What Love Tastes Like (15 page)

Later, Tiffany cuddled next to Nick. A fire burned in the bedroom fireplace, and Sade's sultry alto filled the companionable silence.

“We didn't use a condom,” Tiffany said.

Nick turned to face her. “I know. You have nothing to worry about. I was tested before, during and after my break-up with Angelica, and have only been with you since then.”

This fact surprised Tiffany, but she remained silent.

“What about you?” Nick asked.

“I've been tested too.”

“Have you been with anybody else since…” Nick wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. The longer she hesitated, the more convinced he became that he absolutely did
not
want to know.

“I haven't been with anybody else, Nick. And, truthfully? I don't want to be with anyone else.”

Nick's smile was broad as he pulled Tiffany into his arms. With that simple statement, Tiffany took up a little more space in his heart. “I want to spend Christmas with you,” he said, as the pulsating Brazilian tempos of Gil Gilberto replaced the Sade soundtrack. “I want us to fly to Italy for New Year's, and visit our favorite chef. Rome is magical during the holidays. You'll love it.”

“Sounds beautiful, Nick, but I'll be working. Chef has already told us no vacations for kitchen staff under after January tenth.”

Nick pulled Tiffany closer. “That statement doesn't apply to you. You have connections. If Li doesn't want to give you the time off, I'll fire him.”

Tiffany laughed. “You wouldn't.”

“Messing with my brown sugar? I'd drop his ass like a hot potato.”

“I like Chef Wang, and am learning a lot from him.”

“More than Emilio?”

“Chef Riatoli is still my favorite. I'd love to return to Italy someday,” Tiffany continued, after a pause. “I was working so hard that I barely saw the city. Can I take a Rome rain check, perhaps?”

“Absolutely.”

Tiffany nestled into Nick's chest. It felt good to be back in his arms. She refused to think past the moment, to examine potential implications or complications, and instead focused on how happy she was right now.

“I want you to spend the night,” Nick said. “I haven't had enough of you.”

“You're insatiable,” Tiffany responded. “Sex-crazed. In fact, do you know that every time I've been alone with you, I've ended up in your bed?”

“Well, maybe,” Nick drawled, slowly twirling her nipple into a hardened peak, “that's because,” he slowly slid his middle finger into her heat, “in my bed is exactly where you belong.”

Nick twiddled the straw in his freshly squeezed orange juice, wondering for the umpteenth time why he'd agreed to come here. It was bad enough that he was in LA during the holiday season, the first time in years that he hadn't been overseas or on an island. But he'd wanted to bring the new year in with Tiffany. So here he sat, in the Beverly Hills Four Seasons, wondering what he'd been thinking when he drove down.

This is a mistake.
He pulled a twenty from his wallet and was just getting up when Angelica rounded the corner.

“Am I late?” She stopped and looked at her watch.

“No, I just…”

“…concluded that you didn't want to meet me and was just about to leave.”

Nick laughed. “Guilty as charged.”

“I won't keep you long, Nick, and I'm really happy you agreed to meet me.” Angelica sat in the plush brown chair facing Nick and made eye contact with the waiter. He approached at once. “An olive martini, please.”

“Right away, ma'am.” The waiter left and returned moments later with her drink and a crystal bowl of gourmet mixed nuts.

“You look well, Nick.”

“Thanks, Angelica.” He looked at his watch.

“I wanted to end this year on a good note, by apologizing for my unscrupulous behavior at your hotel. I guess I went a little crazy when I saw you moving on without me. Quite an adjustment, you know?”

Nick remained silent, remembering Angelica's lip-wiping performance in the restaurant, the one he'd later learned was for Tiffany's benefit.

“You'll be happy to know that I've finally gotten it together and have truly moved on. I've met a wonderful gentleman, and we're enjoying each other. It's new…don't know where it's headed, but…it's nice having someone in my life again.”

“I'm happy to hear that, Angelica, and I accept your apology. I only want the best for you.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

They sat silent a moment, and then Nick spoke. “So who is the lucky guy?”

“A businessman from Chicago, but he has business here as well.”

“I see.”

“In some ways, he reminds me of you. Has the same sort of drive, tenacity…not that I was trying to…I mean…I met him at a dinner party.” Angelica wasn't usually nervous around any man, but Nick's penetrating stare gave her the shivers. It was important that she play her hand just right. She had to, if her plan was to succeed. “What about you? Still with…
the help
…the woman who works for you?”

“I am.”

“Is it…are you guys serious?”

“I don't think you really want to hear the details about Tiffany and me.”

“No, I guess not.”

Nick looked at his watch again.

Angelica finished her drink. “Well, I've said what I came to say. I'm sure you've got things to do, so I'll be leaving. I hope that I've cleared the air between us. The LA business circle can be a small one. If we run into each other, I hope we can be cordial.”

