Chapter 26 JOSIE
“You didn't have to make us breakfast.” Harper did something with the fancy espresso machine that caused it to steam and kiss.
“I saw my chance and took it,” Josie opened the sleek oven and took out the pan of French toast. “You guys always shoo me out of the kitchen.”
“What are the eggs for?” Harper slid a steaming mug over to Josie. She grinned, took a sip, and then got back to cutting up veggies.
“Going to make a frittata.”
“You guys came in late,” Harper plucked a strawberry out of the bowl and popped it into her mouth.
Josie blushed as she threw the veggies into the sauté pan. “Yes.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. We had an awesome time at the holiday party.”
“Wish I could have been there. It’s not Xander’s scene and Logan didn’t want to go. His arm is causing him pain, even though he tries to hide it.”
“You guys are getting away for Christmas?”
“Supposed to be leaving on Christmas Eve to see Logan’s mom. I’m sure that’s why they are all extra stressed, trying to get that phone call wrapped up.” Harper gestured to the dining room down the hall, where the door was closed.
“I’ve gotten used to the ringing of the phone to wake me up.” Josie smiled.
“Have you? I haven’t.”
Josie felt like she shouldn’t have said anything because obviously Harper was more experienced at dealing with the demands of the Montagues’ business than she was but then Harper smiled and squeezed her arm.
“It can be a lot. I think they’re probably discussing how to assassinate a queen there. What about you?” Harper caught her eye and grinned.
“They’re discussing how to smuggle out a rare red-eyed tree frog.”
Harper burst into laughter. “Whatever they are doing, the three of them are stressed and if they can stop for food, they’ll definitely appreciate the effort.”
“I’m happy to help.”
“That’s why date nights and Club Bandit nights are important. I know my men need to decompress and forget about what they do, sometimes.”
“I think Ares forgot last night,” She couldn’t help the smirk on her face.
Harper laughed. “It’s about time.”
Josie concentrated on cracking the eggs into the bowl but she couldn’t hide her smile.
Before leaving Club Bandit last night, they had showered at the club, then talked to Ella and Zee for a while. Ella thanked her for the food and asked if she could volunteer for the soup kitchen in the new year.
Josie promised she’d do her best to find time in her schedule and then they left.
When they got home, they were too tired to do anything other than cuddle in bed. Ares’s strong smooth chest was becoming her favourite pillow.
She could have slept like that all day except for the blaring ring of Ares’s phone that pulled her back to consciousness. Ten minutes later, there was an insistent knocking on the door to Ares’s wing, then Xander calling for Ares to get up.
Ares hurriedly kissed her, threw on his clothes and left.
Not content to lay in bed, Josie quickly got dressed, applied a light dusting of makeup and made her way downstairs to the empty kitchen and got to work. "I can’t crack eggs one-handed like that.”
“It takes practice.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” Harper pulled up a chair. “Are you working today?”
“Yes, but Avery and Nancy are going to be there on Christmas Eve handing out the orders and I’m closed on Christmas because nobody had requests but we’re back on Boxing Day through that week to New Years.”
“Maybe we can all do something for New Year’s Eve?” Harper got down plates. Josie turned the bacon.
“I usually spend New Year’s Eve with my friends, whenever they get off work and we watch movies. I guess that sounds boring.” Even though she’d known Harper for years, Josie always felt a little shy around the beautiful woman who seemed like she had it all together.
“Sounds like the perfect girl's night! I’m planning a baby shower for Kayleigh but it has to be something where the guys can come too.”
“Have it at a strip club?” Josie smirked.
“Ooh! That’s genius!” Harper flashed her a grin, grabbed her phone. “I’m going to start googling strip clubs.”
“Why do you need a strip club, kitten?” Logan strode into the room.
“Hey Logan,” Josie took the frittata out of the oven.
“Hi Josie. Something smells amazing. What did you say, kitten? I didn't hear you,” Logan nuzzled Harper’s neck, making her laugh.
“I’m planning Kayleigh’s baby shower.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Xander strode into the room, as if he was late for an appointment but he gave Josie a nod, before taking a seat next to Harper.
Unlike Logan, the tension rolled off Xander. Over the past few weeks, Josie had concluded that was just Xander’s way, but she still had to tell herself that it wasn't because he was mad at her.
