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She was handling herself well. He was proud of her.
But he still had to deal with this situation.
Beth was being a bully and that wasn’t allowed in his kitchen. He’d even got Zeke’s side of it so he could understand what was going on and not just Hadley’s version.
Though he trusted her, he knew to get all sides of everything before he made a decision.
And since Beth and Michele were both on today at the same time, he was hoping to see more of the situation.
“Of course I’d tell you. I’m new at this position and I want to make sure that I handled it well.”
“You did. And you know I have no interest in Beth, right?”
“I know,” she said. “All the women think you’re hot. Some of the men too.”
“Very funny,” he said.
“It’s not a lie and you know it.”
“I only care what you think of me.”
“You know how I feel.”
But he didn’t because they hadn’t talked about it once. She knew he cared about her. She kind of said it back but nothing more. If she felt more she was keeping it to herself and there was part of him that knew it might be wise anyway.
They had to let more people know they were dating first. He had a feeling once that news came out at Southside she’d have more things to deal with than just people thinking she got the job because of her parents.
That meant he had to do some damage control now and then stand by her when he would finally let others know.
He was letting her call the shots on this because he knew she never got to call the shots on much in her life.
“I do,” he said. “You like my body and are jealous of my hair.”
“Ha ha, Duke,” she said. Her hand went up and grabbed a lock that was hanging on his back. “It is nice and soft. And thick. No frizz at all.”
“Here we go again,” he said. “All you women are jealous. Maybe it’s because it’s virgin hair. You and Kelsey put all that product in it.”
“Whatever,” she said, waving her hand.
“Sorry, I know we were supposed to have the day to ourselves.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I understand. I’m just glad that by putting me in this position I’m able to free up time for us. And it’s helping me with my cake business too.”
He knew that it was easier on her. As a hostess she didn’t need to go in so early. She’d go in and bake and then leave and return later for the night shift. She also got to have more mornings open to be with him on days she didn’t bake.
“Speaking of that,” he said. “I know you don’t have room at your house to do the baking there.”
“For what?” she asked. “I do my cakes there.”
“No, for Southside’s desserts.”
“No,” she said. “I don’t have room there. I barely have room for my cakes and am lucky that I don’t keep a lot of food there and can store them in the fridge before delivery.”
“I thought on days where you only go in for a few hours to bake before returning for a later shift, like Saturdays, that maybe you could stay here on Friday, do the baking here and bring it in when it’s done. You’re still working but don’t have to be there for it.”
She looked around his kitchen.
“Maybe,” she said. “You just need the ingredients here. If you’ll let me touch anything. You normally don’t.”
