I held the top of my robe together as I repositioned myself, tucking a leg beneath me. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“You’re saying that if I go into Charred Miami tomorrow night for dinner, I will not see any of Horned’s items on their menu?”
“Correct.”
“And if I go into the nearest Horned, which is probably Charleston, not a single menu item will look anything like the menu the Gordons designed?”
“Correct again.”
I pursed my lips. “I want proof.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“Troy, Troy, Troy.” I picked up an oversize crumb of block cheddar that had landed on Abbi’s lap. “This has nothing to do with trust. This is business.”
“I’ll have the new menus of both Charred and Horned in your inbox within the next ten minutes. I’m assuming once you review them, you’ll draw up the necessary signatures from the Gordons so all of this can be behind us?”
“Once I review both menus and my client approves them, yes, the paperwork will be sent your way. What I need from you is a full accounting ledger from all four Horned locations to ensure the correct amount during the agreed dates will be paid to my client. Once that number is approved, the Westons have thirty days to pay.”
“I want this wrapped up by the end of the day and signatures completed by tomorrow—no later. That doesn’t meantomorrow’s profits are part of the deal. The Gordons’ compensation ends at midnight tonight.”
“I want tomorrow.” I smiled.
“You’re not getting it.”
“Troy—”
“The new menus take effect tomorrow. There’s absolutely no reason why the Gordons need to be paid for food that isn’t being served.” He paused as though he were waiting for my rebuttal. “This is a nonnegotiable term, Sophie.”
“Toughie.” I fake-pouted.
He laughed. “Jesus, that title of yours continues to hold strong. I won’t say I’ll miss going up against you, but I will say I miss you. When are you coming back?”
“We have a few more days here.” I wiped off a blueberry smudge from Abbi’s cheek. I didn’t want to say anything, but I couldn’t stop myself. “He’s here, you know. Working with Hayden.”
“I know.”
Of course he knew. Everyone had known but me.
“And you didn’t feel the need to tell me he was coming here? At the same time I was? Not even a heads-up so I wasn’t completely caught off guard? Because when that moment happened”—I took a deep breath—“I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Had I known, I would have changed the date of my trip.”
Had there been a tiny part of me that liked that run-in? The part of me that basked in Colson’s stare. That got wet every time he laid eyes on me. A reaction that was always physical, compared to the emotional part of me that wanted to scream whenever I saw him.
“And ruin the surprise, which I heard was quite epic?” He chuckled. “I would never.”
“Troy!”
“Troy!” Abbi mimicked, smiling. “That’s Mommy’syou’re in troublevoice.”
“She’s right,” I told him. “You’re in serious trouble.”
“Why? I heard dinner went amazingly well with you, Colson, and the boys.” He laughed.
“Ohhh.” I let out a loud, quick breath. “Jones and Callum are about to get a piece of my mind.”
“It’s all out of love, Sophie.”
