot better when they were talking about it the other day. But today, Lecie wasn’t so confident that she could actually find someone to marry her, even if it was temporary.
And Nick’s friend…?
Nick leaned against the desk in his office, folded his arms across his chest and stared at Dean. “Beecham is taking it to the board. Everything’s going to be fine.” He did a one-shouldered shrug. “I’ll be able to pay off what I owe the bank and my suppliers, then it’ll be business as usual.”
“When are they gonna let you know?”
“He said a couple of days.”
And there wasn’t a moment to spare. Nick could practically feel the antsy breaths of his suppliers breathing down his back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NICK STARED AT THE PAYROLL’S account balance on the computer screen. He might get a couple more paydays out of it, if he didn’t pay himself. He was surprised that the bank hadn’t taken it, but then again it was the restaurant’s money. Not his.
Nick’s eyes drifted to the bottom right corner of the computer screen, and looked at the date. It’d been three days since he’d met with Phil Beecham. Nick had been hoping to hear back from him yesterday.
Leaning back in his chair, he swabbed his hands over his face. He had to find a solution to his current financial crisis. Neither he nor the restaurant could go on like this for much longer. Walter’s foundation was his only hope. And they had to help. After all, it was the inheritance from Walter that’d allowed him to start the restaurant in the first place.
A gentle knock at the opened door pulled Nick’s eyes upward. Keri, Hang Ten’s hostess smiled, saying, “There’s a Phil Beecham here to see you.”
Nick closed his eyes, for just a second, and uttered a silent prayer of thanks. He stood and moved out from behind the desk. “Thanks, Keri. Let him in.”
Nick leaned against the front of his desk and waited for Phil and his good news. Hopefully, he had a check with him.
Seconds later, Phil entered with an optimistic smile, boosting Nick’s confidence. They shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and Nick invited him to sit at one of the chairs in front of his desk. Nick took the other.
“Nick, I’ve got great news.” Phil nodded, and Nick waited eagerly to hear that great news. “The board recognizes the relationship Walter shared with your mother,” Phil said. Nick wouldn’t exactly call it a relationship, but no matter. He pushed the thought out of his mind just as Phil said, “and because of that, the foundation wants to help you.”
Yes, yes… Nick was pleased to hear it, but he needed to know when they’d cut him a check.
“The foundation is prepared to buy Hang Ten from you.” Those words weren’t at all what Nick had expected to come out of Phil’s mouth. Nick was so floored that he hardly heard Phil as he rambled on, “We will give you fair market value. Of course, the market isn’t great these days, but you’ll be able to pay off your debts, tuck a little something away, and you can still run the restaurant.” Phil clasped his hands together. “We will pay you a competitive salary.”