“Why a strip club?” Seeing Ares march right over to her made her heart go pitter patter. He grabbed her arm and kissed her deeply.
“Get a room,” Logan said.
“Why? You never have,” Ares said. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
She laughed, and then handed him plates.
“Breakfast is ready. Want to set the table?”
“Oui Chef!” Ares grabbed plates and utensils.
Harper jumped off the stool and came over to help. “You did all this in less than an hour?”
“It’s just breakfast.”
“It’s a feast!” Logan said.
Josie flushed with pride as she took her seat next to Ares. Everyone filled their plates.
Ares answered the ringing phone.
“No phones at the table,” Xander grumbled.
“That’s not a rule, Sir,” Harper said.
“You’re right, it’s not.”
“Who did you say you were?” Ares said into the phone.
“This is so yummy, Josie!” Harper said around a mouthful of French toast.
“Ms. Rosen. You’re with Titans Choice? No, I had never thought of appearing on the show.” Ares glared across the table at Xander. “I will check my schedule and get back to you.” Ares ended the call, turned to his brother. “I wonder who gave Titans Choice my private cell number?”
Xander held out his hands in a not at all convincing not me gesture. “But hear me out, it’s a new venture and you love new ventures.”
“I love new ventures when they make us money and sense. I feel that this would be a headache.”
“You know I love that show. Have you seen it?” Xander asked, plucking a piece of bacon off the plate and into his mouth.
“No, I don’t watch TV,” Logan said.
“It’s where these really successful business people come on the show and entrepreneurs pitch them their idea and then the investor decides if they want to invest in their company. Think of the start-ups we could find!”
“The vetting process of all those ideas and entrepreneurs would take forever,” Ares said. "You gave them my personal cell number, really, Xander?”
“It’s a good show. You should watch it.”
“Excuse me,” Logan stood, answering his phone. “If Xander did it he’d scare all the people away.”
“What do you mean, submissive of mine? I’m a teddy bear.” He pulled Harper on to his lap and fed her a forkful of food. “It’d be good for us.”
“I don’t think that's the kind of publicity we want,” Ares said. The irrationality in his voice was clear. But Xander and Harper didn't look up from the embrace.
The way Ares removed his hand from her thigh and shifted back in his seat, made Josie bothered.
“Okay, I’m a grouchy teddy bear.” Xander tickled Harper. “Just call her back and get the details then make a decision.”
“He said he didn’t want to do it, okay?” Josie stood. “I got to go.” She felt Xander’ gaze on her but ignored it, grabbed her cane and started towards the back door.
“Hey! I’m driving you,” Ares said.
He threw on his jacket and grabbed her bag. His movements were brisk and she wondered if she upset him but she didn’t care.
Xander was getting on her nerves.
In the warmed-up car on the way to the city, Josie’s phone buzzed.
[Cecilia] On my way in. Need lunch. Want to feed me?
Ares is dropping me off. I left a new batter for Avery to try.
[Cecilia] Ooh! Another morning after. How did it go?
It feels chilly at the moment.
Josie tucked her phone away, unsure what to say. Every time she went to break the silence, she saw Ares clench his jaw.
Ares pulled up to Carter’s. Josie’s stomach still futtered when she saw Carter’s truck in the lot. She reached out and squeezed Ares’s thigh.
“I didn’t mean anything-" The rest of the words caught in her throat.
“It was so damn funny,” Ares flashed a wide grin at her, breaking out into laughter. He threw his head back against the seat rest. “You don’t have to defend me in front of my brother, sweet girl. He’s used to getting his way.”
“I wasn’t defending you,” Josie unsnapped her seatbelt and crossed her arms over her chest. “He was annoying me.”
“That makes it funny. Come here,” he brushed his lips against hers, capturing them in a deep, long kiss that sent warmth flowing to her toes.
“I felt like I belonged there for a moment. But I ruined it.”
“You didn’t ruin a thing,” Ares touched his forehead to hers, then kissed her. Sweetly this time but with enough force it made her nipples tighten.
Across the lot, a car door slammed. Carter got out of his truck, walked straight into the restaurant.
“Is he bothering you anymore?”
“No.”
She left out how she tried to always have someone on site with her. Cecilia’s car drove into the lot.
“I said I’d give Cecilia lunch and I have work to do.”
