Shetook me back to the office and I blanched at the sight of it. “What happened inhere?”
“Right?And Ezra was surprised when he quit. The jackass was a total slob. Killian andI have had a hell of a time getting her right again. This was what the kitchenlooked like too.”
Myhand landed beneath my jaw, supporting my head from falling off my body inshock. “The kitchen looked like this?”
Sherolled her eyes. “It was worse if you can believe it. It was amazing this placehadn’t burned to the ground from a grease fire yet.”
“Whatabout bugs? Mice?”
Hernose wrinkled. “Both. We’ve had exterminators come out, but we’re still workingon it.”
Bilerose in my throat and real anger settled in my fists. I had worked in plenty ofkitchens with bugs and mice problems. I had even worked in one with ratsbefore. It was a difficult problem to solve once they invaded. And if youdidn’t keep the kitchen in tip-top shape constantly, they invaded quickly.
Thatwas why we were so absolutely anal about deep cleaning at Lilou. And why Iwould be a total slave driver about it when I ran my own kitchen.
Ilowered my voice to a whisper. “How is the staff handling the changes?” It was onething to deal with the aftermath of a sloppy chef. But if the crew left behindwas just as bad, it would be the fight of a lifetime to retrain them.
Sheglanced over my shoulder quickly before giving me a look. “They’re lazy andundisciplined, but not totally worthless. With the right leadership they couldturn out to be something special. And I think they want a good leader. They’veresponded really well to Killian and me and our daily verbal whippings andchores. We have to spell things out for them… but they’re at least willing totry.”
“Arethey talented?”
Makinga sound in the back of her throat, she ran her hands through her hair. “Tootalented. All they care about is the food. They don’t see the point of anythingelse.”
Irolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh. “So not the worst-case scenario.”
“I’drather have chefs I could teach to cook better than filthy ones.”
Myheart sank. “Would you hire any of them? For Salt?”
Herlips pressed together, and I could immediately see she didn’t want to tell methe truth. But she would. And I was grateful for it. I needed the truth. Ineeded the entire picture. “No. Not one of them.” She rolled her neck. “Maybethe dishwasher. He’s efficient. Maybe if I couldn’t find one I liked better.”
Alaugh bubbled out of me. “This place is not at all what I imagined.”
Shesmiled. “You thought I was handing over a sexier version of Lilou, didn’t you?”
Ithrew my hands to the side. “Obviously!”
“Oh,young padawan. So much to learn. So much to teach you.”
“I onlyhope it’s worth it.” I leveled my serious face at her. “Listen, I’m willing towork as hard as I need to. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get this joband whip this place into shape. But there’s still the risk thatSaritawon’t even go to me. That Ezra won’t hire me.”
Sheslapped her hand down on my shoulder. “Sure. That’s true. But risk is the bestpart, right? It keeps us on our toes. Keeps us sharp. If there’s no risk,there’s no reward.”
“Ohmy God. You really are Yoda.”
Shegiggled, and using her best Yoda impersonation, she said, “Right, you are. Now,this way come. A shit ton of work we have.”
Laughingwe finished the tour of the restaurant, taking our time to admire the diningroom and how not in shambles it was. Ezra kept front of house spectacular. Itwould be my job to get the kitchen into fighting shape.
Thatnew hope inside me bloomed with bigger blossoms. I couldn’t explain it exactly,but I wasn’t afraid of the work. It made me more determined, more desperate tomake this place mine. Either way, we were bound together now. I wanted her. Andcrazily enough, I knew she wanted me too.
Saritawas all sultry reds and cool, hard blacks. While some restaurants with asimilar color scheme gave a tawdry vibe or were just plain tacky, she had beendesigned to radiate passion and wild, uninhibited fun. But it was the passionfor food and culture and not sex. Yes, she was a sexy restaurant, but becausethe ambiance couldn’t help but pull that emotion from you.
Thiswas a space you didn’t just want to share a meal in, you wanted to stay here todrink, laugh, party, and make lifelong memories.
Iloved Lilou more than anything, but her insides were stark and cold. The dinerscame for the food, not to feel comfortable or at home. Sarita’s dining roomconveyed coming home and kicking off your shoes. Sarita was deep and open. Raw.
Iloved her. I wanted her.
