PRODUCE DRIVER:
Here early. Side door is locked.
Of course.
Because a shark reveal wasn’t enough pressure for one morning. The limes still had to arrive.
I blew out one breath and faced Nico. “Congratulations. You’re helping with produce.”
He blinked. “You still want me near the bar?”
“I don’t want you near anything. I also have four cases of citrus, two flats of tomatoes, and a delivery driver who gets offended if nobody appreciates his punctuality.”
“I can carry produce.”
“Don’t make it romantic.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“You would absolutely dare. That’s been your whole personality since you walked in.”
A real smile appeared this time, small and dangerous.
I pointed one key at him. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Looking pleased that I haven’t thrown you into traffic.”
“There’s no traffic on the beach.”
“Don’t make me improvise.”
I turned before I did something tragic, like laugh. Nico followed at a careful distance across the sand. He didn’t crowd me, and he didn’t pretend he couldn’t move faster than anything else on that beach.
That should’ve scared me more.
The back of Bite Me came into view beyond the path and palms, still sleepy under dawn light. The service alley smelled like warm pavement, old citrus peels, and bread from the bakery two doors down. My delivery driver leaned against the truck with one clipboard and the exhausted expression of a man who had seen too many restaurant owners before sunrise.
“Morning,” he called.
“It’s not morning until I’ve had espresso,” I said.
He glanced at Nico, at Nico’s wet open shirt, then back at me.
I held up a hand. “Don’t ask.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good man.”
Nico took the first crate when I pointed to it. He didn’t take the clipboard. He didn’t start giving instructions. He lifted what I told him to lift and set it where I told him to set it, which was either personal growth or the most attractive manipulation I’d ever seen.
“Limes in the back,” I said. “Tomatoes near the prep table. Crush anything and Mari will discover new uses for your bones.”
Nico glanced toward the kitchen. “I believe that too.”
“You should.”
