“So what happens next?” Riley asks.
“With what?” I ask in return.
All four of my best friends roll their eyes.
“With you,” Cami says.
“Well, we’re happy with things as they are,” I reply, looking up into Mac’s smiling face. “As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter the pace. It’s the journey, not the destination.”
“That’s way too deep this far into a wine tour,” Addie says, shaking her head. “I’m not even sure I understand what you just said.”
“I’m happy,” I reply with a laugh. “I’m happy with the way things are.”
“Perfect.” Mia holds up her glass. “I’m empty, Mr. Wonderful.”
“We can’t have that.” Mac chooses a new wine and pours us each a sample. As the girls swirl and smell it, he leans down to whisper in my ear. “This is the best journey of my life.”
I grin up at him and pucker my lips, inviting him in for a kiss, which he doesn’t turn down.
“We’re just getting started.”
Epilogue
~Kat~
“Where is Riley?” Cami asks, and braces her head in her hands, leaning on my bar. We’re gathered together for a meeting, but Riley’s late.
“Are you hungover from yesterday?” Addie asks with a satisfied smile.
“Mac got me so drunk,” Cami says with a groan.
“But did it work?” I ask. “Did you have sloppy drunk sex?”
“Oh yeah.” She peeks through her hands and flashes me a satisfied smile. “We had a lot of fun. He does this thing—”
“Oh my God, stop talking,” Mia says, holding up her hands and shaking her head violently. “I do not need to hear about my brother’s sexploits.”
“Killjoy,” Addie mutters. “Now that I’m allowed to have sex again, and Ella is sleeping through the night, I had some sloppy-drunk sex myself.”
Cami holds her fist out for Addie to bump. “Atta girl.”
“You guys are not going to believe this,” Riley says as she walks into the bar, her heels clicking smartly on the floor. “I don’t know if I even believe it.”
“You were abducted by aliens,” I say, and smirk when she narrows her eyes at me.
“I’m serious.”
“Okay, what is it?” Mia asks.
“I just got off the phone with a guy named Trevor Cooper. He’s the executive producer of a reality food show on Best Bites TV.”
Mia’s eyes widen. “I watch that channel all the time.”
“I know,” Riley says, and claps her hands excitedly. “He says he’s heard amazing things about our restaurant, and they might want to have us on that show Traveling Eats. And he says he has other ideas for some long-term features too.”
“No,” Mia says immediately, crossing her arms over her chest.
“What do you mean, no?” Riley demands.
“I don’t want cameras in my kitchen,” Mia says, shaking her head. “It’ll only distract me.”
“Mia, this is a huge deal. This is the kind of exposure that could make Seduction explode.”
“We’re busy enough,” Mia insists.
“This is not just your place,” Riley replies, her voice rising. “All of us own it.”
“It’s my kitchen.”
“This is national television. It’s an honor that they want to even consider it.”
“I’m honored, then,” Mia says with a shrug. “But I still say no.”
“I think we should consider it,” I add, and hold Mia’s gaze firmly when she glares at me. “We have to think about the big picture, Mia. Riley’s right, it could mean a lot of really exciting things for us.”
“You’re not going to talk me into this.”
“What I want to know is, does this Trevor guy sound hot?” Addie asks with a grin.
“He sounds like a man,” Riley replies, gritting her teeth. “You’re not taking this seriously. It’s national television. It’s the kind of opportunity that everyone wants, and a rare few get.”
“Okay, so what’s the next step?” Cami asks.
“Trevor is coming here next week,” Riley replies with a triumphant smile. “He wants to check us out, and I warned him that he’d have to talk Mia into it.”
“He can talk all he wants,” Mia says stubbornly.
“Trevor is a hot name,” Addie says thoughtfully. “Maybe Riley could be his sexcation.”
“How did I end up in business with you guys?” Riley demands, her hands on her hips. “I’m not sleeping with the network television producer. I’m hoping he’ll want us on his show.”
“And I’m hoping he doesn’t,” Mia says.
Riley narrows her eyes. “He’ll be here next Wednesday. Do not sabotage this, Mia. I mean it.”
“I won’t,” Mia says with a sigh. “But I want it known now that I am not in favor of it.”
“So noted.” Riley grins. “Network television, you guys. We’re about to hit the big time.”