“I don't waste time holding on to hard feelings, Angelica, you know that.”

“Yes, I know. It's one of the many things I admire about you.”

Nick stood. So did Angelica. “Oh, there's one more thing. If you talk it over with Tiffany, and she has no problem with it, I would love to patronize your restaurant again. My guy has heard about it, and I'd rather not have to explain that I've been barred for stalking the owner.” Angelica laughed. “I'll be on my best behavior, promise.”

“I'll ask. If it's okay with her, then it's fine with me.”

“Thanks, Nick. I really appreciate it. I'm happy for you, really, I mean that. Can I get a hug for the holidays?”

Nick hugged Angelica briefly, as a father would a daughter. “Good-bye, Angelica.”

“Good-bye, Nick.” She sat back down in her chair and watched the man she used to love walk out of the bar area. He'd loved her, too, once, she remembered, so very thoroughly.
But now he's with another woman. And I don't like it.
Angelica ordered another martini, requested the bar menu, and plotted her next move in using Keith Bronson to help ruin Nick Rollins. Nobody broke Angelica King's heart and got away with it. Angelica's eye twitched as she sipped her second martini.
Nobody.

Tiffany worked at a furious pace. She thought things would let up after the holidays, but the restaurant remained full with a month-long waiting list. Tiffany readjusted the scarf tied around her lengthening tresses and concentrated on an original scallop dish. She'd expanded the menu selection from Chef Riatoli's asparagus delight and created several of her own. Today she was fixing a bacon-wrapped concoction cooked in a coconut oil/tamari/agave blend and seasoned with fresh ginger, lemongrass, white pepper, and a hint of saffron. A dozen at a time were then placed on large square platters sporting an oriental-inspired symbol drawn with some of the pan drippings and offered free by handsome, white-coated waiters to waiting diners in the bar area as an
amuse-bouche
. The idea of offering this bite-sized hors d'oeuvre to reservation holders having drinks in the bar had been Tiffany's idea, and was a huge success. Patrons had written letters praising the classy move, and Nick was impressed and pleased. After showing one such correspondence to Tiffany, Chef Wang had given her a curt head nod and uttered a single word—“good.” Tiffany had almost fallen over at the rare verbal praise.

“How's that steak working?” Tiffany asked Roger.

“Coming up, Chef!” Roger responded. Chef Wang was taking his first days off in the form of a three-day vacation, leaving Tiffany in charge of the kitchen for the first time. Any anxiety she'd felt about this responsibility had been quickly relieved as the workers treated her with the same respect and deference they would have given Chef Wang. He'd picked a dedicated, top-notch team. In a world that often had a high rate of turnover, not one kitchen or wait-staff employee had left. This restaurant was a plum place to work, and everyone knew it.

“Farah, we need to finish that risotto.”

“It's ready, Chef.”

Tiffany finished the last of the scallops and moved over to lift a lobster claw from its boiling confines. She placed it on a plate, removed the meat, and filled the bottom of the shell with the creamy risotto. After replacing the meat, she drizzled it with a citrus-infused butter, another of her creations. She decorated the plate with fried sage leaves and placed it steaming on the counter. “Order up! Serve it quickly!”

“Yes, Chef!”

Tiffany went right to work on the next dish, dreaming about the trip to Italy that she and Nick were going to take at the end of January—two weeks away.

“Chef.” Amber walked into the kitchen, careful of the handles, knives, and other potentially dangerous utensils scattered about. She knew how quickly the team worked in back; one had to keep their wits about them.

“Your father's here.”

Dad? What's he doing here?
Then Tiffany remembered the phone call she'd gotten right before her shift started. She recognized his number and had made a mental note to call him back first chance she got. She was still waiting on that chance. Unfortunately, her father had come at the height of the dinner hour. Talking to him would have to wait.

“Tell him it's pretty busy right now,” Tiffany panted, checking on a delicate white sauce with one hand while she fished buckwheat penne rigate from a pot with her other one. She threw a handful of large prawns and fresh herbs into the pot and gave the mix another stir. She then plated the pasta, covered it with the sauce, and sprinkled the entire dish with freshly shaved parmesan reggiano, pearl onions, and capers. “Order up!”

Amber checked on other tables as she made her way back to Tiffany's father. After delivering his daughter's message, she asked if they were ready to order.

“What will you have, Angelica?”

Angelica looked at Amber. “What do you recommend?”

“Well, everything Tiffany cooks is amazing, but the salmon, scallop, and lobster dishes are the most popular. Oh, and her filet mignon dish is to die for—that gets ordered a lot as well.”

