Elise nodded. “When you get married, bring Max along for your registry trip. He’ll make sure you’re hooked up.” Her face scrunched. “Actually, I’m going to bring him on mine too. I’ll ditch the fiancé, and just take Max.”
I felt a pinch of jealousy at the thought of Elise married to some other man. Unless the man was me—then that would be okay. I poured her a glass of the Rothschild Cabernet blend and one for myself. “You planning on getting married soon?”
Her expression was horrified. “Hell no. It’s a hypothetical. Max is the perfect Jeeves.”
“I’m sure he’ll be flattered you value his housewares selection over his billionaire business acumen.”
“Damn straight,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I keep forgetting he’s that wealthy. He doesn’t make it obvious, given how much time he spends chasing my sister.”
“It’s nauseating,” I said.
“Right?”
I reached for one of the empanadas and held it in front of her mouth. “Sayaaah.”
She greedily took a bite. “Hot, hot!” She fanned her mouth. “How is it so hot after being delivered?”
Right, that. “I paid extra on the delivery.”
“Is this some rich-guy service us mere mortals know nothing about?”
I shrugged. “My assistant handles that stuff. I tell her what I need, and she hires the people to make it happen.”
“I didn’t know you had an assistant. Does she work for one of your companies?”
“Not exactly. She works for me, and if I need something done that can’t be accomplished with the employees on hand at any of the companies, she takes care of it. I found Charlotte through Max, and Max has excellent connections.”
She tossed another bite of the empanada in her mouth. “Rubbing shoulders with rich society people has its perks.” She hummed, and her tongue darted out to capture a crumb from her lip. “So good.” She caught my expression and said, “You may sit and eat too.”
I was hungry, but not for food. Watching Elise was giving me ideas.
I sat and tried to focus on the dishes I’d ordered. I’d gone a little nuts, but I hadn’t been sure what Elise would like.
She reached across the table and handed me an empanada, feeding me the way I’d fed her, and damn if she wasn’t studying my mouth.Sonot helping the ideas swarming my head.
I chewed. “It’s good.”
“Just good? It’s delicious. Max is a genius.”
I frowned. “What about the genius who had it catered for you…Shit.” I pushed back from the table. “Hang on. I forgot about the dessert.”
I rushed out the front door and found three boxes sitting on the porch—exactly where I’d asked them to be left. I carried them inside and set them on the counter.
Elise looked over hesitantly as she finished chewing a bite of spicy tuna roll. “I’m ashamed to say it, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish everything. We might have to wait a couple of hours for dessert. But don’t you worry,” she said adamantly, “I’ll attack those too.”
“I would never doubt you,” I said and sat back at the table, piling food onto my plate. “Whatever you don’t eat, I will.”
She smacked my hand as I reached for fritters from the Michelin-star Mediterranean restaurant. “Slow down,” she said. “I’ve seen you feast, and I don’t trust you not to eat it all.”
I piled more food on my plate. “Get in there, then.”
Elise murmured something about a human garbage disposal, which I assumed was a reference to me, then proceeded to shovel food into her mouth like a teen boy. It was a wonder where it all went.
And that was how Elise and I consumed enough food to feed a family of five.
Half an hour later, we sat on the couch, both of us leaning back because our stomachs were too distended to sit upright.
“I’m stuffed,” Elise said.
