Strange, but Gillini was almost exactly how Ethan had pictured it. Warm and welcoming.
A bit like Rachel, the thought came, unbidden.
Stop it, he thought, mentally smacking himself on the forehead. He needed to stop thinking of this woman as a friend and instead start treating her and her boyfriend as the foes they were—when it came to the matter at hand at least.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan steeled himself to go inside, willing her to be there. Despite what he’d said before about phoning beforehand, he didn’t want to give her or the fiancé too much advance warning, just in case they decided to make themselves scarce.
The front door of the restaurant jingled as he stepped inside, and he immediately realized that the even though it wasn’t quite yet lunchtime, the dining room was abuzz with customers.
He was impressed. Rachel obviously did a booming business here. The feel of the place in addition to the smell of fresh baking from the artisan bakery section was enticing, rather old-fashioned and charming. The atmosphere was a mixture of cozy nights by the fireplace and breakfast in bed all wrapped into one, and he realized he could stand there all day in the entryway just breathing in the delicious aromas.
“Hello there. Can I help you?” a woman greeted, and immediately he broke from his daydream. A redhead dressed in jeans with a chef’s jacket over her top was looking at him expectantly, and he noticed that the name tag on her shirt read “Terri.”
“Hello, yes. I’m here to see Rachel. Is she in?” He sounded nervous, and once again, he mentally berated himself for being so hesitant.
“She’s not due back until this afternoon actually. Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked warmly. “I’m co-owner of the bistro.”
“Oh.” Damn. Ethan had budgeted on Rachel being here, what with it being a busy Saturday. “Well, I suppose I should really have called first. You say she’ll be here this afternoon?”
“Yes. She’s away catering an event this morning.” The woman was watching him with interest. “Can I take a message, maybe get her to give you a call when she arrives back?”
“No need. Perhaps I’ll just pop back later.” Again, he was banking on the benefit of surprise.
“Well, it shouldn’t be more than an hour or so till she gets in.” Her gaze dropped to the carry-on luggage Ethan held by his side, and she looked at him speculatively. “In the meantime, you look like you’ve been on the road. Fancy a bite to eat while you wait?”
He thought about it. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and the food here really did smell awfully enticing…
“If you have a free table, yes, I’d love that, thank you.”
“Not a problem. Just this way.” She led him through to a free table near the back of the dining room. “You’ll have to forgive me. This is all we’ve got left just now. Usually after lunch, the rush tapers off,” she said, motioning to the crowded room.
“Well, if the food tastes anything like it smells, I can understand why you’re so busy,” he replied, and Terri smiled.
“Thanks. Now are you sure I can’t do anything for you in the meantime? My name is Terri. I’m Rachel’s business partner.” She held her hand out, and Ethan somehow got the impression that he was being railroaded into an introduction. Well, since he was going to wait around, he supposed it wouldn’t matter.
“Nice to meet you, Terri. I’m Ethan.”
A flutter of recognition immediately dawned on her face. “Oh,” she said. “Yes, Rachel was expecting you.”
He was slightly taken aback. “Really? Because I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be able to visit.”
“I’ve heard all about you, of course.” She smiled broadly. “I think what you did for Gary was wonderful.”
“Excuse me?” He looked up, momentarily wrong-footed.
“For helping him out in New York.”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“And very nice of you to come by to check up on him too.”
“Yes. Actually, would he be here by any chance?”
Terri chuckled. “No, no, Gary doesn’t work here. Actually, he doesn’t spend a whole lot of time here at all, unless it’s to be fed or watered,” she added, her tone wry as she fussed over the table setting. “But I’m sure he’d love to see you so he could thank you again and you two could catch up. After all, if it weren’t for you, he might not be with us at all.”
Ethan noticed something in Terri’s voice, something that sounded like sarcasm, but he wasn’t sure if it was directed toward him or Gary.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, I haven’t met him at all, as it happens.”
