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“I don’t think we’re ready for that,” Hoyt argued. “We’re moving too fast, Janey. The banquet room wasn’t even prepared properly this week. The reputation we’re building is going to suffer. ”
“Ridiculous,” Desmond snapped. “Quality has not suffered, neither in customer care nor in the food.
We’ve made certain of this. And the profits have surely risen dramatically. ” He turned to Janey. “I have run kitchens for years; our output was exceptional as was our quality. ”
“And our profits. ” Janey nodded. “We did more business in the last four nights than we’ve done in a month. And I agree with the quality. ”
“We can’t keep it up,” Hoyt argued again, his expression creasing in concern and a hint of anger. “Janey, this restaurant doesn’t just reflect your name, but your brother’s. You should remember that. When you can’t keep up, the restaurant’s good name will go to hell as well. Just as it did before. ”
Janey stiffened at the reference to Dayle Mackay.
“I’m aware of what can happen if we don’t prepare properly,” she stated coolly. “But I think we’re able to handle the additional customers. We’ll have an added waitress Monday with Desmond’s additional chef. Tiffany’s sister has agreed to waitress until we can find more staff, and Rogue will cover for us at least until we can find a general manager, if she doesn’t take the job herself. ”
“We don’t need a general manager; even Natches agrees with that. ” Hoyt looked to Natches for support.
“That wasn’t what I said, Hoyt. ” Natches frowned. “I said we’re not hiring one if it means Janey will try to leave. ”
“You’re leaving?” Hoyt’s head jerked around, his gaze narrowed. “You didn’t mention that. ”
“I’m not leaving,” she muttered, well aware of Alex watching her silently. “If I left, Natches would burn the place down. ”
“I would,” he agreed with a mocking smile. “And we both know how much that would break my heart. ”
His voice was sincere. The look in his eyes wasn’t. He’d love nothing better than to burn the place to the ground, and Janey knew it.
She stared around the waiting room at the curious gazes watching them.
“She’s not going anywhere,” Alex stated before she could speak. “Except home to sleep. I locked up the office; everything’s ready to go whenever you are. ”
The kitchen was secured, everything prepared. All they had to do was walk out the front door.
“I still think this is a mistake,” Hoyt stated as he moved from behind the register. “We’re not ready for this move, and Janey doesn’t have the experience for the job. ”
Yeah, she’d been hearing that argument out of him for months.
“She has the experience, but does she have the stamina?” Tiffany pushed herself to her feet. “God, I’m exhausted. ”
“She’s got the guts to do it,” Desmond argued, looping his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “She’ll do. ”
Janey smiled at his statement. “We have a day off. Let’s see what we can do with our time then to rest and get ready for next week. Before opening we’ll meet for any further ideas or objections. ”
“Why? You don’t listen to them. ” Hoyt pouted.
“She listens when you agree with her,” Natches snorted. “That should be close enough. ”
“You always disagree with me,” she told him as Alex helped her with her leather jacket.
“And you never listen. ” Natches glared at her as Chaya gave a low, amused laugh.
“Poor baby,” his wife murmured. “Come home, darling. I’ll listen to you all night long if you want me to. ”
“Really?” Natches’s expression perked up. “Interesting. ”
Laughter echoed around Janey as everyone filed outside and she and Alex set the alarms and locked the doors. Janey touched the glass of the door and stared into the darkened restaurant then.
Alex’s heart clenched at the wistfulness in her expression. She had dreams. He heard them in her voice, saw them in her eyes. Dreams of a future here, dreams with him. He knew she had those dreams because he saw them in her eyes when she turned and laid that small hand on his arm.
Leading her to the truck, Alex could feel the fine hairs at the back of his neck lifting in warning, though.
