“I’m leaning toward tapas.”
Gage gave her a quick glance. “In other words, you’ll serve appetizers rather an entrées.”
“Yes, only because I plan to offer a fusion cuisine. Of course there will be quite a few popular appetizers, along with sushi, Asian, French, Spanish, and Mediterranean dishes.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little daunting?”
Tonya stared out the windshield as she chose her words carefully. Did he actually believe she would attempt to run a restaurant without having a concrete plan in place? “No. Once I train my staff, it shouldn’t be daunting.” She wasn’t a man hater, but Tonya had come to realize that it was men who openly expressed doubt whenever she mentioned running her own restaurant, while most women encouraged her to go for it.
“Good luck with that,” Gage said under his breath.
The drive ended in complete silence, and when he maneuvered up to the front of DuPont House, Tonya didn’t wait for Gage to come around and assist her. “Thanks for the ride.” She didn’t bother to give him a backward glance as she walked up the steps to the porch. She opened and closed the door and exhaled an audible breath.
There was something about his tone when wishing her luck that reminded Tonya of her ex-husband whenever he had attempted to discourage her from returning to college. After a while she learned to ignore his subtle digs, and in the end she promised herself not to let the naysayers or doubters affect her decision to determine her future.
She walked through the entryway to the parlor to find Jasmine sitting on a loveseat reading a magazine. The muted television was tuned to the New Orleans Saints’ game. Her head popped up. “Nydia and I were talking about sending out Nawlins’ finest to find you.”
Tonya flopped down on an armchair. “I went to Chez Toussaints so Eustace could show me how he makes some of his dishes.” She paused. “Where’s everyone?”
Jasmine closed the magazine. “LeAnn and Paige went to the Saints’ football game, and Nydia’s taking a nap. She claims she’s exhausted.”
“That’s because once the dancing began she never sat down,” Tonya reminded Jasmine.
“Word,” Jasmine drawled. “I can remember a time when my weekends would begin on Thursdays and not end until Sunday morning.”
Partying had never been an option for Tonya. “It was different with me. I met Samuel while I was still in high school, and because he was raised in a church where dancing and drinking were frowned upon, we didn’t go out.”
“What did you guys do for fun?”
A melancholy frown flitted over her features. “Now that I look back, I realize we never had much fun. We’d get together with family members for Sunday dinner or on holidays, but that was the extent of our so-called fun.” She waved her hand. “I don’t want to talk about the past.”
Jasmine nodded. “Okay. I need for you to give me your opinion about someone.”
Tonya’s curiosity is piqued. “Is it a he or a she?”
“It’s Cameron Singleton.”
“What about him?” she asked, when she wanted to tell her friend that the man hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her during the reception.
“He asked to take me out.”
Tonya settled back into the chair; her impassive expression did not reveal what she was feeling. It appeared that whatever Cameron wanted, he was willing to go after. “And what did you tell him?”
Jasmine lowered her eyes. “I told him that wasn’t possible because I was leaving today to go back to New York.”
“And what did he say?”
“He claims he comes to New York every May to hang out with his college buddies, and if I’m available then, he would like to take me out.”
“And what didyousay?” She had asked Jasmine yet another question.
“I told him I didn’t know where I would be or what I would be doing seven months from now, so I couldn’t give him an answer.”
Tonya shook her head in exasperation. “Did you at least give the man your number?”
“Yes.”
“Well, well, well. You did something right.”
