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I smiled because I knew exactly what she was describing, though I’d never known there was a term for it. “You know a lot of interesting terms. Nominative determinism, desire pathways. I can’t wait for the next thing you’ll teach me,” I said and noticed a faint flush stain her cheeks.

“My sister is a voracious reader,” she explained. “She tends to pass on her favourite books to me when she’s done so we can discuss them.”

“That’s nice. I guess you two are close?”

She nodded. “Very.”

“Me too. I think you’ve seen my twin sister, Nuala, at my brother’s wedding?”

“Oh, you’re twins?” she said, and there was something flat and forced in her tone. “I did see her, yes. Actually, we spoke a little at the bar. She seems lovely.”

“Nuala’s great.”

“Does she work with you and your brother in the family business?”

I shook my head. “She was never interested in hospitality. Nuala became a schoolteacher instead.”

“I see.”

I ended the tour at her office, which I’d had repainted and fitted out with a new desk and a new computer, alongside a printer, scanner and all manner of other office fixings. Again, Rinnie appeared pleased with the updates.

“If you need anything, my number is programmed into the system,” I said, and she nodded.

“Thank you for the tour.” She seemed a little shy now. “Tristan.”

Hearing her say my name was a definite turn on. I needed to get this attraction under control ASAP. Smiling, I met her gaze. “It was my pleasure, Rinnie.”

Turning to leave her office, I found myself lingering in the doorway. I slipped my hands in my pockets, this strange urge to stay and talk more with her taking over.

Rinnie lifted her head. “Was there something else?”

I cleared my throat, then blinked. “No, I, uh, I suppose not. Have a good day.”

“You too,” she said, eyeing me as I left. I suppose not? What was that? I didn’t normally have an awkward bone in my body, but just then, I’d acted like a complete weirdo, lingering in the doorway like a puppy needing more attention.

Getting back on track, I went to check on how the various training sessions were going, finishing up in the kitchen where Moira pulled me aside and asked for a word.

She led me out of the room so we could speak in private. I’d known Moira since I was a child and she’d worked for my father, so I could tell that all wasn’t well. It was clear in the way she bowed her head and rubbed at the back of her neck.

“How’s it going?”

“I’m not sure it’s going to work out with the chef,” she said.

“Oh, the sous chef, you mean? Sure, the bloke’s a bit of a troublemaker, but if we give him some time to get used to the new—”

“No, not the sous chef. He’s actually pretty talented despite the attitude. It’s the head chef, Cooke, that’s the issue. I fear he’s just not cut out for a fine dining kitchen. He’s never had formal training and was a line cook for most of his career. That’s not to say he isn’t skilled, but this is going to be a very different, far more demanding environment in terms of standards, and I just don’t feel he’s going to be ready in time. Certainly not for the reopening next month.”

Well, that was definitely a problem.

“Could we potentially demote him for a couple of months, train him up and then return him to his full position?”

“I mean, it’s an option,” Moira said. “But the training is going to be hard on him, and he’s going to need to dedicate himself, and even then, he might not make the cut.”

Yes, a big problem indeed, and not merely because I was going to have to organise for either Moira or Blake to stay on for several months longer than planned to train this guy. From what I’d observed at breakfast, Cooke was a beloved member of staff, and Rinnie in particular seemed to be good friends with him. If I demoted him now so close to the reopening, it could destroy any of the goodwill I’d been trying to build with my new employees.

But most of all, I felt like I’d made headway with Rinnie, and demoting Cooke would turn her frostiness right back up.

6.