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When she’d been dating Jon, her boyfriend in college, and Chris, her boyfriend after, she’d been constantly coming up against issues, constantly aware of the problems and the ways they didn’t fit each other, all the danger signs of controlling and selfish behavior, so familiar from growing up with her father.
So far, being with Troy was simply blissful fun. If there were any unhealthy patterns, she had yet to see them.
Her staff was already at work, sous chef Sean, assistant Ben and dishwasher Ace preparing for a busy day, the heavy metal music she couldn’t abide blasting from the battered CD player perched on the counter. As soon as Ace saw her, he headed for the machine.
“No, no.” She waved him away. “Leave it. It’s fine.”
Ace blinked in surprise and shot a glance at Sean. Darcy took a few more steps and stopped at the sight of a plate of food at Ace’s station. “What’s this?”
Ace looked guilty. “Lunch.”
“Can I try?”
Another glance at Sean and he grabbed a spoon and tossed it to her. “Sure.”
Darcy scooped up some of the fish in a smooth dark orange sauce. The flavors burst onto her tongue—cardamom, garlic, red chili and peanut? She turned to Sean. “Who made this?”
Sean pointed behind her.
Darcy whirled around to stare at Ace. “You made this.”
“Yup.”
“Someone’s recipe?”
Ace shook his head, tapping his temple. “From here.”
She spooned up more to taste again. Complex layers of flavor, just enough heat, a little too much spice for such a delicate fish, but impressive nonetheless. “Ace, come into my office.”
“Uh, sure.” He ambled after her, stayed on his feet as the door closed, looking wary as hell. “Look, chef, I was just—”
“Sit.” She gestured to the metal folding chair set up on the other side of her desk.
He sat, rubbing his hands nervously along his thighs.
“The restaurant is doing well. We could use help. I’ve been thinking about having you on the line more often, Ace. I see a lot of potential in you, a lot of creativity. You’re good with a knife and you’re good with flavors. I’ve seen you quietly correcting dishes when Sean gets sloppy, which he does too often. I think you could have a decent career in this business if that’s what you wanted.”
His blue eyes opened wider than she’d seen them in quite a while, if ever. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.” She leaned forward, folding her hands onto her desk on top of a pile of bills, wondering what had taken her so long to do this for him. “I’d like to help you, but there is one condition.”
Wary again. Big-time. His surprisingly delicate brows gathered. “What’s that?”
“On days you work the line in my kitchen, you come to work clean.” She held his gaze, watching the wheels turning…slowly…in his chemically altered brain.
“Clean.”
“I did it. It’s possible.”
“You?”
She nodded impatiently, not about to share more of her past with this kid. “Can you do it?”
“Well…yeah.” The word came out uncertainly. C’mon, Ace. He frowned and then his face cleared. “Yeah. I can do that.”
“Good.” She banged her palm on the desk, feeling more emotional than she expected to. She liked Ace; she wanted to help him. And it was wonderful to be in a position where she could do what chef Paul had done for her. “I’ll hold you to it. Now. We have a party tonight. Get out there and work.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He got halfway to the door, which was all of a single step, and turned back. “Thanks, chef.”
“Just don’t screw up.” She smiled at him.
“You should do that more often.”
“Tell you to get off drugs?”
“Smile. It makes you look human. And your aura is amazing today. Has been for the last two weeks.”
She rolled her eyes and pointed to the door. “Out.”
Yes, okay, she was in a good mood. No, a great one. And she didn’t have to look far to know what was causing it. She hadn’t felt like this in so long. Actually, she’d never felt like this. Happy, yes, giddy in love, yes, but this time…she suspected that Troy would be someone she could lean on. Someone who just might go the extra mile to support her, instead of wondering only what she could do for him. Was that possible?