After placing their orders, Keith and Angelica settled back and awaited the first course. He'd never admit it, but after vowing to not get serious ever again, he was falling hard and fast for this woman. Finally, he'd found someone who was everything he wanted: beautiful, independent, driven, and smart. And in bed…he'd never been with someone whose sexual appetite was so voracious. She could run rings around Sasha, even though she was five years older than his soon to be ex. He'd had to stock his shelves with Viagra just so he could keep up!

Angelica smiled at Keith. She slid off her sandal and discreetly ran her foot up his leg. In the two months since they'd been dating, things had progressed brilliantly, just the way she wanted. She'd had no such notion when she first put the plan in motion, but now she wouldn't be surprised if summer came with a marriage proposal. She'd already spent considerable time in his posh condominium on Lake Michigan Avenue, in the same building as the one Oprah owned. And he'd started saying “we” when referencing his future—a very good sign. Keith was brilliant, as smart as Nick, in her opinion. She had no doubt he'd give Nick a run for his money, and if she had anything to say about it, beat him to China. Angelica could hardly wait for Nick's reaction when he saw her on his primary competition's arm. But in the meantime, she'd have to settle for Tiffany's reaction when she found out her man's ex was now screwing her father.

Angelica's eyes shined at the deliciousness of fate.
What were the chances that the man who will help me bring Nick down is also the father of the bitch who replaced me in Nick's bed and heart? The gods could not have been kinder
, Angelica had thought, when during a recent conversation Keith had mentioned why he so wanted to visit Taste—because his daughter, Tiffany, worked there. Angelica had phoned Nick immediately, told him of her lover's impending visit, and asked if she'd be welcome at Taste. Nick had phoned her back that evening with the go ahead, and had again wished her well with the new relationship.
Ha! Thanks for the well wishes, Nicky baby. Although after you find out I'm screwing the competition who just happens to be your woman's daddy, you might take back your blessings and I might get barred again!

Angelica slid down a bit in her seat and placed her foot squarely on Keith's inner thigh.

Keith reached down and captured Angelica's bare foot. “All right, baby girl. Don't start nothing, won't be nothing.”

Angelica moved her leg higher, placed it near his crotch. “I think I've already got something started.” She began to massage him with her toes.

Keith shifted himself away from her. “Behave, Angelica.” But his smile belied the gruffness in his tone. This girl turned him on something fierce!

Forty-five minutes later, they had finished their third course and were waiting on the main course when Keith's phone rang. His eyes widened and a big grin broke out on his face as he listened to the caller on the other end. After a few brief comments, he hung up the phone.

“Baby, we have to leave, now.”

“Why, Keith, what's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong,” Keith said, signaling for Amber. “Everything is getting ready to be more than right. That was the president of J.P. Morgan. We've just been invited to his house, for an impromptu dinner. He has some people he wants us to meet.”

Angelica's initial disappointment was replaced with excitement. She loved to move among society's movers and shakers, and even more, this invite could have something to do with the China project. “Whatever you say, darling,” Angelica purred, taking her compact from her purse and refreshing her lipstick. There would be another day to surprise Miss Tiffany. Angelica knew that moment would be well worth the wait.

After waiting another minute for Amber, who was busy at another table, Keith took out four crisp one-hundred-dollar bills and placed them on the table. “That should cover the cost of the meal and leave a generous tip.” His daughter, and the main course she was preparing for him, never crossed his mind. “She'll see it when she comes back here,” he said, referring to Amber. “Ryan's in Pacific Palisades. Let's go.”

 

Tiffany carefully cut the tenderloin her father had ordered. It was a juicy medium rare, the mustard, avocado, and panko crumb coating perfectly done. She smiled as she plated the cut, topping it with cold organic avocados and slices of purple, yellow, and red heirloom tomatoes. This would be served with a potato, turnip, and parsnip medley, paired with sautéed green beans.

At the same time, Roger was plating for the person dining with her father, a glamour gal, was how Amber had described her. Tiffany had thought it interesting that her father had brought a date. Tiffany had met only a handful of her dad's many women. Most of those meetings had been memorable—and not in a good way. But her father was changing the way he lived his life. Maybe he was changing the type of woman he dated, which meant maybe this woman was closer to his own age. Tiffany smiled, actually looking forward to meeting this woman and visiting with her father. They talked almost weekly now. How their relationship had grown in this short time was nothing short of miraculous.

“You ready, Roger?”

“Yes, Chef.”

Tiffany picked up her father's dishes and headed to the door. She'd told Amber she'd deliver their order personally. She wanted to see her father's reaction when he tasted her food. She'd just started down the short hallway into the dining room when Amber came around the corner. She was not smiling.

“I don't know what happened, Tiffany, but your father's gone.”