“Cut off the water?”
I throw him an annoyed look.
“Of course, but it cuts off water to the entire kitchen. Whatever idiot installed this thing didn’t put in a separate shut-off valve.”
He grins and shakes his head before pulling the spare trays from the cabinet beside the dishwasher and reaching a long arm inside.
“The valve is right here…” he looks up at me, “…and I’m the idiot who installed it.”
“Oh.” Embarrassment washes over me and I can feel my face flush. “Well, I’ll leave you to it then.”
Tse is clearly amused when I scurry off to the other side of the kitchen to warn Chris he can turn the water back on. Then I disappear to my office for the change of clothes I keep there. I learned my first week that accidents happen all the time, when I ended up wearing roasted red pepper soup and had to run home to get something clean to wear. Ever since I’ve made sure to always have a spare set of clothes in my office.
Mack is behind the bar when I walk into the restaurant.
“Everything under control?”
He slides a couple of glasses on a tray that is already full of drinks.
“These need to be delivered. Tables three, seven, and twelve. The long wait for food is making some of the guests grumpy.”
“Comp each table one round of drinks on their bill. Food should start coming out soon.”
I grab the tray and carefully balance it as I move toward the first table. I don’t have any more clean clothes if I make a mess now.
Half an hour later the customers are eating. I’m behind the bar rinsing glasses, while Mack is on a smoke break out back, when Tse comes walking out of the kitchen. I’d like to say I almost forgot he was there, but that’d be a lie. I’ve had half an eye on the kitchen door the entire time, and that annoys me.
He pulls out the stool where Wapi usually sits and leans his elbows on the bar.
“All fixed.”
I wipe my hands on a towel and turn my body toward him. Time to eat some crow.
“Thank you and I’m sorry I was snippy earlier. I had a dining room full of people waiting for their food and a chef who wouldn’t cook without running water, so I was a little stressed.”
“Didn’t even notice it,” he lies with one of his charming smiles.
“Drink?” I offer.
“Whatever’s on tap is good. How’s business been?” he asks, when I go to pull him a draft.
“Not bad. Weekends are pretty busy.” I pour myself a glass of water, just to give my hands something to do. “Have you eaten?”
“I’ll grab something later,” he says, just as Mandy walks up to the bar.
“A draft, a dry white, and a cosmo for table seven.”
She casts a curious eye in Tse’s direction.
“Mandy, could you ask Bernie to put together a plate of brisket for Tse while I get these?”
“Sure.”
She heads to the kitchen but not without thoroughly checking him out in passing. I can’t blame her, but it annoys me all the same.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“This is a restaurant and you just fixed our dishwasher. We can feed you, unless you’re suddenly allergic to meat?”
His chuckle is deep and a little raspy. “Not a chance of that.”
I get Mandy’s order ready and it’s waiting for her when she appears from the kitchen and slides a steaming plate in front of Tse. He rumbles his thanks and digs in.
A moment later Mack walks in from the back, takes over the bar, and I can slip to my office, where I spend the next hour or so working on payroll and hiding out. Still, when I finally surface, I’m disappointed to see the empty stool at the end of the bar.
We have a pretty effective routine closing the restaurant at night. One where everyone chips in to get the place open-ready for the next day. It doesn’t take long before the last person has left.
I slide the till in the small safe in my office, turn off the lights, and lock the door. Then I grab the trash bag by the back entrance someone forgot to take, step outside, and lock that door as well, before tossing the bag in the large bin.
My vehicle is the only one still in the parking lot that wraps around the side to the back of the restaurant. As I make my way toward it, my eyes automatically scan the shadows where the lights don’t quite reach. It’s not until I hit the unlock button on my key fob, I notice movement near the rear where the parking lot meets the property behind us.
I keep my eyes on the two figures sliding into the shadows as I get behind the wheel.
Then I hit the ignition, shift in drive, and peel out of the parking lot, my heart pounding in my chest.
Tse
Man up. Asshole.
I glare at Ouray, who is hanging out at the bar when I walk into the clubhouse.
It’s a miracle I was able to peel my ass from that stool and walk out of there. Heck, I’d probably still be sitting there, gagging for a glimpse of her, if not for that waitress paying me a little too much attention. Mandy. The woman made sure there was no doubt in my mind she was game for a hookup.
Not even a year ago I would’ve been all over that, wouldn’t have thought twice about following her into a bathroom or taking her behind the building. Quick and easy has always been my MO. I’ve always been honest about that too. Never made promises to call or handed out my number, and every woman I’ve been with knew the score.
Then I met Sophia.
“Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
I take the stool beside Ouray and notice Wapi sitting
