Episode 100
EPISODE 100
CLAWS AND EFFECT
River
So much for me no longer being a buzzkill. All I can think of is the lawsuit waiting to happen first from Rachel and now from Ariel.
They all signed contracts, and we’re well insured, but still…
How is this even happening?
I look over at Misty and Emily’s station. Misty’s influence is destructive. What are the odds her partner could be behind such an accident? But Emily was the one who knocked the glass bowl of shrimp off the counter. She’s the one who caused Ariel to get hurt. Could it all truly be one big coincidence?
I get that Evangeline wanted to get everyone’s mind off Rachel’s accident yesterday and Sienna’s departure today, but damn… Ariel wouldn’t be injured if we’d stayed the hell out of the kitchen.
June chatters on, never missing a chance to slide her hand over my arm or shoulder. Sometimes right on my chest, since I’m shirtless. I can take care of that, at least. I walk to the pantry where several aprons hang and put one on over my head, tying it in the back. I return to my station.
June frowns. “Such a shame to cover you up, River.”
I say nothing. Desi has taken the jerk chicken outside to the grill. When he returns, we’ll begin the grilled lobster. A large stockpot is already on the stove, and the water is boiling.
Despite my better judgment, I glance toward Emily.
Her face is tense. The feminine curve of her cheekbones seems more angular and rigid. She avoids making eye contact with anyone. Every now and then, she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. Her discomfort is palpable, and part of me longs to go to her, to offer her comfort.
But approaching Emily also means approaching Misty, and I’d prefer to stay as far away from her as possible.
I’m saved when Desi returns from the grill. A wide smile splits his face. “Why did the chicken cross the road?” he asks.
“To get to the other side, of course!” June laughs and fondles Desi’s arm this time.
“Wrong, Miss June. To get to your plate!”
I stop my eyes from rolling.
“Who’s ready for lobster?” Desi asks, picking up one of the live lobsters and pretending to claw June with it.
She giggles, and then Desi plunges it into the stockpot.
The crustacean lets out a high hiss as it hits the boiling water, and June hides her head against my chest. “I love lobster, but I hate this part.”
I wrap my arms around her, offering her some comfort, though the woman I wish I could comfort is Emily.
“Don’t worry, pretty lady,” Desi says. “They don’t feel a thing.”
June peeks back at Desi. “I think I’ll leave the dunking to you and River.”
After a few seconds, Desi pulls the lobster—bright red now—out with tongs and puts it in a bath of ice water.
June excuses herself for a moment.
“I guess it’s just you and me,” I say.
“I’ll take care of the lobsters.” Desi grabs another and places it in the boiling water. “It only takes a moment because they’ll cook fully later on the grill. If you want to take a break and make sure she’s okay, be my guest.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
I walk toward Emily, not thinking, but when she meets my gaze I turn and make a beeline toward June, who headed out onto the deck. I find her by the grill, watching Desi’s assistant cook the chicken. I inhale the savory and spicy aroma. Despite all the drama, the meal will be delicious.
I touch her shoulder. “You okay?”
She smiles up at me. “I’m fine.”
“Feel a little bad for the lobsters?”
“Not bad enough that I won’t eat them.” She shrugs. “Hypocritical of me, I suppose.”
“No. I get it.” I shuffle my feet on the wooden deck. “I’m a rancher, remember?”
“Oh!” She clasps her hands to her mouth. “Of course you get it. But you told me the first night that feeding people is a noble calling for an animal.”
I did say that. To both June and Rachel. My heart squeezes a little at the memory that seems so distant but was only two days ago. So much has happened since then.
June and I walk off the deck and away from the chef and the grill. “I stand by that statement,” I say. “But I also treat my animals well. They’re pastured and grass-fed, and they live happy lives. That’s how I show my love for them. But they’re not pets, June. I made that mistake when I was younger. I got too close to a calf once, and I learned that lesson the hard way.”
“God, River. That’s awful.”
She’s not kidding. I don’t know of any ranching kid who hasn’t been scarred by that kind of loss. “It was a lesson I’ll never forget. After that, I only got close to dogs.”
“Do you have a dog?” she asks.
“I have several. They love the ranch. I’ve lost count of how many dogs I’ve had over the years, but there’s one that stands out over all the others. A mutt I had when I was a kid. Ernie.”
I stop talking then. Thinking of Ernie reminds me of things better left buried for the time being.
“Tell me about him,” June says.
“Maybe another time. We should get back. Desi said he’d blanch all the lobsters so you don’t have to. He’s probably done by now.”
She nods but then grabs onto my arm. “River?”
“Yeah?”
She doesn’t reply. Instead, she stands on her toes and brushes her soft lips against mine. I’m taken aback, but the kiss is nice. Gentle. Sweet. Not raw and passionate like those I’ve shared with Emily, and not unbridled and savage like those Heather and I shared in the shower earlier. This one is like delicate flower petals against my flesh.
I part my lips, slide my tongue over her plump bottom lip. She opens, and we kiss for a moment, tenderly and sweetly.
She pulls back after a few minutes and smiles. “I wanted to know what it was like.”
“And…” I ask.
“It wasn’t what I expected,” she says, “but it was lovely.”
I look at June. Really look at her. She’s supermodel beautiful with a body to die for, and that yellow thing she’s wearing suits her sunny personality. What kind of kiss was she expecting?
“Let’s try again, then.” I bring my lips down on hers.
She opens for me once more, and I kiss her—really kiss her, complete with dueling tongues and clashing teeth. My groin reacts, and I let myself enjoy the kiss, enjoy June’s beauty and love for life.
When I break the kiss, she looks at me with wide eyes and brings her fingers to her lips.
“Better?” I ask.
She doesn’t have a chance to reply, because Desi appears. “There you two are. Ready to get back to work?”
“Of course.” June beams at him, and we return to the kitchen.
It takes about twenty seconds for June to get over the lobster murders, and soon she’s watching raptly as Desi shows us how to split the lobsters in half lengthwise and remove the vein and any roe or tomalley if we find them. I say a silent thanks that June doesn’t ask him what the tomalley is. We rinse the lobsters under cold water, set them aside, and then listen as Desi explains how to make the marinade.
“We’ll mix some garlic and other spices into lime juice and olive oil,” he says. “Since the jerk chicken will be so spicy, we’ll leave the Scotch bonnet out of the lobster marinade. I like to add some allspice and just a pinch of sugar as well.” He hands June a few cloves of garlic and a small cutting board. “Miss June, please mince this finely. And River, you’ll be our grillmaster for the lobster.”
June chatters on to Desi as she peels and minces the garlic, while I try to figure a way to get Emily alone and find out what’s going on. She still looks tense, and there have been no more kitchen accidents, but I’m not going anywhere near her if it means dealing with Misty.
Alex and Heather are laughing together, making some kind of sweet potato thing for dessert. I’m having visions of the fluffy sweet potato casserole that my mother makes every Thanksgiving, and my stomach growls.
June is being her flirty self with Desi, and he’s eating it up. The rule is no fraternizing, but Desi and June are getting along a lot better than June and I are, despite our kisses outside.
I take a moment to look around.
Sebastian isn’t here… Neither is the chef he and Ariel were working with.
And neither is Evangeline.
I look toward Emily once more. She and Misty are listening to their chef, Katie, explain something, presumably about the dish they’re preparing. I think it’s called callaloo. It looks like some kind of greens.
Emily still looks rigid. Hell, I would be too if I had to work with Misty. I walk toward them but then turn abruptly.
There’s only one person who has the answers I need.