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Piper
I'm surprisedmy voice doesn't shake more than it does as I speak. I keep my head held high, attempting to appear as confident as I can while falling apart on the inside second by second.
Because that smile ... it does things to me.
And this promise? It's not really for him. It's to keep me safe. To protect me from stepping out of line. From falling for the wicked grin on his face and the deep rumble in his laugh.
Because right now he's laughing at me.
"I think I can do that," he finally says, his laughter fading away.
"Gee, thanks."
I realize he could have his pick of any woman. That he's out of my league. But laughing at me seems uncalled for. And rude.
"I didn't mean it like that, Piper. You're gorgeous, smart, funny. Any man would be lucky to be more than just your friend. Myself included. But right now, I barely have time for everything on my plate. Getting involved with someone would be a bad idea."
"So promise me then," I urge. I need to hear him say the words. For peace of mind.
"I promise to be your friend," he says, that damn wicked grin spreading across his face again.
"Now say it without smirking at me like that. Because I have a hard time believing anything you say when you have that grin on your face."
"What grin?" he asks, though he knows exactly what grin I'm talking about because it only grows wider.
"God, you're such a jackass," I declare as I stand.
Julian mimics my actions, grabbing a chef coat from the back of his chair and tossing it to me. I can already tell it's going to be two sizes too big. Holding it up to my chest, I lift my brow in challenge. He meets my stare but doesn't stop grinning.
"I'll order you a smaller size tomorrow, but that's the smallest one I have available. You're tiny compared to the rest of my crew, so it'll have to do for tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Your first shift."
"I thought I was just here to meet with you and talk. I didn't realize you expected me to work?"
"You need to see what we do and how we do it, before you start proposing changes. So tonight you're gonna shadow me. Work side-by-side. Make a few dishes. Taste them. And become fully invested in every aspect of the process."
Which means no downtime for me tonight. And I really needed it. Time to mentally prepare for the weeks ahead. To wrap my mind around the fact that I'm going to be seeing him a lot more than I planned to.
Because being this close to Julian is messing with me and making me have thoughts I shouldn't. Want things I can't have. Things I don't actually want. Because I've seen what catching feelings does to a person.
"Okay. I just have to let Alexis know not to expect me until later."
"Is tonight girls’ night? Again? Didn't you just have one of those last night?"
"We did. Normally it's not, but we were going to study together tonight." Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I pull up our group message, but my fingers hover over the keys, unable to put my situation into words.
Hey, not gonna make it tonight. Have to work.
That seems generic.
Hey, hanging out with Julian.
Definitely not sending that text. I can only imagine the replies I would get. In fact, it would probably be for the best that I don't mention him at all. That we have a class together and I'm tutoring him on top of working for him. I know the way their minds think, and they will run wild with ideas if I bring him up.
So I type out the only lie I can think of that won't draw any unwanted attention.
