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Not that I’m looking to start anything with her. It’s just… she’s gorgeous, sweet and intriguing, and it won’t be a hardship getting better acquainted.
CHAPTER 4
Lilly
While Georgie workson replenishing the display cases of meats, cheeses, pasta salads and fruit, I efficiently clean the dining area. Spraying cleanser, I wipe down the tables and chairs with one cloth and dry them with another. Any crumbs tossed to the floor will get picked up when I sweep and mop. Charles is in the back scrubbing the kitchen, and that’s how we end the lunch rush. We have about two hours before business will pick up again, although admittedly, our evening patrons are usually here for takeout rather than dine-in.
I get everything cleaned except for one lone area at the counter where Stu works on the crossword puzzle while eating his lunch special of chicken salad on rye with home-fried kettle chips. He lives just down the block and eats here religiously on Tuesdays and Thursdays, preferring to wait for the main rush to finish.
“You good?” I ask Stu as I walk behind the counter, tugging off my rubber gloves. Georgie moves back and forth between the commercial refrigerator and the display cases, exchanging partially cut blocks of meats and cheeses for whole packages. The partial cuts will go to the kitchen for sandwich orders and the full packages will be used for customers wanting to purchase by the pound.
Stu doesn’t even look up from his crossword. “All good, Lilly.”
I head into the back, tossing the rubber gloves in a plastic bin that will get washed and sanitized later. Charles is elbow deep in soapy water and a practiced eye tells me he’s got everything under control here. I fill the mop bucket with Pine-Sol and warm water, slap the mop inside, and wheel it out to the front with one hand while carrying a broom in the other. It takes me thirty minutes to make sure the floors sparkle and by the time I’m done, Stu is gone and we are without customers for a moment.
I resist the urge to slump into one of the booths to take a five-minute breather. I’m afraid once I sit down, I won’t want to stand back up again and I still have to do payroll. My stomach clenches at the prospect of crunching numbers because while I’m sure I’ve got enough in the accounts to pay the staff, I’m not sure I’ll be able to take a draw. While I still have a little cushion in personal savings, our rent is due on the apartment next week and it’s going to be tight.
It will all work out, I remind myself.
It always does.
With a sigh, I wheel the mop bucket to the back. I rinse it and store it in the large walk-in janitor closet before washing my hands in the employee sink.
“Do you want me to make you something?” Charles asks as he works on drying a stack of stainless steel bowls.
“I’m good,” I reply, but in truth, I’m starved. I didn’t eat breakfast but I need to get the payroll done before the evening crowd starts. I intend to get out of here by six tonight so I can visit Aiden.
“Lilly,” Georgie calls from the swinging doors that separate the kitchen from the front of the store. He’s leaning his head in. “You’ve got a visitor.”
Frowning, I grab paper towels and dry my hands. “Who is it?”
“Some tall dude. Asked for Lilly.”
I roll my eyes. Georgie might not burn the place down but he’s not the most proactive thinker at times. “Be right there.” I glance over my shoulder at Charles. “You good on food prep or need my help?”
“I’ve got it under control,” he assures me.
Charles is a godsend. He keeps the kitchen running flawlessly, which is a huge burden off my shoulders, and I put him in my prayers every night. I also say prayers to make Georgie just a little more responsible and not someone I have to micromanage too much.
Heading through the swinging doors, my eyes land on Boone standing on the other side of the ordering counter. He’s bent slightly at the waist, looking at the display case of meats filled with pastrami, ham, roast beef, turkey, bologna, salami and prosciutto.
His gaze cuts my way as I approach and he straightens with a smile. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I reply, tipping my head. “What are you doing here?”
“I was on my way to visit Aiden and thought I’d come by to check on you.”
Frowning, I tug nervously at the collar of my T-shirt—forest green with our deli logo on the breast pocket. I have the sudden urge to rip the Moni’s Deli ball cap off my head because it makes me feel lame.
“Me?” I croak.
Boone smiles, all easygoing charm as he steps up to the counter and places his palms on it. “Yeah, you. How are you doing?”
I glance around the restaurant. It’s empty, no customers and Georgie is now mysteriously gone. My gaze comes back to him. “Um… busy, I guess.”
Boone looks around, an exaggeratedly slow perusal of the emptiness. His lips quirk as he teases. “Yeah… place is hopping.”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s a blessed lull we get at this time before the dinner rush starts. You want something to eat?”
