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“You don’t even know what dessert is yet.” I scooped a bite of lasagna and blew on it. “It could be something you don’t like.”
“How did you say that? Oh right, ‘not possible’.” Chloe dug in for another bite. “Dessert and I have a love-hate relationship, but we can’t leave each other.”
“Chef Harris, she just said she won’t share dessert with me. What do you think about that?” I yelled over the noise.
“I think this lovely girl is very smart. Come here, Chloe, I will give you your own plate.” Chef Harris waved her over. “I have one question, though. Why are you with this trouble- maker?”
The kitchen staff erupted into laughter. I laid my head on the counter and began banging it.
“Oh please, Trey, do you think any of us are falling for that?” Chloe scoffed. “I have a six-year-old daughter, I’m very used to tantrums.”
“Fine, get your own dessert.” I slid the lasagna over next to me. “Chef Harris, you’re a traitor.”
“Trey, you are always my favorite, but this one is now another favorite,” Chef Harris smiled. “Ah, your mother is coming. Go now.”
I waved for Chloe to hurry to the back room with me. I grabbed the food and forks. We ran to the other room laughing.
“I assume you do this often and yet your mother doesn’t know?” Chloe asked once we settled on a spot to sit. “I wouldn’t think anything gets by your mother.”
“I know, she’s scary, isn’t she? Asher swears she’s a witch.” I opened the dessert containers. “I’ve never been able to trick her. Actually, I’m pretty sure she knows I go in the kitchen, she just doesn’t say anything.”
“Have you been doing this a long time? Or just as an adult?” Chloe took the chocolate cake from me. “Did he make that just for you?”
“Yep, it started when I was about ten years old. The whole buffet was seafood and I didn’t want to eat it. I saw my dad going in and out of the kitchen, so I followed him. That’s when I saw Chef Harris feeding my dad a plate of pasta.
“Did your dad know you saw him?” Chloe asked between bites.
“I don’t know. He never said, but Chef Harris saw me hiding until my dad went out to the party.” I chuckled at the memory. “He didn’t say anything, just walked by the counter I was hiding under, and laid a plate of lasagna on the floor with a fork.”
“That’s a great story. Do your siblings know?” Chloe went back to eating lasagna. “By the way, I can see why you come for his food.”
“Murphy knows. One night when we were teenagers, she was upset because her boyfriend broke up with her.” I shook my head at that thought. “That is always the case with Murphy. Anyways, I felt bad for her and brought her in with me.”
“You’re a really nice brother. Your whole family is special. It’s been just Mia and me for so long I forgot to miss family,” Chloe said softly. “Do you mind if we bring Sophie some cake back with us?”
“Definitely, and she will meet Chef Harris tomorrow, because he makes Easter dinner for us.” I started packing the food back up. “He doesn’t have any family, so he’s become part of ours.”
“Better not let her know he makes whatever you want though.” Chloe laughed. “I’m afraid it would be daily dessert requests.”
“I can’t blame her there, but don’t tell any of my patients I said that.” I stood and offered her my hand to stand. “We better get back out there.”
“If we have to. I was rather enjoying being in here.” Chloe smiled shyly. “I would like to dance more, though.”
“Your wish is my command, madame.” I bowed and put my elbow out. “We will have to go the back way so as to not give away my secret.”
Chapter 30
Chloe
I’d been enjoying the private time away with Trey. I rarely if ever got time to myself, much less with another adult. So much of my time had been given to Sophie in the hospital. I was briefly disappointed when he stood and said we should go back to the party.
“I was enjoying being in here,” I smiled, feeling shy. “I would like to dance more, though.”
Trey bowed and put his elbow out to escort me back to the dance. He seemed to know how to make me smile without too much effort. We had to take the back way through a few dark rooms to get back to the auction area where there were less people to see us return.
“That was fun. Thanks for sharing that with me,” I said before we got back to the table with the family.
“Hey, there you are.” Murphy said. “Mia was just looking for you.”
