“Yep,” Poppy interrupts, eyes sparkling. “Instatok. Exactly. Were you a friend of Sal’s?”
“Old, old friend. I worked here from day one, back in the late eighties.” He rubs his neck, turning his attention back to me. “So, Jackie, I guess you are serious about this. Got yourself a partner and everything.”
Jackie, Poppy mouths with delight. God help me. The last thing I need is the two of them ganging up on me.
“Why the hell wouldn’t I be?” I snap.
“Sorry about him,” Poppy says, throwing Herman a conspiratorial wink. “We’re fifteen minutes behind schedule, which means the sky is falling.”
Herman whistles. “I like you, girl.”
“Seventeen minutes,” I grumble with another quick glance at my watch. “Herm, if you’re going to stick around, look at the water heater. Can’t pay you anything yet, though.”
Herman considers me for another moment. Then he waves his hand. “Just put me on the line when you open, and I’ll do anything you need. Deal?”
“Deal,” Poppy says brightly.
“Give us a few minutes.” I grab her by the elbow and drag her into the kitchen, ignoring her disgruntled yelp.
She wriggles like a fish on a line to free herself. “What’s your problem?”
I lean against the wall next to the grill. “Myproblem?”
“You practically dragged me in here!”
“Let’s get one thing straight. We’re not partners. You’re working for me. I make the decisions on personnel. Especially in the kitchen.”
“But—”
“It’s not up for discussion.”
“That’s not fair.”
“What gave you the impression that anything about this arrangement would be fair?”
She leans in, her smooth, lightly freckled arms crossed over her chest. The blue of her eyes looks dark. Storm clouds, not clear skies. “I have ideas too. Good ones. Don’t act like you’re king of the universe just because you know how to flambé. And anyway, you can’t run the kitchen by yourself. We’ll need staff eventually.”
“A professional kitchen is a delicate ecosystem that—”
“Kids,” Herman calls, “it’s getting loud back there.”
I shove open the kitchen door. Herman is hovering just outside, not even pretending that he wasn’t eavesdropping. “Just get started on the goddamn water heater.”
To my chagrin, he looks to Poppy.
“That would be great,” she confirms. “You’re going to be such a huge help, Herman.”
“Anything for someone as gorgeous as you.” He steps past us, heading for the utility closet.
I resist the urge to clench my fists. Or put my hands around his neck and squeeze. Being thrown off schedule was bad enough. Watching Herman flirt with Poppy, however harmless, is a bridge too far.
“He’s so nice,” she gushes. “It’s great that he can help us out.”
I snort. “He just thinks you’re attractive.”
“Or he realizes I’m going to be useful around here.”
“Don’t give him too much credit.”
