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I’d never understand that. Especially with the chefs we had.
She spotted me and sat up straighter, making sure to push out her chest. With an inward sigh, I came all the way into the kitchen.
“When are you going to let me help you with the MJ2?”
Her voice was petulant and husky at the same time. Did that actually work on anyone?
I caught Henry rolling his eyes as he plated something that smelled divine.
I’d been avoiding telling her that I’d tentatively hired Emmaline for the position. I knew it wouldn’t end well for me.
“Eat something. You look like shit.” Henry set a plate on the edge of the stainless steel table then dropped a fork beside it. When I didn’t react fast enough, he barked out, “Eat.”
“Okay, okay.”Twist my arm.My stomach roared at the scent of garlic and scallops. As the steam wafted up, the tang of lemon made my mouth water. I hadn’t even realized I was hungry.
I twirled up some linguini and hummed out a sigh. “Is this the special?”
“Nope. Just was in the mood for scallops.” Henry leaned against the table, his hand cupping a shallow bowl full of the same. “Sure you don’t want any, Cujo?”
Gillian sneered at him. “You know how many calories are in that?”
Henry took a delicate scallop off his fork with a shark-like smile. “I always work it off.”
“Gross.” She took her plate and stalked out.
“Thanks,” I said and dragged her stool over to sit down.
Henry shrugged. “She expects me to make her a damn charcuterie board daily. If she wants a damn lunchable, she can make it herself, for fuck’s sake.” He twirled up a bite. “Of course my meal is cleaner eating, but I can’t convince her of that.”
“Well, I appreciate it. I was going cross-eyed doing invoices.”
“Better than having Bonnie try to tell you how to cook.” Henry grinned. “Gina’s mom is something else. I will get her to give me her empanada recipe though.”
“Good luck with that. You’ll need to marry into that recipe, pal.”
“Think Bonnie will have me?”
I laughed. “She just might.”
We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. The dining room was starting to come alive with prep for dinner. Sundays we were only open for a few hours to give the staff a bit of a break.
It tended to be more family fare instead of date night busy.
“So, what’s on the menu?”
Henry shrugged. “It’s a nice night out. I thought I might do an old fashioned burger bar out on the patio. Let Jackie have the kitchen.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Have you been drinking?”
He grinned and took my plate out of my hands. “I’m bored. Thought we might be able to get some summer fare out there. Street corn, burgers and dogs—including the non-carnivores.” He flipped his ever-present towel over his shoulder. “I put an order in with Kayla over at Sharkey’s. She’s been bugging a bunch of businesses to try her vegetarian shit.”
I smiled. Kayla Mills was going to be one of my new relatives when Gina married my brother. We’d gone from a tiny, ramshackle family of three to taking on the Ramos clan and all Gina’s sisters with their expansive bunch of significant others. From three to dozens in a hot second.
It took some getting used to.
“Let me know how it goes over. Especially since she’s going to be one of my sisters-in-law…I think. The branches are getting to be like our big tree out there.”
Henry snickered. “You add in firefighters and we’re going to need to fortify our chairs in the dining room.”