“Two days until Christmas Eve dinner,” Ares looked out the windshield.
“You're nervous?” Josie tilted her head.
“No. Maybe.”
This man was wealthier than in her wildest dreams, could have anything he wanted and he was nervous about dinner?
“Ares, you’ve known my mother forever.”
“That ‘forever’ puts the emphasis on how old I am. I have not dated her daughter before.”
“It’s hardly an age gap.”
“I don't think you’re making me feel better,” Ares said. “Do you have to work?”
“Yes. I’m sure you have a frog to see to safety or something.”
“What?” His lips twitched.
“Nothing. Just a little joke about how you could be a frog smuggler.”
Ares’s rich laughter followed her out into the chill of the parking lot. She blew him a kiss, then closed the car door and made her way into the kitchen. “Hello!” The bell rang as she entered.
“Hey! You came out of your love nest,” Cecilia sat at the small counter, holding up a chicken leg. “This is bonkers good.”
“Yep, came up for air but so did you. Thanks, it's a new recipe I've been playing with”
“She’s already had four!” Avery said, closing the lid on a box.
“Told you I came to eat. I don't want to go back.”
“You have to!”
“I know. I’m going to make all my line cooks this recipe. Give it.”
“Not even a please?” Josie stuck out her tongue.
“Nope. If I don't have this again, I'll faint away to nothingness.”
“Then you don’t have to go work in one of the best restaurants in the city,” Avery said, on to the next delivery.
“What smells so good?” Carter stepped in to the kitchen.
“Her chicken.” Cecilia said.
“Hi, Carter! Looking forward to the downtime?” Josie said.
“I thought you said you weren’t interested in dating.” He stepped right into her personal space. Her whole body tensed. She heard the scrape of Cecilia’s chair, felt Avery’s eyes on her from behind.
“No. I said I didn't want to date you.”
“Never mix business and pleasure, not smart,” Avery chimed in. “Can I get you some chicken?”
Carter blinked, smiled at Avery. “Would love some. Anything made by Josie has to be good.”
Aubrey got another box and filled it.
“Thanks. See you,” Carter turned and walked out of the kitchen.
The air in the room was so thick, Cecilia frowned.
“I’m going to check on my daughter quickly. Will be back,” Avery said, grabbing her phone and stepping out the back door.
“Cecilia, he apologized. It’s fine.”
“The way that man looked at you, Josie, isn’t fine. I know you don’t like change—”
“That’s not true!”
“Remember the eco double knit coffee filter?” Cecilia raised an eyebrow.
“So, it was my favourite! My coffee hasn’t been as fresh ever since.”
“And when they moved the counters in the culinary kitchen?”
“I like knowing where to place my cane.”
“Being a creature of habit isn’t a bad thing except when you don’t know when it's time to leave your nest.”
“Not as fun as leaving my love nest. So many people didn’t think I could do this.”
“You proved them wrong. Find a new space. There are lots of kitchens in this city. Ask Ares.”
“I’m not going to ask him to do me a favour.”
Cecilia pursed her lips together. “If you promise you aren’t going to come back here in the New Year, I’ll ask around for you. But you also have to tell Ares.”
“I’m not telling Ares,” Josie turned away from her friend, feeling her neck flushed. She didn't need Ares to come to her rescue. She could handle her business by herself.
Cecilia sighed, letting it go. “Your chicken is delicious. Thanks for lunch.”
“Have a good shift.”
“I’m just looking out for you.”
“I know. I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
Cecilia grinned, gave her shoulder a squeeze.
The bell tingled and Avery came back in. “Okay! What do we need to do?”
“Fourteen orders and I need to get a tray of mini cheesecakes on.”
“I’d rather do four sixteen-hour shifts than make pastry!” Cecilia said. “You girls have fun. Josie, Layla is going to come by in an hour.”
“Okay”, Josie didn’t want to make a big deal of it in front of Avrey but even though she wanted to argue and tell Cecilia she didn’t need to, she remembered the stare in Carter’s eye. It creeped her out.
“I think we need something festive in the background!”
“I got a 90s alternative rock Christmas playlist!”
“Perfect” Josie said.
In two days, she'd be with her family celebrating Christmas and Ares would be with her. She could make it till then and worry about her business in the New Year.