8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Spencer
I ’m on my third beer before anyone broaches the subject. I’ve known it was coming since I got here tonight. The four of us are at Derek’s house for game night, the last Monday of every month and tonight we’ve decided on a game called Tsuro where our pieces are dragons, and the goal is to remain on the game board as it’s built and also not run into one of the other players.
I had expected Vic to bring it up, so I’m surprised when Derek does.
“So what are we going to do about your little problem?” he asks, setting down a game board tile and moving his piece over it. I give him a sharp look and he holds up his hands. “I’m just saying. If one of my one night stands showed up and started working at Blue Vista, I’d be kind of uncomfortable.”
“It wasn’t a one night stand.” Everyone stares at me. “It wasn’t supposed to be a one night stand.” I glare at each of my friends in turn. “This is her dream job. So no one fucks it up for her.”
They all nod.
“Before we knew who she was,” Adalie says, “we were going to try to bring her into the group. She’s technically one of the top staff at the venue now. Not one of the OGs.” She fluffs her curly red hair before placing her game tile down and moving her piece. “But she’ll have decision-making authority, once her probation is over. And we’d hoped to have her be more than just an employee. You still want to do that?”
It had always been a hope that whoever we hired as head chef would be able to mesh well with our already tight-knit team. We’d been running this business together for over five years now. While Mark, our last chef, had been a dick about how he’d left, he’d also never really clicked with us. I’d known it was a matter of time before he left us. I’ve always had a sixth sense about people.
My friends all know about my knack for reading people and they watch me as they wait for what I’m about to say next. I turn one of the game tiles in my hand, tapping the edge of the tile on the table with each quarter turn.
“She’ll mesh with us. I knew that the other night. She’s the right person for the job.”
“Good enough for me,” Vic says.
Derek nods and stands. “Who wants another beer?” Then he looks at me and I hold my breath, but he just says, “It’s your turn.”
The conversation is over. My friends trust me. They know I won’t do anything to fuck up Blue Vista. Even if the woman of my dreams is going to be down the hall from me almost every day I’m there. As the event coordinator and the head chef, she and I will be working together more often than the others. I just need to figure out how I’m going to deal with that and not think about how her laugh made my pulse race, how her smile made me feel like the champion of the world, or how it felt to have my cock buried in her pussy.
#
I’m working at my desk the next morning when there’s a soft knock on my door frame. Since everyone always just walks in, I already know who I’m going to see when I look up.
Lis is standing there, chewing on her lip, a black backpack in her hands. My eyes snag on the backpack and I swallow, unable to prevent the sucker punch to the gut the sight of that bag gives me.
“What’s up?” I ask. “Also, if the door is open, you don’t have to knock. Just come in.”
“I brought this back for you. I washed them both. Thanks. For letting me borrow this stuff.”
She hands me my backpack. All of a sudden, the office seems too small. I want to tell her I don’t want it. I don’t ever want to see it again.
No. That’s a lie. I do want to see it again. I want to see it on her. I want to strip it from her body before I make love to her all night long.
I take the backpack and set it on the floor by my feet. “You didn’t have to bring it today. There was no rush.”
“I wanted to. You said it was your favourite. I’d never really intended on keeping it.”
I wish she had. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to wear it again.
“Well thanks. You got everything you need for today?”
Her eyes light with excitement at the thought of the upcoming event. “Yeah. It’s just a corporate lunch. And the staff seemed excited to work. So, I’m sure it’ll go great.”
“Absolutely. You’ll be amazing. But if you need anything, just send a text. I’m only down the hall.”
She smiles, finally a genuine smile again that’s just for me. The first one I’ve seen from her since Sunday morning—other than when she was grinning like a fool because of her kitchen. My heart hurts and I resist the urge to rub my chest.
“You think you can keep up with me in the kitchen?”
“Fuck no. But I take direction pretty well.”
Her gaze drops from mine and her cheeks flush pink. I wonder if she’s remembering the directions she’d given me Saturday night, because I sure as hell am. I hadn’t meant to reference it, but there it is, sitting between us.
“Anyway,” she says, clearing her throat. “I better get to it.”
I nod and when she leaves, I get up and close my door. We almost never close the office doors at Blue Vista, but I need a second to myself. I unzip the backpack and inside, neatly folded, are my t-shirt and hoodie. I pull out one and then the other, smelling them, inhaling the scent that has clung to my sheets for the past two nights. The smell of her and me together.
