“Henry is the best at what he does. We do different things. To be the best in restaurant design, you have to work with the best, and at the time, it was Julian.” My mind wandered back to my last feeble attempt to engage Griffin. I had texted Griffin regarding a bespoke cocktail, and his response was terse. “Ask your bartender. Not me.” There had been a time when I thought Griffin and I would be together. For good. There was a time, and then Martha’s Vineyard happened.

“I know they’re biased, but they say you’re the best. After seeing some of your work, I happen to agree. I was quite impressed by what you achieved with that French café on West Eighty-Fifth Street. They’ve garnered some high marks from those in the know. And the eclectic little bakery down in the village. I like the way you incorporate your style with that of your client. That is clearly on display with what you achieved at Ipanema.”

I had enjoyed both those projects. Both had been small in scale, but each provided me with necessary income and good reviews. I was glad he had studied my portfolio.

I smiled as Mac continued, “I talked to Julian a long time about you.”

“What about?” I asked.

“He’s great, don’t get me wrong. But when you see his work, you know it’s Julian. He said that the pupil had surpassed the teacher. In addition, I like the way you incorporate whimsical and unexpected details. That’s what I would want from you. Plus, you’re much easier on the eyes than Julian.” Mac just couldn’t help his roguish behavior. While I loathed that sockless, pink-shirted frat boy so ubiquitous in the South, Mac seemed unaffected. Had he already made a decision?

“Where’s your space?” I asked. “And what timetable are we talking about? Then, of course, the budget?”

“A lady that gets straight down to business. I like that. Let me put this out there. My two drawbacks: I am opinionated just like you are, and if I have an idea, I would expect you to listen to me. Feasibility-wise, I am not able to begin this project for another sixteen months, for reasons I would rather not divulge just now. If my ideas and my timetables don’t scare you away, I would like to sit down with you again, look at your past projects in depth, have you explain the things you did and why, preferably over dinner. Strictly business. Okay? I’ll show you the space, and then we can discuss numbers—yours and the project’s.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Just for the record: I’m a harmless flirt. I have a wife now,” he said.

This time, I smiled. I was ready for the comeback.

“None of my business, but is it you have a wife now or you have a wife for now? Prepositions are important.”