California Summer by Anita Hughes

Author:Anita Hughes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Ten

“I wish we could be there for the opening of Rosie’s Fish Tacos,” Angelica’s voice came over the phone. “Dirk and I are having dinner with an executive from Bravo. They’re making a reality show about a British movie star falling in love with an American actress; maybe they’ll choose us!”

“As long as they don’t check Dirk’s passport to see if he’s really British,” Rosie said out loud, pressing the mute button.

“I ran into Colby Young at Whole Foods,” Angelica continued. “He is so sweet: he wrote my parents a thank-you card for the party. He asked when your fish taco store is opening.”

“He remembered?” Rosie balanced the phone on her shoulder while she wiped the counter for the tenth time.

“He’s crazy about fish tacos,” Angelica replied. “I told him the grand opening is Saturday, and he said he’d try to drive up the coast. He was with his manager, Ryan Addams. I think Ryan is sweet on you. When Colby mentioned your name, Ryan nudged Colby in the ribs.”

“I met Ryan at the Fourth of July party,” Rosie recalled. “They were talking to Ben and Mary Beth. Ben and Mary Beth probably told him terrible things about me, like I was an axe murderer or just spent a month in rehab.”

“You’re being paranoid. Ryan had a starry look in his eyes,” Angelica insisted. “I think he’s sexy in an earnest Hollywood-exec way. He reminds me of those other cute Ryans: Ryan Seacrest and Ryan Gosling. It must be something in the name.”

“I have to prepare a hundred tortillas, sauté ten pounds of cod, and make twenty pounds of guacamole.” Rosie glanced at her watch.

“You’re going to sell out in the first hour.” Angelica blew kisses into the phone.

Rosie hung up, feeling guilty she hadn’t told Angelica about Josh. But Angelica would have told everyone she met at the Coffee Company and Whole Foods. Their romance was too young to be turned into instant Hollywood gossip.

In two hours the store would open and Rosie’s first customers would walk through the door. The past five days she had worked feverishly: timing herself until she could prepare a taco in three minutes, passing out “buy one get one free” flyers, and stopping by every store on East Village Road to invite shopkeepers to a post-opening party at the Pullman estate.

* * *

“It’s not a movie premiere or a book launch.” Rosie frowned when Estelle suggested holding a grand-opening party. They were in the Pullmans’ kitchen and Estelle wore her gardening slacks and a wide straw hat.

“What better way to build local support than to host a soirée!” Estelle sipped a cup of Earl Grey tea and nibbled a macaron.

“Mrs. Pullman is having her annual post Fourth of July letdown,” Morris groaned, polishing silverware at the kitchen table.

“If I am, there couldn’t be a better cure than holding a party.” Estelle finished her tea and placed the cup in the sink. “We’ll serve sangria and Peg’s Mexican chocolate cream pie. I’ll buy chocolate fruit cupcakes from your friend Rachel, and we’ll have centerpieces of my peach-colored roses.

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