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A change of subject was overdue. “You get all those interviews set up?” I asked.
Melanie nodded. “A few. Still waiting for some calls back.”
“I think a little hustle is in order,” I said, a little more harshly than I meant to. “Our doors will be opening before we know it.”
She frowned. “I know that. You have nothing to worry about. I promise I will assemble the most competent serving staff in the state.”
“Good.”
I hoped that was the end of it, but Melanie lingered. I didn’t look up even as she stepped closer. She cleared her throat to get my attention. I shuffled the papers in my hands.
Her face was full of curiosity as she looked up at me. I was glad she’d covered that tank top up.
“Is something bothering you?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Nothing in particular, but I’ve got a million and one things on my mind. There are a lot of essential pieces that need to fall into place. Like liquor licenses. And staff.”
She looked a little hurt. “Dominic, you can trust that I’m on top of the staffing issue. I promise.”
“Good to know.”
Melanie sighed. “So we understand each other?”
“I think so.”
“Is there another reason why you’re aggravated?”
I tossed the papers onto the counter. “Why the hell are you so worried about my state of mind, Melanie?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step backward. “I’m not,” she said, and began stalking back to the office. “By the way,” she called over her shoulder, “there are two interviews set up this afternoon in case you want to participate. One at two o’clock and the other at three.”
“Won’t make it,” I called back. “I’ve got to stop at the lawyer’s place and sign some paperwork. I’ll email you some questions to cover.”
“Yes, sir,” she mumbled and then closed the office door behind her. She didn’t slam it, but I got the picture.
I sat there for a few minutes, just staring at nothing and wishing like hell that the wine closet was already stocked. When my phone buzzed, I ignored it the first time, but then it rang. I smirked when I saw who the caller was, and answered.
“What’s up, Jay?”
“Texted you three times.”
“Didn’t see it yet. Care to summarize?”
Jay dove right into his story, talking rapidly. He often lunched at this place in Scottsdale called Hot Tips where the waitresses were all busty, blonde, and barely covered. He’d been flirting with this one girl for a few weeks and asked her today if she wanted to make plans after hours. Well, it turned out he put his foot in his mouth, because the waitress was brand-new. The girl he’d been flirting with, the one he thought he’d been making a play for, was actually her twin sister. Turns out this sort of thing happened to them all the time, and they had a sense of humor about it.
“Dude,” I interrupted him, “I don’t believe a word of this shit.”
“Be quiet, Dominic,” he scolded. “I’m getting to the best part.”
“Is it going to make me nauseated?”
Jay made a disgusted noise. “Not unless you’ve really and truly gone off the deep end.”
“Have at it then,” I said.
“A situation like this doesn’t exactly come along every day—”
“In porn it does.”
“Dominic!” he roared, and I chuckled.
Jason took a breath and continued. “When I mentioned that I had a buddy who was a high-profile restaurant owner, the girls were all kinds of interested. They are ready and willing to meet up tonight. You get what I’m saying?”
“Twins. Ready and willing. I get it.”
“So you’re in?”
For some reason I swiveled in my chair and glanced down the hall. I couldn’t see the office, but I knew the door was still closed.
“I’m in,” I said.
