“What is Robin doing about FoodFlicks?”
“We’re still working on it. If I sign for another season it won’t be forNow That’s Italian!I want a fresh start, something different.”
The sad truth was ever since she’d returned to LA, she’d been miserable. She tried to tell herself that it was a simple case of ennui, that she needed to shake things up. But how could someone suffer from boredom when they’d been doing nothing substantive for the last six weeks? Unless, of course, she counted cooking. She’d done a lot of that.
She closed her eyes for a second and tried to summon the zen of working in Sawyer’s kitchen. But all she saw was Sawyer. There he was, all six-two feet of him with his thumbs hitched in the pockets of his Levi’s, a smile playing on his lips, looking like he could handle the world.
Her heart folded in half.
She missed him so much it hurt. The only other time she’d ever felt this alone was when her father died.
Her mother’s death had brought great regret. Gina wished she could’ve been the daughter Sadie had wanted. She had grieved her mother’s passing and even now, missed her. But the loss of Sadie hadn’t left a gaping hole in her the size of the Grand Canyon.
Not like it had with Sawyer.
“Gina…Gina.” Linda’s voice snapped Gina back to business. “What do you want to do about the dog food offer?”
“I don’t even have a dog. It’s ridiculous.” She swiped her hand in the air and waved away the offer.
“I suppose you want me to tell Supplycrafters that we’re not interested too.”
“Not yet.”
Linda lifted her hands, palms up, perplexed. “You’re turning down ChefAid but considering Supplycrafters They don’t even manufacture food equipment for the home cook. It’s all industrial…for restaurants.”
“They didn’t treat me like a leper. Besides, I have friends in Dry Creek who could use new fryers for their coffee shop. Maybe we could wangle a deal.”
“I’m sure if you signed on the dotted line you could get your friends a professional-grade oven and a dishwasher too. Even a walk-in refrigerator.” Linda laughed. “You’d be better off buying them as gifts. Otherwise, you’re tying yourself to a company that’s off-brand. We should entertain the GE offer if you want to continue the home-appliance route.”
“That’s the thing, I want a change.” The problem was she had no idea what that change looked like. It just didn’t resemble anything in her past or current portfolio.
“Then we should take one of the single-serve coffee deals. I vote for the one George Clooney does…Nespresso.” Linda waggled her brows and Gina laughed.
“Put that one on the to-be-considered pile along with Supplycrafters I want to examine all my options before I make any decisions.”
“Why don’t I send Darby out for lunch and we can eat while we start sorting through the pile and eliminating the ones you definitely don’t want.”
“Like RollAuto?” Gina shook her head, befuddled. What in the world did car parts have to do with food?
“Don’t worry, I crossed that off the list.” Linda made her way to the credenza and pulled out a stack of takeout menus. “What are you hungry for?”
“I’m not.”
“You need to eat, Gina. You didn’t touch breakfast and Darby got your favorite muffins from La Farine.”
“I put on a few pounds while I was on the lam.” Homemade ice cream, berry pie, strawberry shortcake, and all the other goodies she’d made while at the ranch. “I’m trying to lose them before we start taping a pilot for the new show.”
“Why? The weight looked good on you.” The subtext of that was Gina didn’t look so good now. In the last two weeks she’d shed a few pounds.
She tried to tell herself that she was too busy picking up the pieces to eat. But honestly, she simply didn’t have an appetite. For the first time in her adult life, she was questioning her choices. Questioning whether this was where she wanted to be. All her life she’d clawed and climbed to be famous, successful, rich.
But what had it gotten her?
A beautiful home in Malibu where the rooms were empty. A cooking show that ironically didn’t allow her to cook. A business empire that prospered or failed at the whim of her popularity. And legions of fans who would turn on her in an instant.
No family or friends who were loyal to the bitter end. No one she could cry to when the day went wrong. No one to celebrate when the day went right.
No one who loved her.
