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She rolled her eyes. “You’d be surprised at what gets left behind. Employees change their clothes before they leave, then forget to take their work clothes home. I have a closet full of work clothes.”
“I have what I need. Used to work in a restaurant, remember? It’ll only take a couple of minutes to change my clothes, then we’ll take off. And don’t forget to bring your computers. Both of them.”
Ten minutes later, as Julia began driving toward Madeline’s, Nico asked, “So what am I going to be doing at your restaurant?”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “You’re going to be a busser.”
“No problem. I know how to clean off tables.”
“I know you do, but I’ll go through our routine because every restaurant is different. Our bussers have more responsibility than clearing plates. People who want to be servers at Madeline’s start out as bussers. They’re the people who put the water and bread on the table, clear the dishes when a customer finishes eating, or box the leftovers to go if they want to take them home. They deliver food to the customers if it’s ready and the server is with another table. It’s a job where you move between the front and the back of the house, so no one will think twice about seeing you in either place.”
Nico studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Sounds perfect. But how are you going to explain hiring me right now?”
She sighed. Shook her head. “I’m always looking for bussers. If you actually applied for a job, I’d hire you in a minute.” She glanced at him again. They’d never had a server or a busser who looked like Nico -- muscular and fit. Serious eye candy. She shook her head to clear those images from her thoughts.
“There’s a lot of turnover in restaurants. Some have servers who’ve been there for years. I’ve got a handful who’ve been with me since we opened, and they’re great. I know I can count on them, and I know they’ll do a good job. Most of my long-time servers have people who request them. But mostly, servers come and go. Or they get fired because they don’t want to work hard. Or because they have a substance abuse problem. Or because they steal.
“And there are always bussers waiting to move up and take their place. Which is why I’m always looking for good, reliable bussers.”
“So you think I have server potential?” he asked with a crooked half-smile.
Swallowing, she looked back at the road. That smile could charm the birds out of the trees. She would make sure it didn’t charm her. “We’ll find out. Bussers fall into the same categories as servers. Some are great and become servers. Most of them don’t last.”
“Yeah, I know. My grandparents struggled with that, too,” he said. “Running a restaurant is a tough job.”
She lifted one shoulder. “Yeah. It is. Maybe when Madeline’s is making more money, I can hire a manager to deal with employee issues. But for now, that’s me. Our hostess supervises the servers and bussers, but I make the final decisions.” She shot a smile back at him. “I’ll try not to ride you too hard.”
They were sitting at a stoplight. His eyes darkened, but he held her gaze. “I can take whatever you dish out, Julia. Might even enjoy it.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I hope that wasn’t a double entendre, Elliott.”
“Did you mean your remark as one?” he shot back.
“Hell, no,” she said. “I’m way too conscious of being a female boss in a primarily male profession. I would never make that kind of joke with an employee.”
“You just made that kind of joke with me. And I’m going to be one of your employees.”
“First of all, I didn’t mean it suggestively. And second, no, you won’t be one of my employees. You’re only pretending to be.” Irritation made her tighten her fists on the steering wheel. “Big difference.”
“Yeah, but everyone else has to think I’m the new hire,” he said. “So you have to treat me the same way you’d treat any other new guy. Because if you don’t, your employees will notice. You need to watch both what you say to me and your body language.”
After a long moment, as tension drew tighter in the car, she said through clenched teeth, “You’re right. Thanks for the reminder. I was treating you as an equal. I won’t make that mistake again.”
His jaw twitched, but he didn’t say a word.
“We clear?” she said.
“As glass.” He nodded once. “You’re the boss at work. Making me a busser only works if you treat me exactly the same as you treat every other busser. And although I was trying to add a little levity to what I’m guessing is a difficult situation for you, I won’t do it again.”
“I don’t need levity, Elliott. I need you to help me figure out who’s behind this so I can concentrate on my restaurant.”
“Got it,” he said. “No fun.”
“None at all. No one’s ever mistaken me for a fun and games woman.”
His gaze lingered on her for a long moment. Then he shook his head. “That’s too bad, Julia. Everyone needs some fun once in a while.”
“You’re working for me, Nico. Period. If I want fun, I’ll find it myself.”
“Not while I’m around, you won’t.”
