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“Nope. I just didn’t rinse out the lines good enough.”
Humming, I reach forward and loop my fingers into his belt loops. “You really should be more careful with that.”
“I know.” His lips ghost across mine. “Someone could get hurt.”
Just as we’re about to close the gap between us, I see smoke coming up from behind him. I lean to the side and notice the food blackening inside the pan while a burnt smell starts to radiate.
“Uh, H?”
He turns around and throws his head back when he sees it. “Mother fucker!”
I press my fist to my mouth in an attempt to contain my laughter, but it doesn’t do much as he turns off the burner and realizes none of it is salvageable.
“So, isnowwhen I say I told you so?” I tease.
Spinning on his heels, he pins me with a look. “This isyourfault.”
“No, no. You’re the one who got distracted.”
“Yeah, because you’re fucking distracting!” he huffs.
But I just tsk in response. “Shouldn’t have taken your eyes off it.”
There’s something in his eyes. It looks like a mix between frustrated and determined. And he grabs the pan before pouring the contents into the trash.
“That’s it,” he declares. “I’m trying again. I have enough of the ingredients to start from scratch.”
Oh my God, he’s trying to starve me. “Hayes.”
“Nope. There’s no Hayes here. Only Chef Wilder.”
“Chef Wilder should stick to bartending,” I joke.
“You just wait,” he says, facing the fridge as I take out my phone and call our favorite local pizza place. “It’s going to make your mouth water. You’ll see.”
I put the phone to my ear just in time for him to turn around. His eyes narrow on me, and I keep my gaze on his as they answer.
“Antonio’s Pizza.”
“Yeah, I’d like to place an order for delivery,” I tell him, trying not to laugh at the way Hayes’s jaw drops.
“Okay. What can I get for you?” he asks.
But before I can order, Hayes drops everything he’s holding and comes over to scoop me up. “That’s it. I’m eating you for dinner.”
I squeal, realizing that I dropped my phone and the poor worker probably heard that. “Hayes! Now we can’t order from there anymore!”
“What a shame,” he says, obviously not giving a flying fuck as he carries me up the stairs.
Who really needs dinner anyway?
I STAND IN THEbar with Mali, watching from across the room as Hayes works the bar. Now that summer has started, Saturdays are crazy in here. During the day, it’s a steady flow of people, and at night, they’re swamped. As Cam passes, I call his name.
“Do you guys need help?” I ask him.
He pushes his hair out of his face, looking exhausted. “Yes, but you’re not allowed behind the bar.”
“Why not?”