I shove the clothes back into the backpack and then stride out of my office into Vic’s, flopping into a chair.
“This is the worst day of my life.”
She doesn’t look up from her computer when she says, “Two days ago, you said it was the best day of your life.”
“I stand by both statements.”
“And both statements are about the same woman?”
“Yes. Do you know what it’s like to hold perfection in your arms, Vic?”
She stops what she’s doing and slides her gaze over to me. I can see her considering. Finally, she says, “No.” Then she sighs. “Maybe she’ll change her mind.”
“A man can dream.”
“And in the meantime, you guys can be friends like you and me or you and Adalie.”
“No offense, but I don’t have any desire to fuck you or Adalie.”
“Good. Keep it that way.” She turns back to her computer, typing something.
“That friend idea isn’t a bad one, though. We had a lot of fun together Sunday morning. We made up this game—”
“You told me already,” she interrupts. “Back on the best day of your life.”
“Right. Hey. Where were you Saturday night? I know I’ve been a bit preoccupied, but I noticed you didn’t come home.”
She lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “You had company, so I made myself scarce.”
“You didn’t have to do that. It’s your place.”
“You pay rent. It’s your place, too.” She continues typing.
“You didn’t stay here, did you? The couch in the staff lounge is not the most comfortable of places to sleep. Trust me, I know.”
“I didn’t stay here.” She’s still not looking at me.
“So where did you stay, Vic?” I ask, dread coiling in my gut.
“None of your fucking business, Spencer,” she responds.
“Noooo. Vic. You promised. We made a list. Do I have to get the list?” I turn my head toward the door. “Derek, Adalie, get in here and bring the list,” I shout.
“Fuck you, Spencer,” Vic says.
But it’s too late. Derek comes into her office and slaps the paper onto her desk. “I keep a copy printed out. Just in case.”
Adalie follows him in with a sympathetic look on her face.
“Fifteen reasons not to call Emily,” I say, pointing at the list. “Do we need to read them out loud?”
“No, we do not need to read them out loud. And I didn’t call her. She called me.”
I drop my head into my hands. “That doesn’t make it better, Vic. Has she called or texted since?”
Vic’s silence is answer enough.
“You know she’s a bitch. You know she takes advantage of you. Don’t let her do this to you,” I plead.
“You’re only saying this because you hate her.”
“I only hate her because of how she treats you. If she made you happy, I would be on board. One hundred per cent. But she doesn’t. She calls you in the middle of the night and you go to her and then you feel awful for days because she doesn’t call again, and she leaves your messages on read.”
“That’s number three,” Adalie says, pointing to the list.
“You deserve better than her,” I say.
“That’s number one,” Derek says helpfully.
There’s a soft knock on the door and we all turn to see Lis standing just outside, looking confused and worried.
“Was there a staff meeting I didn’t know about?” she asks.
“This isn’t a staff meeting,” Vic says, standing. “This is three assholes not knowing when to mind their own business. And if you three don’t want to get fired, you’ll get out of my office and go do your fucking jobs.”
I stand and catch Vic’s eyes. “I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
I hold out my hand, pinkie raised. She sighs, rolling her eyes, and links hers through mine. “Even when I fuck up.” Then she sits and pulls the list toward her.
Derek and Adalie file out of the office. I head out as well, feeling like the asshole she called me. So I turn before I’m out the door.
“Whatever you decide to do—”
“I know,” she says, cutting me off. “Now get out of here and do some real work.”
Lis follows me into my office, concern on her face. “Should I ask what that was about?”
“Probably not. Stick around long enough, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. But it’s not something I should share, I think.” I sit at my desk and look up. “Did you need something?”
“I was going to ask if you guys wanted to try some of the things I made before we really get started on the menu for lunch.”
I grin at her. “Why didn’t you say so?” I pull out my phone and send a message to the team. Then I look up at her, realizing something. “You’re not on the group chat,” I say, looking down at my phone and making a couple quick updates. “There. Now you can text us any time you want someone to taste something.”
I hadn’t meant that the way it sounded. But fuck it if I don’t enjoy the pink flush on her cheeks. I stand and follow her to her kitchen where the rest of the team meet us in a few minutes and we all get to taste the menu. It’s fucking delicious.
The corporate client arrives and I get them settled. When everything is done and I’m no longer needed anywhere, I return to my office and spend the rest of the afternoon thinking of ways to invite Lis to be my friend. It’s not exactly what I want from her, but at this point, I’ll take what I can get.