He shook his head, calling mybullshit. “Your employees are your friends.”
“Exactly. Yours could be too.”
“No, they’re your actual friends.They want to hang out with you because you’re who they hang out with.”
“You’re just jealous.” Oh, my God,why was I flirting with him? I needed a sedative. Like one of those tribalspit-shooter darts. I should have planted Molly in the bushes so she could blowone at me in case of emergency.
This was obviously an emergency.
His smile was earnest and made hiseyes crinkle. “Maybe. Are you sticking around to work today?”
I shook my head, determined to pullback and disentangle myself from this weird place we’d accidentally stumbledinto. “No, I have some errands to do. And I have to figure the menu out for theweekend.”
“Writer’s block?”
I wrinkled my nose, trying topinpoint it. “I need more inspiring produce. I’ve been going to Wagner’s, butit’s just not good enough.”
“Have you tried the Morning Market?On Franklin Ave.?”
My ears perked up. This was the tipI needed. “No. Is it good?”
He gave me a look. “Do you doubt myjudgment?”
“This could be sabotage.”
“This is a favor,” he countered.“And you’re going to owe me your first born son when you realize I just changedyour life.” I made a “ha!” sound, but he ignored me. “It’s only open in themornings from seven to ten-thirty. The earlier you get there, the better.There’s coffee, though. And akolachestand. It’slegit. You’ll love it.”
“Killian, thank you. I’ve beensearching for a great place to go, but I’ve never heard of this one.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of an insidersecret.”
I could have hugged him, but I heldback. I was confused enough and wrapping myself around his body like a spidermonkey didn’t seem like the best decision.
“Thanks again.” I waved my phoneback and forth. “I’ll text you what I decide about tonight.”
“Sounds good. Bye, Vera.”
“Bye, Killian.”
He stepped down from the truck andturned towardLilou. I told myself I wasn’t watchinghim walk away, but then he turned back around and caught me staring at him. Hedidn’t call me on it, though.
“Meatballs,” he called out.
Fine. I’d been staring at his ass.Whatever.Regardless, I was incapable ofcoherent thought. “What?”
“You should make meatballs again.Your lamb ones were the best meatballs I’ve ever had.”
The professional side of me explodedin a surprise orgasm. Just kidding. But I was almost too shocked to reply.I mean, what?!?!He didn’t wait aroundfor me to reply anyway. He crossed the street without another word.
“Is that why you stole the recipefrom me?” I shouted after him, but he was already to the side door ofLilou. He didn’t even bother to turn around and defendhimself. He just disappeared inside with that impish grin mostly hidden behindhis thick beard.
It wasn’t until my cheeks startedhurting that I realized I had been grinning too. For like a solid half hour.Especially after I double checked my phone and saw that Killian’s name appearedunder the titleJames Q.
Which explained a lot about my nosyinternet friend.
It also made me extremely,irrationally happy for some unexplainable reason.
I pulled the Living Section out ofmy purse and stared at Derrek’s smug face. My dad’s words echoed through the narrowgalley of my truck.You’ll have your picturein the paper someday.
