Page 63 of Tide and Seek
That was an unusual thing for someone as pragmatic as Max to say.Warmth spread through my chest as I held his gaze.“That’s right, Max.”
“I try to do that more these days.”He dropped his gaze and then seemed to force himself to look up again.“Do you see that?”
“Yeah, I do.”I smiled and touched his cheek.“Seeing how hard you try, it makes me feel even closer to you.”
His smile was shy and a hint of pink touched his cheeks.“Then it’s worth it.”
We wandered out into the main peristyle garden, where a long reflecting pool stretched between rows of columns.Light played across the water while a few visitors moved quietly through the space, voices hushed like a church.
Another hour passed in mosaics, dining-room floors pulled from Roman ruins, jewelry and coins that made me think how little human nature had changed.
“Makes you wonder what we’re doing now that people will marvel at in two thousand years,” Max said.“Assuming anybody’s still around to marvel.”
“Always the optimist,” I teased, bumping his shoulder.
“I’m being practical.If they dig up Geoffrey’s Malibu in the year 4000, they’ll probably think we were a pretty sophisticated bunch.”
“Probably.”
“Speaking of Geoffrey’s,” he said, checking his watch, “I’m starving.Are you getting hungry yet?”
“I was hungry an hour ago.I say let’s go pig out.”
“Um… right.”He grimaced.“Let’s get our… pig on.”
The drive to Geoffrey’s took us back down the coast, and I found myself staring out at the Pacific stretching endlessly toward the horizon.The restaurant looked exactly like Max had described—perched on the edge of the cliff like it had grown there naturally, all weathered wood and enormous windows designed to showcase the view.
“Now that,” I said as Max pulled in, “looks like the kind of place that charges forty dollars for a sandwich.”
“Probably.Not that I’ve ever gotten a sandwich at Geoffrey’s.That seems sacrilegious,” Max said.“Although I’d bet the sandwich would be worth it.And the view is priceless.”
He was right about the view.The hostess led us to a table on the deck that felt like it was suspended over the water, and I could see the coastline curving away in both directions.The sound of waves hitting the rocks below mixed with the quiet conversations of other diners and the clink of silverware on plates.
“Okay,” I said, settling in.“This is worth whatever they want to charge for a sandwich.”
Max smiled.
Our server glided over, a polished young man in a black shirt and slacks whose confident demeanor suggested he was just as comfortable serving Hollywood executives and tech billionaires as he was little ol’ nobodies like us.His professional warmth felt both genuine and expertly deployed.
“Good afternoon, I’m Marcus, and I’ll be your guide through what I can confidently say will be the best lunch of your life.”His grin was infectious.“Now, can I start you with something to drink, or would you prefer a moment to soak in that view?I completely understand if you need a minute.It gets me every time.”
“I’ll have a glass of the Sancerre,” Max said.
“Ahh, I see someone has a sophisticated palate.”Marcus winked.
I smiled.“Let me guess, is that some sort of French wine?”
“It certainly is,” Marcus agreed before Max could respond.“It’s a white wine from the Loire Valley in France, made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc grapes.It’s known for being crisp, dry, and elegant, often with citrus, green apple, or mineral notes.”
None of that meant much to me, but I was in the mood to live a little.“Make that two.”I met Max’s gaze.“When in Rome, right?Or Malibu.”
“Exactly.”Max nodded.“Since we’re both drinking the Sancerre, we’ll take a bottle.”
“Wonderful.I’ll go get your wine.”Marcus smiled and disappeared, leaving us alone with the view and the sound of the ocean.
We sat in silence for a moment, watching a pelican dive for fish in the distance, and listening to the chatter around us.
“It’s strange being back here at Geoffrey’s with you,” he said softly, and then he grimaced.“What I mean is, I like how intimate this feels.I used to come here for business dinners, and the hospital administration liked to hold Christmas parties here sometimes if they were feeling generous.But as much as I liked coming here, this feels different.Better.”
