Chapter 2

The next morning, Sloane was sitting behind my desk.

She wore the cream apron Theo had ordered for me when construction began. My name was still stitched across the pocket.

Theo stood beside the window with a cup of coffee. He saw me looking at the apron.

"It's just for the morning," he said. "Don't start an argument over it."

Sloane ran one finger over my name. "Mine hasn't arrived yet. Theo said you wouldn't mind."

"I don't."

I put the opening folders on the desk in front of her.

Sloane looked down at them. "What's this?"

"The final vendor list, staff assignments, press schedule, and seating plan. You'll need them when you take over."

Before she could answer, the office door opened.

Vivian Cole walked in and hugged Sloane.

"I was so happy when Theo told me you were back." She held Sloane at arm's length. "You look exactly as you did when the two of you opened your first pop-up."

Sloane smiled at Theo. "We barely slept that week."

Vivian laughed. "You always brought out his best work."

I had spent months preparing Cole House to open. Vivian knew that. She picked up the press schedule without asking me.

"Sloane should lead the launch dinner," she said. "People remember her and Theo together. It gives the restaurant a story."

Theo looked at me.

There had been a time when I would've reminded Vivian who hired the staff, negotiated with the vendors, and stayed through every failed inspection.

I pushed the folders closer to Sloane.

"Everything you need is there."

Vivian seemed pleased. Sloane looked disappointed.

She opened the seating plan. "Theo hates being near the kitchen doors during dinner. He can't focus when he hears the plates."

"I know."

"He also likes the lights lower after dessert."

"I know that too."

Theo kept watching me.

After I fell in love with him, I had cared about every woman who got too close.

When Sloane started sending him messages after midnight, I asked him to block her. When he met her for drinks and told me afterward, I shouted until my throat hurt.

He would hold me, tell me there was nothing to worry about, and promise to keep his distance.

A few days later, he would bring flowers or cook dinner. I always stayed.

My anger had taught him the wrong lesson. He believed I would fight because leaving him was impossible.

I went to the dining room and checked the table assignments.

Theo followed me.

"Are you planning to ignore me all day?"

"I'm working."

"You handed my mother and Sloane the entire launch without a fight."

"They wanted it."

"Since when has that stopped you?"

I checked another table number.

He moved into my path. "If you want Sloane gone, say it."

I looked at him. "Would you send her away?"

He opened his mouth.

"Theo."

Sloane hurried into the dining room with her phone in her hand.

"The produce supplier changed the delivery. They won't hold the order unless we go there now." She touched his arm. "You said you'd handle it with me."

Theo glanced at me.

Once, I would've asked him to stay and finish the launch meeting.

I picked up the seating chart.

"You should go."

His face tightened. "We'll finish this conversation tonight."

Sloane kept her hand on his arm as they left.

I returned to the office to finish the handover files.

Before I left, I went upstairs to collect the spare apartment keys.

A phone began vibrating inside the nightstand.

I opened the drawer and found Theo's old phone plugged into a charger. He'd told me he'd lost it months ago.

The screen lit up with a message from Sloane.

I picked it up and entered the password Theo had used for years.