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“What happened?”
Sophie shrugs. “I don’t know. Some customer was mad about something.”
“Yikes.”
I peek back at Aiden, still chiding who I assume is one of his sous-chefs, wondering if it might be better to sneak out and send him a text. I’d hate to make his night any worse. Before I can land on a decision, Aiden finally notices me standing on the other side of the kitchen, and his expression immediately changes as he offers one last word to his sous-chef before coming over.
“Hey,” he says, smiling with tired eyes. “How was your day?”
I roll my eyes. “About as good as yours, it sounds like. What happened?”
“Bullshit,” Aiden grumbles. “I didn’t catch a steak going out overcooked, and it got sent back with a nice note about whether or not we deserve our stars.”
“Ouch.” I make a face. “They sound like they’re a lot of fun at parties.”
“What happened with your day?”
I know if I tell him I was late today he’ll blame himself, and since it was entirely my choice to hang back and enjoy him this morning, I don’t want to make his night any worse with needless bitching.
I shrug noncommittally. “Just a lame day. Nothing in particular.”
“I’m sorry,” he offers.
I wave him off. “Eh. It’s fine.”
“Sophie,” Aiden addresses his daughter. “Why don’t you go get your stuff from the office?”
“Okay!”
When we’re alone, Aiden peers at me from the side. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
“How gossipy are your chefs?”
“Oh, the entire world would know before you got to your car.”
This makes me laugh. “You’d better not risk it then.”
Aiden nods like he agrees, but there’s a set to his mouth thatsays differently. His jaw clenches as he hesitates to continue, looking like he’s wrestling with something.
“You know,” he starts. “My boss is throwing a party next weekend.”
I perk up. “A party?”
“For his birthday. He does it every year.”
I guess he’s telling me that me and Sophie will have a night alone soon.
“Oh.” I bob my head aimlessly. “Sounds fun.”
“I thought maybe we could go together.”
This catches me off guard. “What?”
Shy is a strange look for such a large man but not an unappealing one. “Like a date?”
My mouth parts in surprise. “But... what would we tell Sophie?”
“Well.” Aiden’s hand reaches just enough so that his pinkie brushes against mine, and it can hardly even be called a touch, but it makes me shiver all the same. “I guess we would tell her the truth.”
