Bianca?Was he kidding?
Bianca was a dream kitchen. No, nota dream kitchen,thedream kitchen.With a reputation as good asLilou’s, my reputationwould be catapulted to the next level. Or the next five levels. People wouldknow my name, associate it with one of the best kitchens in the region. I wouldbe somebody. My budget would be nearly unlimited. I would have an entire staffworking for me. I would have a reservation list that was impossible to get on.
Executive chef.
I would be the executive chef.
His hand reached out between us.“Vera?”
Clearly, he thought I was having astroke. To be fair, I might have been. I couldn’t even mentally wrap my headaround his offer. “I’m sorry, I’m just trying to process everything.”
His mouth twitched in an almostsmile. “I understand. This is really out of the blue.”
Outof the fucking blue!But I didn’t say that part out loud. “Can I have some time to think about it?”My voice shook as words I hardly expected ever to say escaped. “I, I… I justopened my food truck. I’m still getting my legs under me.”
His almost smile disappeared, afrown turning down his mouth instead. “Of course,” he clipped out politely. “Iwish I could give you all the time you need, but this is a position I need tofill soon. Can you let me know what you decide by Monday?”
It was Friday. “Yes. I can do that.I can let you know by Monday.”
He nodded and began to walk away.
Realizing I had just made thebiggest mistake of my career to date—which was saying something—I panicked.“Wait, I’m sorry. I hope you don’t think I’m comparing my food truck to Bianca.I’m not. I just opened it, and I have quite a bit of financial responsibilitytied up in it. I need to figure a few things out is what I’m saying. Iapologize if it came out differently.”
This time he allowed a full smile,and I nearly had heart palpitations. Good grief. No wonder he had so manyex-girlfriends. “It’s fine, Vera. Really. Just because I’m used to getting myway all the time, doesn’t mean I should. You deserve time to mull this over.Executive chef in any one of my kitchens is not for the faint of heart.” Igulped audibly. His expression softened, taking pity on me. “But if Killianthinks so highly of you, I can’t help but believe you’re cut out for it.”
My insides became all meltychocolate for this man that had so completely captured my heart.
Killian. Not Ezra. I barely knewEzra.
And like I said, I was fully gonefor Killian.
“Thank you, Ezra. I reallyappreciate this opportunity.” I smiled, settling into confidence I had neverfelt before. Partly because I’d just been offered a dream position. Partlybecause Killian thought so highly of me, he’d convinced his friend I was worthyof the position, but mostly because I did feel worthy of it.
I could run Bianca. It wouldn’t beeasy. It would take an insane amount of work and practice and hours. But Icould do it.
I’d made Foodie a success in only afew months. I could tackle Bianca, too.
The question was, did I want to?
“I’ll look forward to your answer.”Ezra tapped the top of the cardboard box he held. “This was delicious, Vera.Killian has impeccable taste.”
My smile stretched and my chestsqueezed. He’d complimented my food, but I could see in his warm expressionthat he meant it twofold.
I walked back to my kitchen on cloudnine, grinning from ear to ear.
“I take it you don’t hate him quiteas much as I do,” Molly grumped. A line of people had formed, and she had ahandful of order tickets.
“He offered me a job,” I told hergleefully. “But even better, he approves.”
“Approves of what?” Her eyes were asbig as possible.
“Of Killian and me.”
At that, her eyes softened, and herexpression turned adoring. “Of course he does. You’re perfect for each other.Now cook these before you run yourself out of business.”
I took the order tickets from herunable to break my smile. The differences between Derrek and Killian went onforever. But this was one of my favorites—the best friend support. Molly’s sealof approval felt amazing.
There was nothing to hide from Mollyor Vann or my dad. There was nothing to keep secret or manipulate into soundingbetter than reality.
